Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

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  milton pincus07/01/08 Report as spam
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  At least you have a job...

  Think your job's crummy? Imagine not having that one and having to tell your children that ice cream isn't in the budget this month. That's a crummy feeling.

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  pbuckley4@...07/01/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  That's why there's self-employment. You may not make as much as you did with your cush job, and may not get all those bennies, but, at the end of the day, you and the boss can go out for a beer and you don't have to worry he or she is going to screw you!
  
  patrick buckley aka the marketing whisperer

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  igenesis07/01/08 Report as spam
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  Self-employment

  Say Amen. Well said p. buckley. If you are not "gainfully" employed - get busy and create work. Take some risks. One may not generate the income or bennies accustomed too, however, one can effectively contribute.
  
  Think about it. Put your energy into innovation and creation, not commiseration. Ciao. KT

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  beulahdiane07/01/08 Report as spam
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  Downsized and Loving It

  As one who was "riffed" several years back . . . I concur completely. The benefits of being self-employed far outweigh the alternative. I am the best "boss" I have ever had . . . and I intend to be that person to anyone I hire. I have more peace, more creativity and a simple life, free of a lot of stress and worry.
  
  diane pruitt - a peaceful space

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  kfp755007/02/08 Report as spam
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  Self-Employment?

  What are all you people doing that were laid off and started their own businesses? Starting a business in a recession (or heading into one) is tough, I'm just curious what you all did and how you pulled it off (and how it's going now)? Plus, I'd think with a small business, it takes a bit of investment to get any gains from it.

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  Aimee33307/02/08 Report as spam
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  It's Tough!

  My mother-in-law started her own company last year. It's a 1031 Tax Exchange company. Simply put, we work with real estate investors deferring capital gains in a real estate buy/sell. Just think, who knew the real estate market was going to slam down like a brick into sand? We have hung on tight. Moving out of an actual office space to her home to save $1,000+ a month. And though her attitude has been, "We will NOT close this office!" I've still got my resume ready! - As the Marketing Director, my budget has been cut out completely! So, if I wasn't prepared to handle marketing the old-fashioned way (calling)-we may not be getting business at all. As a result, our monthly exchanges have actually increased!
  I hope that it's a sign of good things to come, but unsurity has a grip on me right now!

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  K Tengberg07/01/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  This is exactly what happened to the most wonderful company I ever had the pleasure to work for. For over six years we were venture-capitalized; budgets were tight, but the culture was very much like a family. Several of us got our friends jobs there. There was nearly no turn over. We had several special, theme-days with prizes, pot lucks, and picnics. Things were so good that hugs were not an uncommon sight.
  
  Then it happened. We were bought by our closest competitor. Word of their culture spread as our managers came back with tales of a fascist upper management and a revolving-door attitude toward employees.
  
  Immediately, our family was torn apart. All the upper level managers-the guys and gals we'd worked so hard with to grow our company into a valuable acquisition-were gone. Cold, unfriendly faces took their place.
  
  The new owners set unrealistic goals and fired employees who worked on establishing relationships and finding if there was a fit before moving on to the sale, claiming we were taking too much time. These employees were replaced by younger people with no experience in the field, who were programmed with old-style high-pressure tactics that were outdated in the '70s.
  
  Yes, that is what happened to our operation. In less than three months the mood of our company had gone from bright to black. It became intolerable for me to go into the building each day and soon I had no choice but to resign.
  
  Believe me, this is no way to run a company!
  
  Morale and Loyalty beat Fear and Pressure any day.
  
  Thank you,
  
  Kris Tengberg

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  lmorris@...07/01/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  I was also one that was 'outsized' if you will... I decided to start up my own biz and am happier now than ever. Yes there are still concerns about when & where that next check will come from. However I know that I will succeed! I love being my own boss.
  
  In reading the article I recognized a lot of signs from my former employer. I'm very glad to be out of there. Especially hearing the horror stories from friends that are still there.

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  rmengel07/01/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Bull ****: you have not been there. What right do you have to to forth tis information. Get your facts straight before you start influencing the unknowing .

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  johnguilbert07/02/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  I think all these points made are spot on.
  
  I have been working in the IT industry after qualifying with my university degree for over 15 years and I particulalry notice this in the British Isles. I know a lot of people would say this is everywhere, but I have worked all over the world and have never come across such a 'stab in the back' society in the work-place. Maybe I've just been unlucky. I am currently unemployed due to my manager feeling I was a threat to her successor and hence kept me out of important strategy meetings so I was unable to show my true colours. This resulted in speaking to upper management (with my managers consent) only for me to be dismissed as they told me in no uncertain terms they wanted a 'wall flower'. What frustrates me is I have so much to offer - when I was asked by upper management to write an IT Startegy report they said they agreed with everything on it, but basically made no action on it. Bascially I was made "the patsy". The IT Strategy was put forward to other long-term staff members, but it totally went against the traditional culture of change as mentioned in the points.
  All I can say is "GET RID OF ACCOUNTANTS WHO HEAD UP IT DEPARTMENTS!" - they're are ten to the dozen. I'm sick of it. They know nothing about IT and most certainly have no people skills as they sit in a room alone all day playing with their abacus.

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  ccbp07/11/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  I've run on the treadmill and wont do it anymore. I have bled for work, only to have it show for nothing at all. Therefore, I will leave a job when it sucks much faster than I have in past, it is simply not worth the stress. I'd rather be out of work then running faster, faster, faster, with no end, for nothing. You end up feeling stupid and used, life is far too short for that.

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  johns@...07/11/08 Report as spam
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  Ups & Downs of Self-Employment

  There has been some talk about the life after layoffs is self-employment. Here are my thoughts...
  
  My last tour of Corporate America as an employee was in 2001. As a Sr Director, I built an organization to develop a new & growing market for a large northeastern technology company. We were $200M worth of revenue into a $1B business plan. After 1 year & bringing in top technology professionals from other companies based on my reputation & friendship to build the team, the company stock went south by 80% & the powers on top declared the reduction of 9000 people that year to maintain stock price. This was without regards to the details. Political positioning & turf protection was rampent - not a pleasent place to be. I was forced to layoff my whole team & I followed them out the door. My world now is consulting with complementary companies and some of the former competitors of this company.
  
  Self-employment is not for everyone. You must have the right personality, be organized, motivated & be able to promote yourself - this is in addtion to having some marketable skills that someone is willing to pay for. If you need a steady check, this life is not for you. It can be a feast or famine existance. You've heard "be your own boss, set you own hours"... Rememeber, you now can have many bosses (clients)at the same time and some of them can be more demanding. You do have a choice of dropping clients, but remember how that can affect your income and reputation. Your own hours now become all 24... depending on your client base - are they international? - in what timezone do they operate? I currently have clients in 8 different timezones, the worst a 12.5 hour delta from mine. This can be challenging for remote realtime communications (phone & webcasts)
  
  I'm not telling you not to consider this life, I'm telling you to make sure you really understand what you are getting into & are both mentally & financially prepared.
  
  Good luck to all the venture here.

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  jbwolf07/30/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  The truth of the matter is that we all have to look out for our jobs and always try to have backup plans. The economy doesn't go in a straight line, but it oscillates back and forth from good to bad. For the worker this is frustrating, degrading and depressing, but it must be looked at objectively, as it is the natural course of economics. In my case getting the axe turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. For others, it is just the opposite. Build that backup nest egg and don't plan on having company loyality to the very end in either direction.

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  mydogsam08/06/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Well I just signed the offer and have been on the job for a couple of weeks now. The best part is a great team relationship, where everyone pulls together. On the down side, I had to take less that I had wanted but I am working for a big company with lots of resources, team playing between plants and happy employee's. I had been out of work for over a year and was getting a little worried, cash flow getting scarry and moral in the bottom of the bucket. I was downsized at the preivous plant and loosing interviews each day but never gave up hope.The five signs are real and are used more often today. Pay close attenition to survive!

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  abhishek_dn08/26/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  nice

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  rgi_8509/18/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Its interesting to hear both the points of
  view about self-employment. Really enjoyed
  reading this. Thanks

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  Nubius10/01/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  This feels like what I'd see on the toe tags of so many former employees. The last re-org my company had vanquished a lot of talented people.
  
  I didn't survive that re-org, but a month and I half later, I returned. It's interesting to say the least. Living this life after re-org death...

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  debness77710/02/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Crummy sux.

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  Eekamouse0110/03/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Ahh yes?the signs that it is time to move on:
  You sign the dotted line and swear ?This I will defend?,? have friends die horribly in a foreign land for political reasons, and then have the people you swore to defend besmirch the integrity of your vows to keep this ??Nation?indivisible, with liberty and justice for?? who again?
  You are told by your superiors that regulations only apply to those who haven?t joined the ?good ol? boy network or the ring-knockers? clique.
  You are told not to worry about the people under you, those junior to you seeking your guidance and wisdom?those same people you took a vow to look out for?the ones who sweat and die for you?.This coming from people higher on the totem than you?.
  You receive a brief, take good notes, research the information given to you, find huge holes in the brief, query the source, and get told not to worry about it. You then gather pictures, information, web site addresses, current regulations, sworn statements, and present it to the equivalent of Internal Affairs, who then verifies the validity of the bomb in their hands and moves to process the complaint?only to have someone extremely high tell the head of this IA group that even though it is a valid complaint and all of the documentation is well founded and solid, and any other time, it would be viable for action, they are hereby ordered to turn their eyes and ears from the source of the complaint and make all future complaints disappear into file-13. It is an election year, who cares about the little people who are dying to keep the nation free.
  You do your damndest to change jobs so you can help people, only to be told by your supervisors that even though your job is not here, they need someone middle on the totem pole, like you, to hold a spot indefinitely, and to stop trying to change things.
  You grow tired of the system that hides behind a fa?ade of integrity, while it promotes back-stabbers, rumor-mongers, ring-knockers, and good-ol?-boys into positions which they are unfit for responsibly and mentally, because they are part of their ?network.?
  I swore to defend my nation so that others can burn my flag, wipe their butt on her white and red stripes, and dangle the stars for their children to dream about. I chose to put my life on the line so others would not have to. I chose to see the evil in the hearts of others and face my fears. I chose this line of work which has beaten me up, scarred my mind, and crippled my body, because I thought I could make a difference. I didn?t realize that I would be fighting an enemy buried deep inside my own country. Equal Opportunity is supposed to exist for all, not for the few. The laws are supposed to work for the good of the whole, not hide the facts of the few.
  Oh yeah, that?s right?there is the Whistle Blower?s Act?I only hope it is still working and that no one pulled the power cord while our backs were turned?.
  /sigh Signs that you have a crummy job?.

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  podakayne10/09/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  as the last one left in my crummy dept.i see the writing on the wall...and with only two clients left and one soon to take their work in-house, i am waiting for the "other" shoe to drop. i am discontent, bored and uninspired as well as managed by idiots who neither understand what i do nor how i do it. ti is time to check out.
  
  BTW good article and thanks to those who've replied to it.

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  pcurley262410/10/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Back to the point of the article: I feel that when works becomes transactional, I get more done and leave without overtime and therefore work does not stay on my mind once I go home and study for my MBA.
  
  Simplier work structure creates a more productive work day and personal life...

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  Nathalie Hachet10/12/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  In my view, the themes of this article go beyond the current economic climate, and raise questions about employee engagement and that 'special' relationship (or the lack of it!) between an organisation and its workforce.
  
  Over the last 20 years, it has become increasingly difficult for employees to commit 'body and soul' to an organisation as a culture of change - strongly dictated by the economy - has been sweeping the workplace via cost-cutting politics at the expense of employee well-being, by instilling unfairness, distrust, fear and fierce competition between colleagues.
  
  A great number of employees are left dissatisfied (well before their company starts hitting the buffers!) despite their hard work and commitment. Their dissatisfaction is either due to the lack of promotion and investment in their skills and capabilities or the empty promises from their managers that start wearing thin... Employee loyalty sooner or later wears off and turns to disillusion and they defect to a company that promises better prospects.
  
  Promises might not be delivered, and then the full circle starts again. Sometimes though, employees find their expectations fulfilled and we know that a happy employee contributes to the success of a company, even in times of change.
  
  In the light of the above, I can't help but wonder: isn't it time for companies to remember that their employees are their most important assets, and therefore try to engage them and make them feel valued and rewarded, rather than treating them like mere commodities, regardless of whether times are good or bad?

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  mktgpharma10/16/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Arggggggghhh....!!! what you have described was exactly the situation of my company (French-German company) during the good times.....!!!!!
  Can you imagine the current situation within the company with the expected economic picture?
  
  Anyway, I hvae decided to fight and play the game.

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  bigbigjohnlee10/17/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  After working on commision ( basically like a self employed contractor) and having to return back to Corporate America for stability earlier this year with the economic gloom if I should be let go or downsized , fired , layed off or what ever thats it for me I will be self employed and I know I can do it since having the chance to do it with a safety net under me! I hate Corporate
  America and all of its policies and red-tape and politics and other BS!!

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  Betrrice10/28/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Great insight on all things corporate,be that management, company direction and yes perception of what different departments do.
  I worked for a mid tier level furniture store who's founder is based out of Northern California.
  
  The higher management levels were more interested in bottom line figures with little disregard to employee treatment and management style was of intimidation over motivation. This in turn caused many long term IT employees to rethink their long term commitment and re-sign.

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  scamo11/19/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  I think often the problem in companies with poor cultures (and full of crummy jobs) lies singularly on the fact that executive management always concentrates on the results as goals and not as results. Let me explain.
  
  A company is doing good when for instance profit margin and sales revenues grow. Right? But those are results. However, management always harp on "we have to increase profit margin by 10% next year or else". Or else what? Cut jobs? Sell off assets? What else? Again, profit margin is not a goal, but a result. A result of what?
  
  Efficient operations? Possibly run by motivated management and workers?
  
  Or could it be the high quality products are more "loved" by consumers and achieve better prices? But who builds quality? Who manages quality?
  
  Yep, just keep concentrating your attention on revenues and profitmargins you top level morons. Your company will go down the tubes faster than you can say "let's cut some more jobs".

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  indizyne11/19/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Great article. Wish I had read this before. I was "casually" suspicious of what was going on in my company for a while but since this had never happened in my career of over a decade, was wondering why I was having these "negative" thoughts.
  
  Now that the unthinkable has happened, I now know how it feels to be let go. I now see why many folks I had talked to in the past had little loyalty to their employers. It's hard when you know that during hard times it's not a case of team work but OYO - "On Your Own!"
  
  the question that remains though is what is the real purpose of managinig a company? Is it strictly profit or to keep people employed for one reason or the other? How much must a company take in before it decides it has to let people go.
  
  How about letting people go with dignity. I have heard real horror stories of how people were approached by security and literally walked out of the building!!! This can't be right can it???

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  null12/09/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  when you don't have one

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  tramky12/16/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Yes, American workers need to get a clue about what their jobs--and careers--really mean: very little.
  
  To really understand the value of employees to a company--and by this I mean the specific individuals who are employees--you can simply look at what happens when companies get in financial trouble and talk turns to what will happen to that company. About the ONLY thing not discussed is the employees, because it is understood what will happen with them. They will be dumped out and trashed without a thought.
  
  I have to laugh at the recent BS about the domestic automakers and the loss of jobs if they go under--something like a quarter of a million jobs. Everyone is talking like this would be just a disaster. Oh, my god, we can't let GM fail, we can't let Chrysler fall into bankruptcy AGAIN!! Think of all those employees! BS!!
  
  BS when you realize that many more jobs than THAT were lost in ONE MONTH than exist in the auto industry. We lost all the jobs of 4 domestic automakers in the span of one month (and, gee, there are really only 3 such automakers), and no one blinked an eye or made a comment other than announcing the statistic.
  
  Employees are fungible, expendable and burdensome. When the going gets tough, the employees get going, dumped into the street without a blink or fare-thee-well.
  
  There is only one sign that you have a crummy job: that you have one! By definition a job with an American corportion is a crummy job--if not now, then sooner than you think.

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  PatSe101/08/09 Report as spam
  30

  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Good article, insightful feedback, and it's
  good to know it's not just me.
  
  I have been employed by corporations, have been
  self-employed, and have learned many things in
  both situations. The most important thing I
  learned, through experience and observation, is
  that creative or independent types should never
  work for someone else. I look upon my 9 years
  as an employee as a virtual black hole, while
  my 20 years of self-employment have been
  mentally enriching, empowering, and yes,
  exhausting.
  
  A few words of advice to those just starting
  out: get corporate or other hands/on experience
  so you know what you're doing, find a life
  partner who enjoys his/her corporate job so
  money isn't as big an issue, and postpone
  children until your first 'baby' - your
  business - is established. You'll save yourself
  years of frustration and regret.

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  PageOne@...01/09/09 Report as spam
  31

  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  I read this article some months ago while I had a crummy corporate job. Now, a few months after being swept out to sea in their latest round of layoffs, with a most uncertain future, I am still quietly glad to be gone. Guess I'm one of those independent creative types PatSe1 refers to. I'd love to go back to an entrepreneur style life, I know it would be a much happier existence. But how on earth will I be able to pay the mortgage AND health insurance, especially the latter? That's where the system breaks for me.

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  herryalbet03/31/09 Report as spam
  32

  RE: Five Happy buyer Signs

  It's hard when you know that during hard times it's not a case of team work but OYO - "On Your Own!" and that 'special' relationship (or the lack of it!) between an organisation and its workforce.
  

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  zhoujie04/02/09 Report as spam
  33

  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Eekamouse01
  Roger that.
  Thank you for your service.

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  zhoujie04/02/09 Report as spam
  34

  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  Eekamouse01
  Roger that
  Thank you for your service

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  estetik10/23/09 Report as spam
  35

  RE: Five Signs That You Have a Crummy Job

  You must have the right personality, be organized, motivated & be able to promote yourself - this is in addtion to having some marketable skills that someone is willing to pay for. gogus kucultme - vajina estetigi - lazer epilasyon