Workers
suffering burnout are making mistakes. Its depressingly predictable:
these mistakes cost money, compromise safety and may even put lives at risk.
Work-life balance is a subject with broad points of view but Corporate America is finally
responding to this demand. Actually its been a matter of company
survival. Corporations expecting employees to forego family time will not find the
Ace Employee. Increased irritability means less production as more as more workers
struggle to keep it all together.
Smart companies are recognizing employee needs for
work-life balance and are providing an environment that encourages that balance.
Yet, limiting this to quick fixes like flexible working hours, or part time hours for
working mothers is not dealing with the real reasons why people are feeling disillusioned
with their working life. It has more to do with long hours, constant overtime,
bullying bosses, and the continual cutbacks that keep many on a frayed tightrope.
The core problem lies inside the minds of
management -- obsessive drives, insane greed for money and power, ambition gone awry and a
foolish disregard of anything void of short-term results. Even with limited changes,
management still treats underlings like a herd of cows milking every ounce of effort
possible. Thats not about to change when its driven by a winner
takes all ideology and contempt for those unable to keep up.
In a 2006 study, men were more likely to report
depression, increased drinking and smoking, and suicidal thoughts. Women on the
other hand were more likely to report anxiety, uncontrolled crying, migraines,
sleeplessness and persistent petty ailments.
Patrick learned the hard way at 40 he had
risen to Senior Attorney for a small insurance company. His all-consuming job of
80-100 hours each week leaves his wife complaining that he was never home, and even when
he is, hes useless. His children are in bed when he finally calls it a day,
and often he sleeps in his clothes on top of the covers to get a head start the following
morning at 5am.
Patrick admits he is spread too thin but if he
doesnt run at breakneck speed, everything will overtake him as if hes
on a treadmill with no controls. He is gaining weight catching junk food on the run
and drinking more to unwind as he puts it. But a long weekend with
friends changed everything. Patrick was on the phone constantly and his wife felt
more like she had joined their friends as a single. Vexed and defeated, she finally
blurted out: Im done! I dont want to do this anymore.
Often a wakeup call follows a crisis. To save
his marriage and family Patrick had to adopt a family-first policy. He laid his
decision on the corporate table no more weekends, home for dinner every night, no
phone calls after 7pm! The silence was deafening.
Determined, he turned to the Internet and a new
road to entrepreneurship. The dream of perfect harmony in work and home has
worked for many who have chosen this road. Enjoyable, stress free and rewarding,
they learned to love the risk factor because, as entrepreneurs they were able to see a
direct benefit from the fruits of their own labor.
Entrepreneurs have a rosy view of their work-life
balance because they love their boss. Its a big change from putting in 100
hours a week to please management by putting job first and everything else second, third
or not at all. The new pioneers of this millennium will not be charging into the
workplace as soon as they graduate. They will take their time and enjoy the trip.
Ah well, the world doesnt need any more lawyers.
Congratulations Patrick, on getting fired.
© 2006 Esther Smith
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