Has the Rhetoric at your Job Changed Because of the Economy?

I wonder if the economy has changed the tone of conversation at your job. Instead of talking about morale and rewarding employees, has it changed to a "you're lucky to have a job at all" tone? Even if your company is doing fine? Is it taking a toll on morale? I'm curious.

I think it's human nature to find excuses to get people to give more for less. I wonder if this is happening at your work. Also, how is your job? When I see lines around the block for a firefighter job I think, this is bad. Still, I'm thankful for what I have and think corrections are overdue. We reward the wrong behaviors and it's led to a mess that isn't easily resolved.

How are you coping? What are things like for you?

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Permalink Reply by ECHOage on February 4, 2009 at 10:41am

Incidently, I just started working p/t - I had been talking about getting a job (I had been off w/ kids for 10 years) well before crash, but resumes went out after crash and I just started working in Jan. So...the optics of my job are such that this is all because of new economy, but reality is that we did some heavy budget makeovers in the spring and the job decision was made at that time. I guess I'm lucky to have this job.
Cheers,
Roz
ECHOage Ambassador
www.echoage.com

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Permalink Reply by HeidiWF on February 4, 2009 at 1:28pm

I work for a large media company and I would say yes, the tone has changed. We had layoffs before Christmas, and since then everyone has been very stressed out. Those of us who are here are happy and know we are very lucky to have our jobs, but that becomes tiring. Managers are running around making sure we are accountable for every minute of the day. Still, I went through a bad spell of unemployment for over a year a few years ago, so believe me, I feel the pain of everyone out there looking for work. It is a difficult and heartbreaking process. I have seen people in their 40s working at the local Starbucks and that scares me.

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Permalink Reply by Newspapergrl on February 4, 2009 at 4:39pm

@HeidiWF says:
"Managers are running around making sure we are accountable for every minute of the day."

I can really relate. I thought mine was a unique situation.

I've never seen anything like this in my lifetime. I'm optimistic and there are many good things in my work and life. I'm just astounded by the suddenness of the changes and how drastic they are.

Had lunch with girlfriends today and one said her friend just took a checker job at Walmart. She'd been out of the workforce for so long and it seems the best option.

@ECHOage
I think you are lucky - that seems like a particularly difficult transition w/o the economy. I had a tough time going from SAHM for a year to part time and then to FT.

Thanks for your input!