Monday, February 20, 2006

Worker Burnout, Already? Is Such A Thing POSSIBLE?

I read this and pasted the relevant stuff here from an article on MSN.com. Anything in brackets is inane commentary from my own brain as I read the article.

Statistics of interest:
1. The American worker has the least vacation time of any modern, developed society. [Shocking. That's it, now I'm really moving. As if George Bush weren't enough of a reason all on his own.]

2. In 2005, 33 percent of workers said they would be checking in with the office while on vacation.
[Really? that's it? I thought this number would be higher.]

3. One-half of workers reported they feel a great deal of stress on the job. [I want to know what jobs the other 50% have.]

4. Forty-four percent of working moms admit to being preoccupied about work while at home and one-fourth say they bring home projects at least one day a week.

5. Nineteen percent of working moms reported they often or always work weekends.
[Great...because I'm not already working on weekends now.]

6. Thirty-seven percent of all working dads said they would consider the option of taking a new job with less pay if it offered a better work/life balance.

7. Thirty-six percent of working dads reported they bring work home at least one day a week and 30 percent say they often or always work weekends.

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Consider these five warning signs of burnout:

Sign No. 1: Your co-workers are walking on eggshells around you. If you find yourself becoming cranky and irritable with co-workers you used to get along with, it may be more than just typical interpersonal dynamics. [Well, of course, I'm cranky dammit - didn't you read those statistics up top??!! I don't get enough vacation, I'm totally stressed out, and when I'm not here, I'm thinking about how I should be here. Wouldn't you be cranky, too?]

Sign No. 2: You come in late and want to leave earlier. You used to wake up in the morning excited for another day, but now every day you dread heading into the office. Once lunch passes you start watching the clock, counting the minutes to the end of the day. [Wait, I used to wake up excited for another day? I don't ever remember feeling that, but as for the rest of it, that's so me!!]

Sign No. 3: Apathy has replaced enthusiasm. You feel no motivation, no sense of accomplishment and have no desire to be challenged. Those who have burnout lose their motivation to perform, as well as their feelings of pride for a job well done. [Um, once again, was there a time I ever had enthusiasm? Isn't apathy just a natural state of being? And as for feelings of pride for a job well done...1) I never really know if a job was well done around here; and 2) even if it was a job well done, if you let yourself be happy about it, it just means I'll fall on my face the next time around, so humility is definitely the way to go.]

Sign No. 4: You've lost camaraderie with co-workers. You're no longer interested in the company network. You used to go to lunch, go out for drinks and participate in other company functions but now have no desire in socializing in or out of the office. [I avoid the company network at all costs. If I talk to those people, they'll fire me right away. I do a better job keeping to myself than opening my stupid mouth and helping them realize they made a gigantic mistake in hiring me. The less exposure, the better.]

Sign No. 5: You're feeling physically sick.You always feel exhausted, have headaches, feel tension in all of your muscles and are having trouble sleeping. These physical signs are common indicators of job stress, and demonstrate that this can turn into a physical problem. [This is why the key ingredients of a healthy diet for the office worker include regular doses of caffeine, redbull, and sleeping pills. Sure, you don't have time to spend your money on fun stuff, but you certainly have money to buy yourself some muscle relaxers and dexatrim. I'm kidding....sort of.]
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Wish it were Sunday,
Cuz that's my fun day!
Oh it's just another Manic Monday!

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