6 years ago on this day I was working in a meat factory for $20.50 an hour starting at 4am. Every day I would wake up early, get to work and watch the clock and calculate the money in my head. 90 minutes prior to close I'd hose down and clean all the machines, and come home soaking wet smelling like meat. At the time I felt very resentful because I had gone to uni for 4 years, which cost me 40k. Yet here I was underutilised, working in a low paying job, with most of my colleagues barely able to speak English. These days I have a much better job and earn double the amount, but I still feel miserable. 6 years ago if I was in my current position I would feel happy. However, now I still feel underutilised...
Sorry to hear that mate. Has the new role in the Army not been much fun so far?
I haven't started the Army yet. Just waiting for the call but unfortunately I'm not much use atm with a busted Achilles. It's been over a week and I still can't walk without pain. Mentally I've pulled the pin for this season, which has been good. I'm still going out to watch the games but I'm not attending training's and have let my coach / team know the situation. I'm sure I'll get the bug to play again as soon as I'm fit but for now it's been good not worrying about when I can potentially play again.
In terms of the job I started a new role within the same department (for less pay) in March. Ultimately I still have to report to the same management though and apart from being in a different location the same problems still exist. I have no confidence in HR as they work closely with management and don't seem to place much emphasis on confidentiality. They are aware of there being problems within our department but it's easier for them to turn a blind eye. Of people that I know of who have complained to HR they have been scapegoated by management and made out to be 'troublemakers'. These people are then monitored and performance managed at the first opportunity until they either quit or get fired. Apologies if anybody works in HR here but from my experience they have done more harm then good and tend to side with management over employees.
The first thing you learn in business is that high sick leave and high staff turnover are the signs of low staff morale and or poor management. My department has had a staff turnover of close to 40% in the last 12 months and we regularly have high amounts of sick leave. Last year they realised turnover was a problem so they employed most of the workers as permanent employees. Yet half of them still left because it's a toxic environment and I can't wait to get out of there. When I first started in this department 18 months ago I always wondered why one of my colleagues appeared so apathetic and cynical. I now understand completely how she feels and being passionless and emotionally detached is the easiest way to survive from one day to the next.
I have been looking for jobs since December but have only actually applied for about 12 jobs, but each application is improving. I have my first job interview this Monday so hopefully I can get an offer. If not I'll keep applying. The reason for the low amount of applications is that I really don't want to take a step backwards career wise. Also the majority of jobs are all casual or contract positions, which offer less job security then what I have now. Hopefully with the end of the financial year more jobs will start being advertised and I'll find something. Until then I'm biting my tongue and surviving day to day.
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the hell analogies and such lose me. it's like bruh, ur just lifting weights. people are funny.
