At your 9 to 5 you have a shitty boss. He is inconsiderate. In fact, he makes commitments to you that he never keeps regarding learning and growth opportunities for your career. If it were not for your union contract you would never see a raise from this individual. He treats the company’s money like it is his own. And, for some reason sees being cheap with wages as being good management practice.
You struggle understand why you are not being recognized for the hard work you are doing. Not to mention, all the extra effort you put in to help coworkers learn the new system. And, support you give to employees. All things that are not core tasks but save work in the long run. Nevertheless, these go unrecognized.
You leave feeling frustrated and used.
Every day.
And You Come Back
Every.
Day.
The best part of your workday is grabbing a morning coffee on your way in. This small reward you allow yourself makes the trip to this workplace more bearable. That hot treat feels good in your hand and sits with you at your desk. A companion while you grind away at the mundane tasks that you are stuck repeating again. Today.
Hope
You secretly hope that no one will bother you with more shit jobs that are not really part of the work you were hired for.
You have this nagging voice in your mind telling you that this workplace isn’t what you expected. Much less, what they told you it would be.
You did your research. Furthermore, you studied the company values and vision. And, you were even asked on your interview about these. And, how you would contribute to them. Why you fit these values.
Inside
Now that you are inside though, the employees you are exposed to every day do not demonstrate behaviour that aligns with these values.
They do not behave in a way that represents what you see on the corporate posters on the walls each day.
You feel lied to.
Best Face Forward
In all honesty, companies place their best face forward when designing a recruiting system to attract new employees.
Additionally, there are human resource professionals inside the company that will have been rewarded for designing this idealistic advertising campaign. The campaign that attracted you to this company in the first place.
Values like reducing environmental impact and employees first. The human resource professional behind this campaign likely received some generous incentive for the number of candidates they were able to attract through the campaign.
No one is really looking at how many of these good people were retained long term.
The company would defend itself if asked.
A company never lies.
The values and promotional material on the external website are true.
The diverse work environment depicted in the promotional images will be true. You can picture yourself in that scene, part of that diverse and positive working environment. The company hopes to see you there too.
Aspiration
These recruiting campaigns, the promoted values form a human resource framework. Designed to be guiding material for attracting and selecting ideal candidates who fit this desired state.
Consequently, this desired state is aspirational.
The company knows at some point in the future, once enough new employees have integrated into the workplace, the tides will turn and culture will shift.
The Vision Will Become Reality
When asked an honest manager will tell you they are working on changing internal culture to fit this future goal.
Additionally, an honest manager would tell you they are relying on you, the newest employee, to help that company realize this new desired culture.
You Are The Corporate Vision
By the way, that bonus the human resource professional received should have gone to you. Advance payment for the pain you will endure while your behaviours grind against the current corporate culture. Incidentally, as you struggle to maintain your values and integrate into this workplace.
You sit confused, remembering that your boss told you when you signed the letter of offer. A promise that they had plans to create a better position for you. Something that would fit the strong skills you brought to the table.
It has not happened.
The boss’s door is often closed with a do not disturb sign posted outside.
You desperately need someone to listen to your desire for more, more knowledge, more opportunity to learn and grow.
More feedback.
Any feedback.
Welcome to Your 9 to 5
Yet people stay in these environments.
Some who are strong maintain their values and work hard to help improve the working environment.
Maybe you are staying because you need the money. We have all been there.
Do You Have A Job Or Does The Job Have You?
If you need the company keep doing your work and give up on the empty promises that were made to you.
Do not give up on yourself. Secondly, do not allow this place to steal your motivation. Above all, use it as a springboard to help you get to a better work environment somewhere else.
Whatever happens, when you are interviewing and it is your turn to ask questions ask: “What is it like to work here every day?”
If the interview panel describes an ideal work environment you may have found a perfect match. However, if they describe an organization that is growing and changing recognize that you are part of their desired future.
You are a change agent. And, factor that into your requested compensation.
Additionally, all of our posts in the Exit Strategy Series can be found here.
Finally, more great content can be discovered on our Youtube channel.
