The 3 Little Work Conundrums

While reading a few blogs today, I found a few workplace themes or recurring issues I thought were quite interesting. Based on many others' experiences and stories, I wanted to give a few examples and ask following...

Picture this: You get the job. You strut your stuff as you give out your business cards and you are ecstatic that your bank account finally has enough digits to buy you something other than ramen noodles. You have a salary and benefits, hallelujah! Then, the unexpected happens… 

This is like the butterfly effect - you get to pick the ending! Which paradigm are you most closely associated with in each scenario?

1) You hate your job. Wait a minute, this wasn’t supposed to happen?! You thought this was your dream job. You were pumped when you got hired – eager to work with your banana republic trousers and your game face on. So what happened?  You realized that the job reality didn’t quite match up to the job description or perhaps, like so many recent college graduates or unemployed citizens, you were just so enthralled with the thought of having a job –any job - that you were blindsided. 

Now what?

School of thought a: suck it up, this is a recession and life isn’t made of roses. Change your attitude and get back to work. You can find a better job in two years.

Oh, you hate your job?  Why didn't you say so?  There's a support group for that.  It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar.  ~Drew Carey

School of thought b: Start looking for a new job as of yesterday. Life is too short to stay in a miserable, motivating, life-sucking position. I need to find something that I love doing.

 Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.  ~H. Jackson Browne

2) Everyone’s warned you about it. Your mom would definitely disapprove. You know it’s a bad idea and yet somehow it happens – you get “involved” with someone at work. You don’t even know if you signed a document stating “thou shall not fraternize with co-workers.” THINK THINK! What did that contract say and why do you not have a copy of it now? Does anyone at work know? You tried to keep it a secret but you suspect rumors are circulating.

Now what?

School of thought a: I am professional, damn it. People are a dime a dozen and I can find someone to hang out with romantically anywhere. You shouldn’t put yourself in a sticky situation, especially when it involves work.

School of thought b: work is work. It is not their business what happens outside of the workplace. I dare someone to say something to me. If no PDA or even hint of a relationship is occurring at work, what is the problem? All I need to do is get ahold of the document I signed upon employment…

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.  ~Arnold Toynbee
 

3) What review? What raise? Your pay is based on a yearly review. Your review determines whether or not you get a pay increase and it is your direct boss’ duty to perform that yearly review. The only problem is, your boss is nearly a year behind on your first review and your second year mark is coming up - aka time for another review. You have asked for a review both in person and in written form, but still nothing.

Now What?

School of thought a: you need to grow a pair and take the issue to upper management and demand that you get your rightfully deserved review. You don’t care that you are stepping on your boss’ toes. Who cares if he makes you miserable for the next couple of weeks, maybe even months, because you tattle tailed on him. At least this way you will be getting your raise, hopefully, maybe…

School of thought b: I need to wait it out until the second review time comes along and politely remind my boss that now I am an entire year behind. When he does not follow through yet again, I will persist and just hope that he will actually do his job this time – hey it could happen, right?

Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas.  ~Paula Poundstone