Job Concerns:
Be sure that you aren’t contributing to the problem and that you have honestly tried to improve your relationship with the boss. Be sure that you don’t make things worse by offering to work longer hours or take someone else’s shift because you feel guilty.
If your attitude and feelings of obligation about work are contributing to your long
hours and burying you work you can never finish, you have to make some
changes in your work habits. This may sound easy, but it isn’t necessarily so.
Many people function from guilt and take on more than they should because they
want their bosses and co-workers to like them or they think they will get a
promotion or raise, when they actually aren’t required to do more than perform
well in order to be recognized.
If you have emotional issues about what is enough, or how to be well liked on the
job, you have to address those.
Some companies offer job coaches, or life coaches to help you through these
obstacles. If not, consider getting a life coach on your own time or go to a
counselor and work through your issues.
Remember, it is important to do a good job and even, many times, to go the extra
mile, but you should never put yourself in a position where you do all the work
while other people get paid the same amount or more and get promotions or time
off when you do not.
If you get to this point in your reading and you have become convinced that you would
have to change companies and jobs in order to achieve the balance you desire, don’t be
discouraged.
While you may think there are no companies out there that stress work/life balance, you
would be surprised at the number of companies – small and large – that are embracing
this philosophy as a way to attract and retain good employees.
Companies as diverse as Chubb, J.C. Penney, PrintingForLess, and RSM McLadrey
have programs in place, and report that their employees and managers have
enthusiastically embraced the work/life balance.
Employees are working together in teams, better than ever before, to ensure that the
work flow continues when they are away at attending a daughter or son’s kindergarten
graduation or taking advantage of a four day work week to catch up on their golf game.
As this trend continues, and more companies are forced to consider this balanced
environment to attract and keep valuable employees and skills, your search for the
perfect company will become much easier.
