Ten Months after Going Back to Work: What to Expect

Many of you congratulated me a little over ten months ago when I received my coveted job offer. In fact, I had developed such a close relationship with many of you, though we had never met face to face, that the memory produced goose pimples a few moments ago when I reread your comments of congratulations. While for me, a job has become something I report to daily, and sometimes grumble about, the statistics are telling me I am still to be grateful. Perhaps I will publish that hub again on Facebook when October 20, 2011 comes around, and a full year has passed since I received that fateful offer.

Many of you continue to work part time in positions below your educational level, or perhaps you are unable to find work at all. I want you to know I understand any job, especially one within one's chosen field, is better than no job at all or one that is below your educational level. Still, it is important to acknowledge that working today is very different from what work was only a few years ago. If you are lucky enough to acquire full time and meaningful work in this present economy, here are a few differences you can expect to experience.

What to Expect

Extended Travel Time

Many people, myself included, are driving much further to and from work. In my case, I drive an hour and a half both ways, meaning that I am away from home three additional hours per day, simply driving back and forth. The longer commute also requires more gasoline, a factor that cuts into one's income, an income that is most likely lower than in times past, not to mention that it adds more wear and tear on the automobile you drive. No one in my immediate office lives in the city in which our office is located; we all drive at least forty-five minutes daily to get there.

Longer Hours

Employers are generally understaffed, and work loads that should require two or more persons are typically assigned to one individual. This may or may not effect the deadlines expected to get the work done, and in many cases it does not change them, nor expectations. My work stays behind while I work through lunch hours, and sometimes come in early and work late. While I always work well over 40 hours per week, I am constantly fearful of receiving a written or verbal reprimand because my work is not done on time. Don't forget that I am already driving an hour and a half to work and an hour and a half back home, so when I work an hour and a half late, I'm actually working four and a half hours over the coveted eight hour day, not only the hour and a half I'm actually at the office.

Expect to be a Salaried Worker

If you are a non-management professional, regardless of your level, expect to earn just enough income to be exempted from overtime pay. Employers need to get the work done with less staff, and they cannot afford to pay overtime. You will not earn extra money for the overtime you are required to work in order to keep your job. You will hopefully gain the respect and appreciation of your boss and the agency, and that equals job security in an environment that is very high in unemployment claims. I earn less income than I earned ten years ago, drive further, and find that the cost of living is much higher than it was at that time. Still, I am happy to have a job at all.

No Talk of Pay Raises

I work for a private non-profit, and while such agencies have always paid notoriously low for a person holding a Master's Degree, there was usually a 5% raise at three months with permanent status, and usually a cost of living raise on an annual basis thereafter. This is no longer the case. There was no talk of a raise at three months, and it is doubtful a raise will happen at a full year of employment. The worker is left feeling that her income will remain the same for as long as she works for the organization, unless she is promoted to a higher position, which is unlikely since she can be expected to do more work at the same pay simply to keep her job.

Sick Leave and Annual Leave

Since there are never enough people to cover the workload, expect to do extra work any time anyone else is absent. This also means others have to fill in for you whenever you are out, so expect to feel uncomfortable any time you request time off. Since you are not even able to do what is expected when nobody else is absent, this situation adds to your stress level. Many times I have to bite my tongue and repress my emotions, because I know other people deserve to use the leave they have earned just as I do.

What to do?

Our present Republican ran congress, nor the tea party group is likely to do much for American workers, so if we want to be anything other than slaves to corporate America and the wealthiest 1 %, we'd better put our thinking caps on and figure out ways to rise above the tide of anti-worker sentiment so common in the workplace today. Few of us will ever be rich, but most would settle for reasonable work hours, workload expectations, and enough money to enjoy the pursuit of happiness our constitution promises us. If we want the American Dream to be anything other than an outdated concept for us, we will have to learn how to be creative, not work long hard hours only to line the pockets of someone more fortunate.

Be Creative

Regardless of the times, I am unwilling to accept the verdict of things only getting worse. I recently did some research and decided becoming a DUI Instructor, and perhaps starting my own DUI School might be a way for me to eventually earn more money and have more flexibility and control over my work life. I could probably also work closer to home, and the classes only include twenty hours per week. Doing more research on the subject, I discovered I already have all the education I need other than one week long course that is offered at a cost of $700 through the Georgia Department of Transportation. My plan is to continue working on my present job while I plan my future, a retirement with just enough work to earn the money I need and keep me alert and productive, and just enough money to do some of the things I want to do. I don't expect to be among the wealthy, but I do hope to have a lucrative enough income to enjoy a full and interesting life.