Finished a long distance phone call an hour ago with a friend. I can’t help but thinking over the grievances he shared with me about his job. Admittedly, the employment market does not look favourable at present. With increasing pandemic cases, it will take a while before recovery sign surfaces. Unfortunately, Covid doesn’t discriminate geographically where we could opt for potential escape route.
Right, it is tough. Recalling the first half of last year when many were put on furloughed. Eventually half of those furloughed got retrenched. Yesterday, BBC News reported that UK economy shrank by 2.6% in November after England’s second shutdown. Back in Asia, Singapore as a developed country saw an increase in unemployment rate by 0.8% in September 2020. Whilst it may not be as severe as this part of Europe, the impact of Covid is felt across the globe.
Those who secured their positions are considered lucky. Nevertheless, every position comes with heavy commitment. Organisations have taken the opportunity to review their used-to-be tall structure. Dicing, slicing, and flattening hierarchy to what is necessary. Job enlargement is expected from those who stay, mostly without additional compensation. Measures taken by organisations are necessary for the sake of organisational survival. These measures put complacent employees to real test. It is indeed stressful, and definitely a wake-up call to dreamers.
On one hand, it’s easy to rationalise how organisations work. On the other, it ain’t easy for the people working within. There is an emotional puzzle to deal with. ‘Suck it up, ride it through as having a job pays your bill” lacks of empathy and impossible to ignore. It seems like life is no longer about luxury, but survival. Without a job is an issue. Job security is questionable despite having a job. Job hopping is a risky option. Anyway, is the grass greener on the other side? – We don’t know.
We moan about our discontent with hope to dissolve fear. Still, uncertainties are unavoidable, and they are beyond our control. We can moan all we want, discontent just doesn’t dissolve on its own. Instead, we can manage it to our advantage. Regrettably, discontentment does build up over time if left unattended. At worst case, it take over us.
“I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” ― Edward Everett
Times have changed. Changes can be scary but inevitable. All we need is to bravely confront challenges ahead of us. Adapting into new norm, and seizing opportunities beneath each challenge. Just because we aren’t able to do what we used to, it doesn’t mean new ways of working are all bad. Perhaps with more responsibilities we’ll discover new knowledge and skills. Patience is imperative in weathering the storm especially in current climate when lifestyle is subject to pandemic daily stats and government intervention.
Gone are the days when we can afford to be petty over slight discomforts. How about maneuvering the way we think, segregating what we could and couldn’t control, and focus on what we could do within our means, one step at a time? For those that are beyond our control, it is only wise to let them go.
