- Sabrina C
- Brussels
- Belgium
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What is the most important to you? A good wage or a good atmosphere at your workplace with nice colleagues?
Of course, a good working atmosphere is the assumption for happiness at work and success of the company. But what is the most important to you? Your wage? Or the atmosphere at work?
Topics:
Happy workplaces colleagues salary wage
Lalla Marie Butterfield
Having been in a no-win situation for several years (the office bully continually barking orders at me and others, and a boss who refused to listen to anyone except the "squeaky wheel"), I finally decided, "I matter, too!" Unfortunately (at the time), I was ousted for speaking up the one and only time I chose to do so. The boss literally snapped and said to me, "You can speak, but nothing you say will matter." Well!! Good riddance!
I am now in a very, very nice place with people who genuinely care for one another, say "I'm sorry" if they've hurt someone's feelings, and where all give an honest effort to work together. No, it is not perfect, but the former boss's inept management skills and lack of caring is what was missing, and I did not realize the degree that place was affecting my health until I was out of there. I think above all else, at least for me, the caring and concern and effort to work together surpass the highest wage. If (due to caring working relationships) I leave at the end of my day with a smile on my face, as opposed to being silenced in the face of continual, allowed harassment, I think I've got it pretty good.
When I heard the above words from my former boss, I chose not to "fight for" that job...if I was going to be treated that way, it was not worth it.
Sabrina C
I am very happy for you that you found such a nice workplace. I agree with you that going home with a big smile on your face at the end of the day is truly important. Indeed, it is not worth fighting for a job when you are treated badly.
I had also opened up another conversation platform regarding bullying in the workplace a few weeks ago. You can have a look at the conversations there if you like (http://www.ted.com/conversations/7276/what_would_you_do_when_a_colle.html)
Lalla Marie Butterfield
In my previous situation, the bully left the workplace filthy, such that the next person to use our shared room had to clean it before it was usable for patient care (I am in healthcare, and yes, I am talking about visible blood). After WEEKS of this, I brought it to the boss's attention, who decided to "watch" this person clean the room at the end of the day, and, no surprise, when watched, the room became spotless. The boss dismissed the issue, and I was forced to continue to clean up after this person until I left, several years later. I found blood on our computer monitor the week I left the office. Other co-workers told me over the years how messy this person was, so I know it was not my imagination. We have responsibilities in healthcare, and there is no excuse for this.
I received multiple notes over the years (from the bully) telling me what to do: how to make chart entries, put this supply here, don't put that there, do this, don't do that, and even once was told not to use a certain cupboard in our room (since, on the days she was there, that worked for her. My response was, "Fine, but what about the days you are not here?" She did not respond).
There was even stomping down the hall and slamming doors--of course, the boss was gone those days--and the behavior was never "reported" by the manager. At the end, the bully circulated inaccurate and accusatory emails, which brought me forward. This bully is loud and forceful, and the boss did not know how to handle her. I refused to tolerate more. Recourse? Thoughts, anyone?
Comment deleted
Sabrina C
Kaiyi Liu
Adriaan Braam 20+
I grew up and worked there till I was 32. Then moved to Canada, 33 years ago. If I had moved here for the reason of working I would have been back in Holland a long time ago.
Working conditions (benefits) in Canada are, I'd say, about 75% as good and in the US about 50%.
One basic difference is the government there is social(istic). To me that means (and felt like) the workers (people) were protected from businesses. Unions were hardly needed (and differently organized) and strikes were seldom.
There is probably a newspaper article "Going Dutch" still down-loadable somewhere...
Sabrina C
Adriaan Braam 20+
Unions are organized in the same 'triangle' style as company management. More at the bottom and one at the top.
Also both sides have the same information about the company, it's plans, finances etc. So if an issue comes up it is discussed, not fought over. Union management can determine and negotiate realistically what it wants because it knows what is available. Negotiations are just that! They are not a war, like in England and NAmerica. As you know, with a war both sides loose.
It would be impossible to have the situation where the union gets what it wants "we have won!!" but then the company goes bankrupt..
The result is that benefits are (were?) much better in Holland than many other places. If I'd gone to Canada to be a happy worker, I would have been back in Holland a long time ago. Sometimes people asked me, "Have you seen much of Canada yet? And I'd say, There is not much you can see in one or two weeks of holidays. If I'd wanted to see a lot of Canada I should have stayed in Holland. I had close to two months off. Everybody has several weeks off whether it is the first year or not. Everybody also has a company pension wherever they work..
This is the link to that article in NY-Times I mentioned,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03european-t.html?pagewanted=all
Sabrina C
Chris Aldon 20+
Salim Solaiman 50+
One who does not have job and in need of money definitely will look for wage.
Once enough wage is ensured definitely it will be atmosphere and peer relation.
Debra Smith 200+
I am happy to give up a well paying job in order to find work that is truly meaningful to me.
Sabrina C
Working in a good atmosphere and doing something meaningful is indeed very important.
As we bring more time at the workplace a negative atmosphere can have bad consequences on our mental health. I can imagine myself giving up a well paying job in order to find a meaningful one as well.
lynn eschbach 30+