Working for a living

I read an article in The Guardian a while ago which I thought was quite telling. It said:

“Happiness combines pleasure, meaning and excellence – a satisfying job, for example, is one you consider enjoyable, important and suited to your skills. If that doesn’t describe yours, work out what factors are missing and find leisure activities that tick those boxes”

Recently I was talking to a friend about the article and she asked me which of those three elements did I feel was missing from my job. I thought about it and then replied “Actually, all three”. That was certainly pause for thought.

Whilst going to Russia was good in itself, I think part of the appeal was that I was able to escape work for several days – and on my return the cloud descended at the thought of going back to work. I have to conclude this isn’t good.

There is a vague sign of hope that things might change in that my head of unit leaves today, but my new head of unit has already started and we have already seen some of what she id like and it isn’t looking good. Morale in the team has sunk right down again. One person had an interview for a new job yesterday, another is trying to find out if he can transfer out, a third told me he is thinking about leaving and a fourth found out he has got the job he applied for recently. That just gives a brief snapshot of how discontent people are. I have spoken to a couple of them to try and reassure them a bit, but to be honest they are hollow words. I am trying to convince them to stay somewhere that I myself plan to leave.

On Wednesday I was sitting at my desk and suddenly though “I can’t do this any more”, by which I mean that not only do I find it untenable to continue working in my current unit, but actually I realise that I feel the same about carrying on working for the organisation at all. The pressure seems to be on all over the place and I think you reach a point where you decide it isn’t worth it any more. It is actually quite a momentous decision for me to decide that the best option is to leave the entire organisation. I have always been very loyal to it, but I think the working environment is so unpleasant that I don’t want to be there.

So my latest task is to find a new job, preferably somewhere that they value their staff and treat them with a bit of respect. At last I start some tentative steps to see if I can tunnel my way out. Let’s hope there is some light at the end of it - and it’s not the headlights of an oncoming truck.