Getting out of the rat race
Employees who are finding the going very tough often approach a HR professional. It is a fact of 21st century life, that any of us can get in a rut from time to time. Who hasn’t had a moment in their lives where they have asked the question: “Why am I doing this?”
Whether it's who they have become, the business they are in, the latest promotion, or lack of it, or maybe the routine of their work, sometimes an individual just comes to a roadblock. They wake up one morning and realise, they are just not enjoying their working life – or their life, in general. When they get to speak to HR, they may be saying they are not happy in the rat race and they want a review.
The question is then, ‘how to respond?’ If the person is a valuable member of staff, it may not be appropriate to simply help him or her get out of the company.
On the other hand, when individuals reach the point where they are no longer able to contribute positively, and they are not happy making the effort, there is an obligation to help.
If a worker feels as though, despite longer hours at work, they don’t have time for anything, especially thinking about ways to do things differently, it may well be time for a time-out.
Being over busy, over stretched and totally occupied all the time, is not positive. Workers get to the stage where they are usually reacting to things going on around them, rather than acting out of choice.
Sometimes the wisest decision for the individual is to make an active choice to take a rest, a vacation, talk it out with someone they trust, blow off steam or do whatever it takes to get some perspective about the situation.
The HR advisor should be ready to recommend such a chance to reflect and to facilitate it.
Just taking this sort of step will often make the individual feel more in control, and can help to streamline the energy they may need for any changes that lie ahead. In the ideal situation, whether the person is to stay or go, the decision needs to be a positive choice towards a more fulfilling working life rather than something negative.
If there is a promise at the heart of the new economy, it is this: individuals should all do work that matters. Today, executives everywhere put in too many hours, and accumulate too much stress, to work at something that isn't personally engaging and rewarding.
That said, probably far too many people are willing to accept the notion that the new economy's promise simply doesn't apply to them. They still trudge off to work in the morning, tacitly accepting that they are stuck with whatever life deals them - or, alternatively, that while their work may be unsatisfying, at least it provides the material definition of success. As a result, at some stage, they get to the point where they feel that they are forced into making a fateful, either-or decision: Either make a living or make a life.
Of course, a great many people talk about taking the next exit out of the rat race, yet few actually do it. Some simply aren't serious. Others fear the unknown. Others need help.
One of the keys for making worthwhile change is to be realistic about how big the change will be. It is not simply a matter of retiring. Dropping out of the rat race means a serious lifestyle shift.
Where HR are called in to advise an individual, they should stress this point. To be able to afford to give up that high-powered job, people probably need to substantially downsize all aspects of their life--house, car and entertainment budget included.
For many people, it can even mean moving house to a region where the cost of living is cheaper. Before going too far, they need a reality check. They should be encouraged to imagine their new life in day-to-day detail.
When they think about things carefully, it may be that they don't need a new life at all, but just a healthy dose of balance in their current job.
