Inhuman Resources

      I used to laugh at the people who I worked with when they were having problems with management. Why couldn't they just do what they were told and try not to make waves. Why would someone jeopardize a $50,000 a year job just because they had a personal conflict with someone who was paid to make sure they did the job right? Unfortunately, getting along with others has not been a strong point in human history, getting along is sometimes more of a chore than it needs to be. My habit has always been to ignore people who I think I might have problems with. I have also come to realize that this is not the most sane thing to do. There are those who welcome being snubbed as an invitation for conflict and sadly the only thing available to arrest this problem is usually an embarrassing blow-out that ends up hurting both parties more than a mutual snub could ever cause.

   Working with the same people every day doing mundane, stressful work is very hard on the central nervous system. Tensions build to incredible heights and the lack of a proper venting system endangers all that are involved. A lack of oversight and maintenance by those in charge certainly leads to some form of leakage, one example would be the amount of sick time taken by the ones who are unable to control their Tourette's and choose to stay home rather than face the inevitable battle of getting along with people they don't like.

   Last year was supposed to be the year for Mental Health in the work place but I saw very little interest evidenced. In fact it is still regarded as taboo and the people who really need the help are being ignored and the ones suffering their abuses are blamed for not co-existing within the Company parameters. The fact is, people are being bullied to cope with heavier volumes of mail, a fear of using sick time due to actual harassment and a generally hostile work environment that does little to protect the well-being of the souls sheltered within.

   I can only think about Bob Cratchitt, slaving away on Christmas day, employed by a miserable, tight-fisted uncaring employer. When you see a letter carrier sauntering down the road on a beautiful summer day, humming a tune and genuinely looking as though they have the best job in the world, try and remember all that snow and rain, sleet and hail are not the only barriers faced by a struggling workforce.