In catching up with a radio news program I heard an article about people who work in the service industry. Those who smile to customers when they may not feel happy, but have to present the smile face. It was found they suffered from burnout. Otherwise known as high emotional exhaustion. When I worked in the service sector I used to think why should I try and put on a happy face when I was not happy. The research indicated, service sector employees would get jaded and cynical. Further their mental health would become an issue. As Shakespeare said "be true to yourself." If you feel sad be sad. If happy then be happy. It's OK, but if it goes on for too long then people can think you are strange. There is an individual who comes into the Fish Factory with a happy face. Says "good morning" and asks how other fishes are, however, when on the receiving end it does not feel genuine. It does not feel like a real "hello" with content. It consequently becomes difficult to reply to this person. I then don't want to say "hello" because in the back of my mind I want to say "for feck sake be miserable and show your true colours" or maybe a little sarcasm along the lines of "Yes, I am so happy I could take my clothes of and sing the national anthem while dancing to the Birdee song." I can see the puzzled look on their face now and most likely the startled look of all the other fishes in the organization. There might even be the odd one asking I do just what I said, then getting out their camera phone to video it. Fine think that would be. I'd be unemployable for the rest of my life, I'd have to change my name or go into an employee witness protection program. Perhaps get plastic surgery so nobody ever recognises me again. Hell, better take the sarcastic thoughts out of my mind, I could get into serious trouble.
Then I got to thinking why should someone believe they should come into a workplace and put on a happy face all the time. They certainly don't get away with it, because other people will think or know the same. Know there is something off about the individual. It's like they have not accepted today is going to be a crap day. Personally I accept crap days. I don't care what other people think and sit with my head down getting on with my job with as little communication as possible. Except for the fact of being a middle fish there is always someone who wants to talk to you. I stick in ear plugs and they still talk to me. I need to get a big sign made and hang it above my work station, "having a bad day nobody fecking talk to me, or I'll kill" it might just do it. It might just keep away those vexatious questions form fishes who already know the answer and just want other people to hear them out. Hell we could all bloody moan for hours on end, but the moaning doesn't help, just get on with it. I should shout this out, but I'd probably then become unpopular. Hell there are times when I wish I'd just speak my mind and be damned with being unpopular. Let them get both barrels of the double barrelled shot gun of discontent. I'm sure it would startle and perhaps shock a few. But they deserve it.
I once heard it said, some employers do not employ people they think are smarter than they are. There is probably some truth in it. Then the not so smart people can be taken advantage off, like being told they have to be happy when they are not. Put on a smiley face. That sort of thing. I was chatting to my hairdresser a couple of days ago. He lives in France and commutes to the UK. He said as a self employed person he is always motivated to do his job. The motivation comes from within he said. So his smile would be genuine, being his own employee he could work what hours he liked, it gave him freedom. Further it wasn't just about making a profit. For him it was about making a living. He just wanted to get on with life. Enjoy his family and pay the bills. In a way this is kind of inspiring. It was hard work from what he was saying, but he really didn't mind. He is the only person he is accountable to, the boss is the boss. I expect there's a lot of things to think about when self employed. In his view though work was a means to live his life but not everything.
Then some of us are born to be grumpy old gits. It's genetic, so get over it and stop pestering me before I bite your head off.
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