Let’s talk about work. First the entertainment, and then the questions. You can start with the best cover of this song about that I’ve heard. You’re welcome.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Today I want to know, why does that song resonate so much? I’m sure there are exceptions, but I’ve never met anyone who can resist rocking, tapping, snapping. We hear it and suddenly we connect to a coal miner working for the man. There are other songs, too, a whole genre. And we relate, no matter how far removed our reality.
I’ve worked in one form or fashion for over 50 years, ever since I lied about my age and landed my first job at a par 3 golf course and driving range. I lied about my abilities, too, but I figured out what I need to know on the fly. I’ve worked for myself, and I’ve worked for others. Some settings were dirty and sweaty and physically demanding, many were anything but. Some bosses were great, some were awful, most were somewhere in between. For the last 20 plus years I’ve made a professional study of work, workplaces, how employees relate to their workplaces and how those workplaces treat their people.
This stands out: almost everyone loves to complain about their work. Most of the time we don’t even actually mean it, but we do it anyway. It’s water cooler talk – we connect over the shared misery about work that we often don’t actually feel.
What’s that about? I’m looking to start a conversation about that. I’m convinced this has implications for our happiness, for work productivity, and for health, especially our mental health.
Do you complain about work, and/or how busy you are? Do you mean it? Why do you do it? Do you think it matters?
More to come.
Dr Les Kertay
