Pretending It’s My Own Money
“We’re one big family here” — that’s something you hear from many employers, and I don’t get why they think that’ll win me over. When I take a job, I do it with integrity. I have a camaraderie with my colleagues, and if I feel respected and treated humanely, I treat my employers the same way. Over my career, I’ve worked with many people, some for the long haul, and we built great professional and personal relationships. But I believe mutual respect starts with both sides understanding: we’re all here for the money, and no one is doing anyone a favor.
That also means knowing where responsibilities end: if there aren’t enough people, if the workload suddenly increases, or if there’s an extra task, that’s not my problem. This isn’t stubbornness or bad work attitude—it’s a fact. This isn’t my company, so it’s not my responsibility. And if it is, then the profit should come my way accordingly. But putting my heart and soul into MY BOSS’S company just to make it more profitable for THEM? That’s a totally absurd idea.
Mandatory Leisure Activities
Suggesting the team hang out after work is one thing. But organizing a company team-building event ON THE WEEKEND? That’s something I just can’t understand anyone thinking is a good idea. Well, actually, I do: the owner’s life revolves around the company, so they assume it’s just as important to me (see above), and it’s just a bonus that they’re even paying for my food. But the truth is, I want to spend my weekend doing everything but work-related stuff. Strengthening workplace relationships definitely falls into that category. If you don’t pay me for it, you don’t get my day off. Not even for a buffet breakfast.
Stress—Yes, Seriously!
Compared to entrepreneurship, I think the biggest—and maybe only—advantage of being an employee is peace of mind. The freedom, flexibility, and integrity that come with freelancing are worth giving up only for a steady paycheck and the ability to turn off my phone exactly at 4 PM and stop thinking about work.
Having run my own business, I know a company owner can’t do that. But that’s the sacrifice they make for freedom, flexibility, and integrity. As an employee, my job is to do the work assigned to me, but how that turns into money isn’t my concern.
For some reason, saying this—or at least not stressing about it—seems unacceptable in the corporate world. If I don’t play along with the act of living and breathing this job, people almost blame me for not stressing over a project or the company’s future. My simple answer? Because it’s not my company. And if that’s the case, maybe I should just go back to my own business. There, I’m my own boss and deal with far less nonsense.
Opening image: AleksandarNakic/istockphoto.com
