Surely more than once you have heard, or been told directly, the phrase “at least you have a job , which today is a privilege.” And it is that, since the economic crisis of 2008, and the even greater growth of unemployment, any job seems to us a miracle. We value more the fact of having a working relationship, even if it is not satisfactory. However, employment does not have to be at any price , because of this, we are losing attention to many aspects of great relevance in labor conditions and relations, which Work and Organization Psychology has been studying all its life. and valuing.
Therefore, although there is greater difficulty in finding employment , it is normal that many people, even working, do not feel comfortable in their position, their company, their sector, their profession , their environment, etc. It’s totally normal so you don’t have to feel guilty.
Unemployment should not justify poor quality work
If we stick to talking about working conditions , we must realize an issue. It is not only what we perceive around us, the types of jobs that people we know have, or ourselves. It is that the labor market has also changed, it has become very precarious. This is not a consequence of the crisis, although this historical event did help accelerate this process. The economic model has been changing since the end of the 20th century, and this started a necessary process of modification of the labor market . In this way, the jobs we face are, in a common way, temporary, that is, we start with a temporary contract that sometimes we know will not be renewed, and sometimes we are not sure, which makes it difficult for us to make plans. beyond the subsequent months.
We also face low wages, underground economy, part-time contracts in situations in which we would like a full-time (it is different from when we have to combine work with other tasks, such as studying, etc.), working hours above hours. stipulated without overtime pay, non-respect of other labor rights, etc. This is not the circumstances of a specific company, but it is a widespread and diversified reality . For this reason, the labor market is not so encouraging, but we need it to live, in addition to the fact that for many people, employment develops us as people.
What if I have acceptable conditions? Am I a selfish person?
The situations that generate discomfort are many. One of these situations may occur:
– Copper well, but work too much
– You like your job, but the salary is very low .
– Do not be comfortable or comfortable with your superiors,
– Have bad relationships with colleagues
– You are a victim of harassment, also known as mobbing
– You want to turn your professional career around
– Your current profession is not what you expected
– You want to go to another city , or return to your place of origin
– You have developed a kind of indifference towards your work and the people you serve (which could be suspected of Burnout Syndrome)
– Your superiors are people with whom you get along well and you do not want to leave them, but the job does not satisfy you
Whatever the origin of your discomfort, it is affecting two aspects: one, in your performance at work. Little by little you lose interest and even if you fulfill your obligations, motivation, creativity, the opportunity to improve processes and results, etc. are lost. On the other hand, it would affect your well-being. That is, there are people who do not like their work very much, but value their non-work life more, so they use it as a tool to further develop other facets of their life. They bear it and it does not cause them discomfort.
But, for other people, work is a dimension in which they want to develop, and that is why they want and need to feel that it has that significant aspect for their lives. None of the options is bad, each person can decide what we put our efforts on. So, if a person sees that their work creates a vacuum, staying in it for a long time can cause psychological damage, especially stress. Job satisfaction is a psychological variable that is studied a lot in research, and it is directly related to many aspects of our mental health, so we should not take it as a trivial question.
Therefore, to this source of discomfort we cannot add guilt . And, as we explained in this other article , today there is a social discourse and a culture of guilt, and that is causing us serious psychological damage (anxiety, depression, addictions, eating disorders, etc.).
What can I do if I don’t like my job?
If you want to change jobs, we recommend making a plan. It will no longer be the same to last longer in your work knowing that you have a new purpose and a vision of the future, than thinking that it will be like this in a more chronic way (we are talking about permanent contracts, or contracts of limited duration but that are longer, for example, a year or two). Contact a labor counselor to help you with this purpose if you find it complicated, which you will find in municipal offices, in associations with job placement assistance services, etc., at your university if you have recently stopped studying , or in a private office. It will teach you strategies, while helping you see which companies or positions you would be a good fit for based on your interests.
Perhaps you prefer to leave your job directly and start looking for another with more time and dedication, or you see that you can make it compatible with active search . All of these are decisions that you will have to make in your plan. At Bekia Psicología we give you some advice on how to carry out this plan if your interest is to take a radical turn in your professional career .
And do not worry about what others say, people and jobs must fit well, that is the reason why psychologists do the selection processes. Perhaps later a much more motivated person will enter your position who will find a perfect place for them. You just have to look for yours, which is not always easy, but neither should we resign ourselves to putting up with an unsatisfactory employment relationship.
