EMPLOYEES at Pfizer in Newbridge have recently experienced shock and disappointment, tinged with some relief because now at least some of the wondering is over and some of what is planned is known.
This news makes us realise yet again how precarious jobs can be and how tenuous our sense of security can be. Uncertainty about continuation of employment and income can make life very difficult.
Jobs used to be for life very often, providing security, stability and structure. Now people can expect many changes over the course of their working life. These can include moving from one company to another, periods of unemployment, periods of retraining or upskilling and sometimes complete changes of occupation.
The RTE TV programme currently running on Sunday nights, Rising after Redundancy, which follows six people who are trying to find new paths in their working lives highlights these possibilities. More and more people can expect to have short term contracts or to work on a self employed basis.
This can lead to uncertainty about the future no work for some and unrealistic workloads for those still in employment where staff numbers have been reduced. In addition to job insecurity, many people have also taken pay cuts, while still doing the same amount of work or more.
Being in paid employment is usually thought to be a good thing. It is one way to earn a living, provide identity, offer contact and friendship with other people, provide structure and a purpose in life. But demanding workloads can place a lot of pressure on people for whom the notion of saying “no, I can’t do that” feels like an impossibility, carrying with it the risk of disapproval and maybe censure.
It might actually feel easier to say nothing and just get on with it. And it’s not just the thought of criticism from a manager which makes it difficult! The knowledge that co-workers are equally reluctant to say no increases the sense of competition and pressure to be seen as obliging and competent as them. For who knows when the next set of cutbacks or financial crisis will happen and then who will be let go. This can lead to working longer and longer hours, a culture of “presenteeism” and the growth of stress
Stress is defined as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed upon them”. A certain amount is needed to get things done but it becomes a problem when it threatens our capacity to meet the demands placed on us. Stress overloading can have many adverse effects. At a physical level it can lead to disturbed sleep, fatigue and TATT (tired all the time), headaches, joint and back pain, digestive issues, a compromised immune system which allows us pick up things more easily and slows our rate of healing. It can affect us emotionally so that we may feel more sensitive, anxious or depressed, angry or helpless, guilty or ashamed.
At a cognitive level it can cause absent mindedness, poor concentration, poor memory. It can lead us to engage in destructive self talk, impair our judgement and ability to make decisions and destroy our self confidence. At a behavioural level it can prompt us to withdraw and become inactive, it can cause us to take work home leaving very little time for relaxation and fun, it can lead us to smoke more, seek solace in alcohol or drugs, reduce our libido and sex drive.
Individual stress overloading can be very difficult to manage, particularly if the organisation itself is under stress. But we can see from all the above issues which can arise just how important it is to be aware of when we are feeling stressed and take steps to look after ourselves. John Ruskin, the writer who lived from 1819 to 1900 said: “In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it.” I will explore this in my next column.
Evelyn Burke, MIACP, Counsellor / Psychotherapist practising in Naas
www.naascounselling.ie