Climbing Kilimanjaro or Everest

In life we have so many challenges that come our way. Some big and some small. We only ever really see the size f the challenge when it's over because while going over and through it, it always feels like we are attempting to climb Mount Everest.

This recession is a good example of a time when people are really being challenged mostly at work. I've heard people say 'be glad you have a job' even when one is being abused at work. Some employers are failing to maximise on their employees' abilities, creativeness and enthusiasm to help sustain and save their companies from closure. They are frustrating workers because they have nowhere to go, there are no jobs out there!

There are lot of unhappy, disgruntled and demotivated employees. Morale is at its lowest and some employers see docile employees as employees that would have conformed. Some bosses don't realise that an unhappy employee is hardly one full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm to even try and or implement new ideas.
They keep quiet just for the next pay cheque so they can pay for their upkeep. When moral goes it takes with it the essence that every business needs to survive and to be competitive. Businesses that are in sales or that sell services and products can see easily the downturn coming.

Not-for-profit businesses are a different matter though. A lot of them don't assess their progress or even do assessments of what hey need to improve on. As long as they are there tomorrow they are fine. Usually even when they shut down its not considered a failure but lack of funding. A lot of organisations don't measure morale levels because its always assumed employees are happy because they work there.

How then does one get thankful for a job when all it is, is a pay cheque? A job is meant to be more than that and there are many books written about job fulfilment and satisfaction (Job Satisfaction: Application, Assessment, Causes, and Consequences (Advanced Topics in Organizational Behavior)). If a job is not feeding your soul and each morning is met with dread and apprehension how then can you say 'thanks for the job'? So many companies now have employees that wish they could quit their jobs but can't because they need the money. That situation doesn't help either the company or the employee. Both suffer tremendous losses and many may never recover.

The recession has really shown the good from the bad, the committed from those that don't care and realising that employees are not diminishing assets but invaluable assets will help those that care for their staff beat the recession. Some though sadly will make it because of past glory or just because they do. Apart from that employers need to know that employees don't go to work to make friends but to improve their lives both physically and spiritually. A job half-heartedly done will half-heartedly save the company, unfortunately the halves for the company as they accumulate, can result in a massive loss.