Water Cooler Conversations

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Only in America!  How many times have you uttered those words or heard them in response to the great freedoms we enjoy in this country.  I for one feel incredibly fortunate to have opportunities that would not be afforded to me and my family in most other countries on this good earth. Our Constitution continues to be challenged, but has stood the test of time well. Our forefathers certainly had great vision for the future.

The beauty of our freedom in America is the opportunity to control our destiny.  For instance, how we earn a living is a choice.  I have yet to meet someone who is truly being forced to work in a certain occupation or stay at a company or be satisfied with their compensation.  Unfortunately over the past 29 plus years serving in human resources related jobs I have met hundreds of people who act as if a gun were pointed at their head forcing them to serve a “life sentence” of job dissatisfaction. 

I remain perplexed as to why people stay in jobs they hate.  “Living” for the weekend and only enjoying two out of every seven days is a tough road. 

Retirement is often “sold” to us as the time of our lives when we are truly free to enjoy life. Let’s see if I understand this concept.  I’ll trudge through life until I have enough money to get out of the “rat race”.  Then I can really enjoy every day.  So let’s see - if I work forty years and am fortunate to live a full retirement (about 25 years on average) I can look back an tell my grandchildren how great life was for about 2/5 of my adult life.  Yea, right.  I would not wish this on anyone.

Why not retire today (if you hate your job)!  I propose to folks that they should not put off retirement from jobs where they are unhappy.  When people are dissatisfied with their jobs, they suffer, their company, friends and family also suffer.  Unbelievably, people even get killed over job dissatisfaction.

There is an interesting irony in our American culture.  We publicize and encourage people to follow their dreams in this land of opportunity.  On the other hand, our culture also encourages people to focus on the day when they don’t have to do what they supposedly like to do anymore.  

An ideal situation for many folks is to follow a path that allows them to live out their lives in a way that supports their passion.  From people who love to lay brick to those who put out fires to those who buy and sell companies, a common denominator of their happiness is that their work is their passion.  I am sure you have heard the saying, “love to work at work you love”.

What a country!

If you bought sparklers for your July 4th celebration, you should light one up tonight.  Either celebrate the fact that you are free from job dissatisfaction or make today your Independence Day!  Perhaps one day you can look back and see the foresight you once had to enjoy the great freedom this land has to offer.  What a finale!

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Look out Ohio…there appears to be a pretty good chance that the Ohio Health Families Act will be on the November ballot…this is the proposed state of Ohio law that would require businesses with at least 25 employees to earn 7 paid sick days per year.  Add the administrative burden underlying this proposed law and you have another dagger in the back of small and mid size businesses.

There is no doubt that some businesses still need to get on the “bus” relative to providing fair and consistent paid time off benefits for full and part-time employees.  But, this is no reason to punish the rest of the organizations out there who are providing meaningful, fair compensation, benefits and paid time off to their workforce. 

I am afraid that this proposed law is gaining momentum to be on the November Ballot and the “polls” indicate that if it does, there is a pretty good likelihood that it will pass.  This will be a sad day in Ohio.  Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy.  Those voting “Yes” to the proposed law may think they will be winning the battle but will find out they lost the war and possibly their jobs.  Yep - this will hurt jobs and job creation.

We encourage you to educate your employees as we approach the November election - it is not too soon to start.

This is one Act we can afford to miss.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Another first Tuesday in November has come and gone.  Hopefully your candidate and/or Issue won.

The days and weeks leading up to an election are pretty interesting and lead me to the following observations:

• What other profession (Politicians) do you know where you can spend a good part of your time on your current job campaigning to keep your job or better yet, campaigning to get a better job?
• After watching so many mudslinging ads I am amazed that we elect any of the people involved in these ridiculous displays.
• Wouldn’t it be nice to get a new job by simply putting up obnoxious signs on neighborhood lawns?
• Why don’t they find the time to go door to door to see how we are doing after the election?
• Why do they get to make solicitation phone calls (to get elected) to our homes when private businesses cannot?

I am sure you have your own observations about the election process.  It is pretty amazing that many of us are just now using technology at the election booths and it is 2007!  This is scary stuff.

Most people that work do not get or keep jobs the way that politicians gain their positions.  For us non-political types it’s not about ad campaigns, eloquent speeches, public appearances in parades and kissing babies.

Perhaps one day, our election process might become a bit more progressive if it mirrored the way people find and keep jobs in the non-political sector.  Maybe if that day arrives, we will provide jobs to individuals who truly earn the title Political Leader.  And, their new campaign slogan will be:

Enclosed is my Resume.