Take This Job, And...Suck It Up?

How does one deal with job frustrations in a time of economic strife and country-wide layoffs? A time in which companies are going through hiring freezes and the cost of everything from health care to food is going up? Do you voice your concerns and frustrations to your supervisor, in the hopes of things improving? Or do you suck it up and just keep doing what you're doing, for fear that you will get fired, and won't be able to find another job, in a timely fashion? Would an employee fire someone, for voicing displeasure with their job, or the way in which the company handles things? Is it worth the cost of unemployment combined with the cost of posting job ad's, hiring and training a new employee? Or, is it worth letting go of a unhappy employee and hiring someone, whom yes, will need to be trained, but who has perhaps been out of work, for awhile, and therefore just so happy to have a job again that they will put with anything?

If you do choose to voice your concerns or displeasure with an employer in the current job market, should you, just to err on the side of caution, have already started looking for another job, should you at least have some irons in the fire? Do potential job seekers need to be more open to the possibility of picking up and moving, to another part of the country where they may be more opportunities, rather than limiting themselves to only looking in the area in which they currently reside? And, if married, how does that possibility affect the spouse and the career prospects? (The world is full of people who don't want to move for a different job opportunity, because they don't want to uproot their kids, have them change schools, etc. But, as an Army Brat myself, I have never had much understanding or sympathy for that line of thinking...kids adjust far easier than adults do, and there is a lot to be said for the educational and sociological experiences that come with not living in the same place for ones entire life. You go where the work is. And, in the long run, which is worse for the child, moving to a place, or seeing their parents depressed, out of work, and struggling financially?)

I am seeing, more and more, people who are frustrated in their current jobs. Frustrated, because of budget cuts, restructuring and hiring freezes, they are faced with the inability to do much to grow, or receive much support in their efforts towards professional development. And, the frustration is only increased by the fear that they are not in a position to speak out, given concern of being laid-off. (Even if a company doesn't fire you for voicing displeasure, the threat of future lay-offs always seems to be looming.)

What can companies do to ensure that their employees are remaining satisfied in their jobs, ensuring that they don't choose to look for other jobs, once the economy and job market improves? Will there be an onslaught, once things to pick up again, of people resigning from their jobs, to look for better opportunities, after months or even years of feeling dissatisfied and unappreciated? While companies, both for profit and nonprofits are being forced, more and more, to demonstrate their transparency with the general public, could they be doing a better job of demonstrating it to their employees, giving a better understanding of where the company is and where it's headed?

Both employers and employees seem to be dancing on the edge of a knife. No one, in the current state of financial affairs, can really afford to be out of work, but can employers really run the risk of being further short-staffed, should employees resign, given the number of lay-offs and hiring freezes that have, or are, currently, taking place? How can both parties be satisfied, fulfilled, and productive? Because, there is a big difference between a job and a career, and most people want careers. But, it seems, more and more that even those who are in their careers are feeling as though it's just a job, but stuck to do much about it. And, which is more beneficial to an employer...someone who feels that they're being treated fairly and given opportunity to grow, professionally, someone who is satisfied, or someone who feels that they have no idea what is going on from one day to the next, within the company for which they work, feeling as though they're walking on eggshells, and feeling infuriated when they see the bonuses that were paid to the CEO and COO, on the companies tax returns?

It seems that honesty may be the best policy on both fronts...the employee needs to be honest about how their feeling, their career goals, et al, the employer needs to be honest with the employees, regarding finances and the track that the company is on. And, both need to be able to feel as though they can do without fear of retribution. And, that's the rub, it seems....