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Workplace Challenges...
The modern workplace brings many challenges because the people are now finding themselves ever more part of a structure that is constantly looking at ways to decrease costs and improve efficiency. Sadly, this now comes at a cost to the people who work hard for the companies they are employed by and for all the work and sacrifice they make for these companies, many don't get much back in return for their labour.
The working landscape is changing significantly, at a very rapid pace and as companies progress with their streamlining strategies, the workers are told about the benefits for the company, yet they (the workers) have to accept they'll be worse off.
The workers concede when told how fortunate they are to still have a job whilst other companies are letting their workers go.
There are many challenges facing our workforces today and it's a growing consensus of disappointment, bewilderment and at times a feeling of lost hope.
Over the years, many industrial organisations such as the factories, mechanical and engineering firms, mining, cars/transport, ship building and whatever else you can think of have long reduced or even disappeared because of consolidation and automation.
Many young people left the classroom merely a child, took their rucksacks and quickly entered the adult world of work in which they gave the company a weeks work in return for a weeks pay. They didn't get paid brilliantly and the benefits they received weren't possibly great either.
Yet they earned enough money to get a start in life and that money was spent in their local communities.
Within these communities were a vast array of shops, pubs and other businesses for them to spend their money and all of it was local.
This is only a brief outline yet the point being many people had a regular job with regular income at the end of the week/month and even earned a reasonable wage.
Some industries paid a 'piece rate pay' system that incentivised their workers to produce more output and increase productivity.
It was not unusual for factory workers to work during the day, whilst their partner looked after the children and the partner work during the late evening (twilight shift), such was the routine regular, daily shift patterns.
People could go to college in the evenings or do a another part-time job if they wanted to.
Of course, there's no doubting the past was not all beneficial to the workers. Bullying, racism and other cruel behaviour could be a part of the working day for some and it made for a very unpleasant experience.
Yes. It can be agreed that the unions were involved and helped to improve conditions for the workforce and enable them to receive at least a wage that could accommodate the costs of everyday living.
Of course, the management would disagree with the unions and it wasn't unusual for the management and employers to be members of the unions in order to monitor any activity that could be of benefit to them. They could even decide for themselves who should and should not be in the union - putting undue pressure on the union representatives.
There was also the issue of management joining the unions in order to discourage any strike action which could in the past, seriously disrupt a workplace.
However. A cruel twist can occur when the workers in any industry choose strike action in order to fight to ensure their rights.
Over the years, the stranglehold of corporate banking has created a dependency in which the businesses need to continue and in the midst of a crisis caused by strike action, the beleaguered, business leaders, management and politicians look upwards for guidance.
The corporate vultures of finance had already planned ahead and implemented new strategies to protect the companies from their own workforces. The companies invested (through more loans) in machines with automation capabilities and cast aside their dedicated workforce - as they do today.
The workers fight an unfair system, which results in the system waging a counter attack upon the struggling workers.
At times, the workplace could be a dark, cruel and brutal place and needed considerable will-power to survive the day to day challenges. There was a reason for some people not going to work and it wasn't because they were lazy. It was because they started their working career in a horrible environment and the experience totally destroyed their confidence, resulting in their mental health struggles - further making it harder to go back to work.
Many employers and managers at the time were scoundrels who took advantage of the struggling workforces and as time passed, the circulating corporate vultures descended from high above to take what was to be theirs.
The business owners of the companies that stood for possibly over a century or more, welcomed the corporate vultures with open arms as they landed with financial gifts in exchange for their businesses.
Many manufacturers made a lot of money as a result of these sales.
A mixture of new business owners (financed via corporate loans so at the mercy of the banks) and new management teams brought new life into the businesses.
At the same time, the new industry leaders were more than willing to 'play by the book'.
Although the stronghold of unions became less, their legacies resulted to many changes for the better at work.
Stricter health and safety, working hours control, work conditions, equality, fair treatment and the list can go on to include stronger workplace regulations issued by the governments.
Of course. The minimum wage has been of great help to everyone striving to earn more money in the fight to stay financially afloat.
Yet a high price has been paid as a result of these sweeping, positive changes because a gift to the working people always comes with a caveat.
The businesses immediately used careful, manipulative stealth tactics to get around these new rules and all done with the collective approval of the government, corporate vultures, the press (to publish the benefits gained by the workers) and a myriad of financial and legal advisors... All resulting in struggling workforces receiving somewhat less.
The businesses of today are all at the mercy of financial institutions.
It is the corporate vultures who dictate their control upon the businesses and work alongside their political representatives to maximise their control whilst using the media to turn the workers against the management and create more conflict, which in turn encourages the business leaders to give consideration to further headcount reductions.
It is our workforces who feel the ultimate pressure and bear the burden of financial cost.
The minimum wage has become a legal requirement (for a number of countries including the UK) and this has helped the working people enormously, as long as they continue with regular, stable working hours.
However. Companies hire a workforce on the understanding they now sign a flexible contract which enables the business to change their hours in line with the available work. It certainly makes sense for a business to implement this strategy but at the same time, they can use this method to cut down on working hours and see if they can run their operations on less labour costs.
Night rates and overtime rates for extra hours have been eroded over time because the law requires the companies pay the legal minimum wage and no extra needs to be paid.
Further challenges include artificial intelligence, automation and equipment that enables the company to perform tasks without the need for so many employees.
The many positive elements aimed at protecting the workforces and providing them with a benefit has actually now been stealthily turned around to protect the employers and their companies.
The twenty-four hour, seven days a week working system has now been implemented by so many of the large organisations. Even the small businesses have to become adaptable to different, demanding and flexible ways of working putting more pressure on the workers who need to adapt to meet these demands.
Older workers (often accustomed to working set hours) find shift patterns involving weekends and (in particular) late night working difficult.
Many can feel pressured to sign new contract agreements, as an offer of redundancy my not be financially sufficient.
This can also be a carefully curated manoeuvre to encourage workers to quit, therefore creating vacancies with an immediate contract for shifts, bare minimum wage and the contract will be open to flexibility.
Home working became popular during the Covid-19 lockdowns and their were some genuine advantages, such as flexibility, not needing childcare arrangements and certainly no travel.
However. The serious disadvantages were being unable to clock off.
Management, team leaders and colleagues communicating during busy, stressful periods when deadlines needed to be met, only add to the pressures of not being able to switch off from work.
This can feel as though the workplace, the people and all the associated problems are with you in your home, especially if dealing with angry customers.
Attrition (purposely curated) starts to work it's evil and affect the worker's mental health, causing more anxiety and this followed on with a dependency upon staying within the safe boundaries of home. A conflict would be created. They are anxious and stressed but feel safer working from home, yet the cause of all the stress and anxiety could actually be made worse, because the work would always be there.
Just as they are getting used to the pressures of working from home... The workers are now ordered back into the office. They ask... Why?
They've got their routines organised around home working and are able to do the job. Going back to the office will often involve the stress (and cost) of travel and for some, the anxiety of going back to the office brought on by dealing with childcare and other caring responsibilities. Not to mention the mental health issues as a result of the pandemic and lockdowns.
Working at home has it's challenges, but there are some benefits for the workers.
The corporate vultures demand their companies become more streamlined, automated and cost effective whilst at the same time expect their companies landlords to do the same with regard to maximising rental because both companies and landlords have their debts to pay.
Yet again, the embattled workers lives are immediately disrupted.
They pick up their phones and newspapers to read dramatic headlines of business leaders (under pressure themselves) demanding their workforce return to the office. Immediately, the workers feel a sense of panic because that is the intention of these so-called 'rallying cries' expressed using the media. It creates the initial worry and causes anxiety.
All the business leaders get the message of how important it is for the workers to return to the office and the benefits of colleague interaction, support and uniting the company's workers to improve productivity through face-to-face interactions. It's considered more motivating for everyone.
Of course, nobody is really demanding anything of the workers. This is a carefully curated plan using the media to get what the financial funders of these businesses want. To reduce their companies employee headcounts and at the same time, create more building/land space for more profitable purposes.
Travelling further due to re-location is a cost and stressor which leads on to workers asking if it's worth continuing with the job (bearing in mind the financial conditions will be less favourable). Following on with reorganising their home and family lives, such as needing childcare or other caring arrangements.... It's no wonder many workers decide to voluntarily quit.
The top level of the corporate triangle already knew this would happen. The results... Less workers and more automation (via bank loans) for the companies. More building space (via more bank loans) for the landlords. Bigger, faster and more efficient payment of loans for the bankers.
As always. The financial burden is eventually borne by the struggling, working people.
There's obviously more to discuss on the subject and this can only be considered an outline of what is really happening and the changes that will come into force in future are something that's going to have a very serious effect on everyone who works for a living.
Although it is a depressing thought for anyone having to juggle work, family life, care responsibilities and deal with their own mental health issues at the same time, it's important to keep reminding people that this will become ever more predominant.
In the future, a very large number of people will be in severe financial difficulty because many will not be working for various, genuine reasons... Whatever their age.... In combination with reduced financial help from the state welfare systems (wherever you live in the world).
That's going to be a massive challenge facing future governments. Less work available. More people genuinely unable to work and the need to fight the rising cost of living.
Sadly. People are not yet ready to face this cruel reality because if the truth be known, they are possibly too frightened to open their minds to this knowledge and this fear helps them to believe things will just get better. It is very understandable and people cannot be blamed for this.
If the real truth be known, the governments are at a loss because they genuinely don't know what to do.
It is a struggle for many right now in these very uncertain times and there's no easy way to put things into perspective...
People need to understand, the situation unfolding is by no means going to be temporary and everyone needs to look at each other in unity and keep fighting to move forward.
Paul.....
