From the mailbag: Why do people continue to work for bad companies?
Brief answer: because it is easy.
What did I just say? I know, I know, the HR Guy has fallen off his rocker again. The stress at work must be unbearable.
The status quo is always easier though. It is always easier not to change. Change encompasses a whole range of emotions and uncertainties in life. Emotions that are uncomfortable for most people (like am I good enough?). Being rejected. Taking a pay cut. Doing something you really like.
Yes, even the fear of dropping your bad company for the picture perfect opportunity can have its range of negative emotions. After all, failing at the very thing you love is a huge blow. Failing at something you hate is much easier to stomach.
And that’s what keeps bad companies in business. Once you’ve finished a job search, you don’t want to restart it again. The job search being a miserable experience helps a bunch but staying with a bad company is simply easier than finding something else.
Finding something else means extra effort outside of work. It means possibly starting on a new career path. It means possibly taking a pay/benefit cut. And no, that’s not ideal but nobody said it would be. Making a decision to leave a bad company is either made through desperation or through very difficult work and sacrifices.
And while I’d love to believe that every single one of my employees are happy with where there are, chances are that at least a few are resenting their decisions to come to work for us but are putting up with it because it is easy. Possibly one day, they will take the difficult road to leave on their own but for now, they will stay. Because it is easier. And because even bad is safe.
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…….because the fear of the “unknown” is greater than the fear of the “known”.
The fear of the unknown is what kept me in the military longer than I really truly wanted to be there. Many ask why did I leave at the 10 year mark yet those closest to me ask why I stayed so long.
It is tough to leave a job after working at a company for a significant part of your life. You are right, it is easier to stay working at a bad company. Making your decision to leave tougher is that you have co-workers who become like family. Bad leadership can create an “us versus them” mentality. I refer to it as “bunker mentality”. Working through the tough times with your friends provides strength to survive and optimism for things to turnaround.
Hi Everone,
One of the worst companies in Hospitality recruiting is Hospitality Pro Search HPS. They are so rotten to both their staff and clients. They never pay recruiters and have so much turnover how can they be good for a client!! They also steal management from clients in order to have new job openings!!!!!!!!!
I think this mentality is digsusting. I stayed at two previous employers for a total of 25 years NOT because I was afriad to leave but for the plain and simple fact that I liked my coworkers, I liked my bosses, I was always getting new new tasks to do and more to learn and I flat out didnt want to leave. So now on top of what I consider illegal credit checks (the fact that I fell on hard times at age 47 has NOTHING to do with my abilities and skills as an employee sorry) – and on top of being a 50 year old female and that alone knocks me out of a job for some companies, now they want to add longevity and loyalty to the negative list ? Wow , this country’s employers have a lot to learn.
Very common, but not yet mentioned, is the private situation that prevents people from changing jobs even if they have bad jobs, s. a.: sicknesss of the partner or children, financial problems etc.
Also the age, background and state of knowledge are secundary reasons not to quit your job once you have got one.
It is a farce to think that every human being is able to do what he likes.
And that is what keeps bad companies into business. They even take advantage of the poor and desperate situation of people at any price.
This has to stop, we all know, but how?
All of this makes sense. Where is the main website to shout out against bad companies out there. Spectra Gases Sucks!! They are located in New Jersey, so duhh, of course they suck, and they use temps…..alot!! No regard for their employees. They’re in it to suck the money and that’s it. STAY AWAY FROM SPECTRA GASES!!! Awful place, awful management, will screw you over!!
I would love to see a website listing employee reviews of their company and how good they are to work for. That way before applying to an opening, you could check for reviews of the company/store.
Check out the website http://www.jobvent.com where people rate employment at their companies. People will rate the company on pay, respect, work/life balance and several other factors. Also, people will describe their working experience at the place.
I think there are many reasons: coworkers which became like a second family, many people are very dedicated in their job.
How about this? Medical coverage.
You can’t still be friends with co-workers after you leave? You wouldn’t be more dedicated to a job that treats you with mutual respect? Won’t you get medical coverage at another job?
This is the sort of mentality that traps us in dead end, crappy jobs. The easy way out is just saying “Hey, this is good right now.” instead of taking initiative and doing what it takes to move on.
More often these days, more and more jobs are NOT offering any medical coverage at all. And with my pre existing conditions and those of my wife, there is no existing medical insurance company that will offer us any coverage under any circumstance.
Because of the fear that the change involves.
These are my ventings on things I cannot change:
We do it because we need the money! Like SS guards that flicked the switch! We are looking for better jobs, but they are few and far between. A friend of mine works for a big bank (they have a stagecoach in their adds) and she is forced to sing a song on their conference calls if they are late getting on. Even if they are working with a customer. They have been told that manditory meeting will be held earlier and earlier in the morning (before 8:00 am) as punishment for not making there rediculous sales goals. They are forced to do telemarketing to badger customers into opening additional accounts (how many checking accounts can one really use), or scare them into the bank office to put the hard sale on them. My friend really likes most parts of her job, but at least two levels of managment exist purely to intimidate them in to achieving their goals, which they are forced to do 120 percent. If you are a perspective customer or looking for a job, don’t dismiss my message based on my unspell checked ramblings. These issues are real and Jack Stempf had better do something to fix them or just like GM the stage coach will dwindle away because they will be unable to buffalo customers and good people will stop working for them. My friend is looking as are every other manager in her state that are not able to make the sales goals developed a year ago when the economy was in a little better shape. Jack, how do you achnoledge that most of your branch managers are looking for a different company to work for in the anual report?
It’s often difficult to maintain friendships with co-workers once you have left the company. You no longer see them every day and you can’t share the bonding that comes from complaining about the boss or having to work all weekend.
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