Work-life balance is important.
Let's say it again: work-life balance is important.
Most people would agree with this sentiment, but at the same time, most people have also had the experience of working somewhere that gives zero regard to this important fact.
A company memo displaying a vacation blackout has gone viral, with people discussing just how infuriating work can be.
It all started off with this tweet, from a workplace that doesn't want to give anybody time off, or even entertain time off requests, for over a month of the year. I guess employees are expected to just tough it out.
Of course, the reason for the memo makes sense: everyone wants time off during the holidays, and companies need to fill shifts. But the follow-up tweet makes an excellent point: when employees have to deal with this while being underpaid, it creates a staffing crisis. The answer? More money!
Related to the point above, here's a company that basically acknowledges that it doesn't pay a living wage to its workers. Sure, it'll let people supplement their income with a second job, but it'll also fire them if working two jobs makes them tired.
There are so many better ways to communicate what's in this memo, but the passive-aggressive, smug, almost mocking way it's communicated would just drive me nuts if I worked there. It shows a lack of respect for employees.
The initial tweet led to an interesting discussion, with many posters pointing out that this is kind of how retail works. While this is true, there has to be a middle ground that allows workers to take time off.
I wonder what would happen if this person did, in fact, tell their supervisor that they were tired. I'm guessing the two options would be either nothing at all, or them getting fired for insubordination.
When it comes to lower-paying jobs like retail and restaurant work, it makes total sense that there's a worker shortage. At least in jobs that pay more, there's an actual incentive to keep working there.
Most of us have worked a horrible job or two in our lives. What was the hardest stretch of work you ever had to complete, or who was the worst boss you ever had? Let us know in the comments!
