Why we should all think about our relationship with work
People commonly ponder switching firms when they don't like their jobs. You may move too quickly and discover a year later that your new employment is no better. Clara Delétraz, creator of Switch Collective, argues why we should evaluate our work relationship, not just our daily tasks.
Update your LinkedIn profile expecting a miracle? Check. Applying to dozens of ads while believing oneself a misunderstanding will work out? Re-check. We're not judging you—we've been there.
When your employment isn't right, you start thinking about other jobs. But it doesn't work.
We feel that economic, health, and ecological challenges have complicated our questions about life, jobs, and locality.
The good news is that many of us are asking ourselves these questions. We should all consider our work-life balance for at least three reasons.
However, we base many things on work. We withdraw when we no longer thrive there. Gallup found 9/10 French workers disengaged. Thus, the issue affects society rather than a firm or generation.
Because individually, we want to know where this professional imbalance comes from.
We see these issues firsthand at Switch Collective. The top questions asked by all our “Taking stock” participants are:
The living and working conditions issue. Like Ishtar, a huge financial group employee: “After switching to teleworking during the confinements, I don't see myself returning to transport every day to go to work in a noisy open space”.
Work/life balance and work location. Like Arnaud: “My children and I developed different relationships. This time helps me decide where to put my job in life.
No, we're not all quitting our jobs tomorrow, but we no longer want to die for them. Which makes us consider its purpose and content.
Thus, we may be inclined to find fulfilment outside of employment. No longer working is a common fantasy. At least once, many of us have felt we would be pleased to cease working.
Do we labour for money only? In 1931, Marie Jahoda and Hans Zeisel researched an Austrian town that transitioned from full employment to unemployment after the factory that employed most of its residents closed. The 5 latent functions of work show that work provides more than revenue.
After a few months of unemployment, we'll question "What am I going to do this week?" because work structures our schedule. "But what use am I?"—work determines our identity. This helps us learn, grow, and push ourselves.
Work can be seen as nonsense, obtrusive, and alienating, especially in modern settings. Starting with your priorities can help you discover meaning and joy in it.
Switch believes that it is not necessary to get up in the morning, go to work with a lump in your stomach, and tell yourself you will spend 8 hours in a crap job. In fact, labour can be a source of self-realization.
There is no age limit for asking yourself the proper questions and facing your anxieties! Your life can alter without changing jobs or moving.