Posted by: Uticopa in work related stress on
Aug 17, 2009
Back in the ‘70s it was standard practice for mothers who wanted to earn some money to go to the many Temp Agencies on the market. It seemed ideal back then, in an age when the word ‘secretary’ was still en vogue, and there was a mass of women with those all-essential typing skills. It was especially useful if the children had by then started school. It allowed women that essential flexibility in their lives, knowing that if an emergency cropped up regarding the children or the home, it would be no big-deal to simply cancel that day’s temporary booking. The employer was happy in acquiring someone to complete a temporary task; the employee was happy to gain an extra source of income as well as a modicum of independence.
Oh, how times have changed!
In today’s world of increasing redundancies and company bankruptcies, desperate individuals are again turning to temporary work – anything in fact which will pay the mortgage until more permanent work comes along. But these days it isn’t just ‘mothers’ who are looking to ‘boost’ the family income. Increasing numbers of both men and women are looking for work, any work, that will make ends meet.
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
May 27, 2009
It's now out in the open. Unemployment causes depression causes physical symptoms. We all know that the main reason for working is to gain money to feed ourselves and our families, together with fuelling our ever-increasing lifestyles. However, it seems it's more subtle than that - and this is historically significant for men in particular. To work, and indeed the type of work, is a significant source of a person's sense of self-worth and self-esteem.
How many of us recall TV sitcoms of old, like Reggie Perrin and its ilk, whereby men would often still leave for work in the morning - complete with briefcase and pinstripe suit - months after losing their jobs. The stigma attached to disclosing their misfortune was just too much to bear - even to their wives and family - so the familiar, comforting charade of a normal working routine was continued. But what of the bottling-up of anxieties inside, together with the increasing likelihood of more illnesses to come?
It's a known fact that a high percentage of people develop a depressive illness within six months of becoming unemployed. In fact, after relationship difficulties, unemployment is the most likely thing to force you into a bad depression. With the loss of your job, even through no fault of your own, comes the risk of moving from a position of feeling in reasonable control of your life to facing an uncertain future and suffering from an eroded sense of self-confidence - especially if it takes a long time to find another job.
