In my life, I have rarely made conventional choices. I pursued studies that sparked personal growth and work that moved society forward.
I insisted on flexible work practices and fought for the right to a humane lifestyle. For this, I've paid a price in terms of income and job security. Always, in the back of my mind, however, a voice sneered at me for making my life so hard.
Recently, I saw the other side of the coin. I took a 'normal' job, delighted with the regular income (if only for a short while). And here I discovered an even greater cost - life on the cold face of the economy.
In this world, budget cutbacks and a lack of compassion for family life were regular parts of the course. As we all worked incredibly long hours for few resources and with little support, I protested. I noticed, however, that mine was a lonely voice, falling on hopeless ears. I seemed to be the only one shocked by the situation. My colleagues and managers knew this to be 'normal'.
Very quickly, I fell into line - I stopped thinking well, my creativity was stunted and I developed an overwhelming sense of worthlessness. Although I was hired as a dynamic, innovative individual, I was now no more than a drone and just like everybody else. Far from getting more from me, my employer rapidly got less.
When you think about it, it's a small-minded, unambitious enterprise that exploits and depletes the very resource that fuels its production - human beings. The more they push us, the less we produce. It's ridiculous! DIY business philosophies bought off the shelf teach us that innovation and creativity are the cornerstones of economic success. Yet, both these talents are stifled when the greater needs of a human being are ignored.
I find it insane that while the maintenance of a machine is paid for regularly, its cost having been paid for in full, people are driven into the ground. While we can't make a machine perform beyond its abilities, the extraordinary capacity of human beings to learn and do more with less is seen as an easy fix to a lack of resources. Focusing on using rather than investing in people, however, has long-term costs.
The pressures of this work demanded that I left my family earlier and returned to them later. In this way, my employers believed they extracted from me a precious 95 minutes extra. In reality, what they got was a consistent 9 hours or more of half-productivity. Without rest and social renewal, I could not offer more. I was tired, sick and discouraged, and creativity and inspiration do grow in these conditions.
However, managers are not driving their workers into the ground because they believe it's good business. I don't believe they have a moment to think about it at all. Rather, they themselves are under pressure. And so, they too become inflexible and unable to prioritise their own needs or those of their workforce.
We all get locked into this rat race. (For the first time, I think I really understood the use of 'rat' in the race.) Because my colleagues felt dispensable, they applied themselves to worsening conditions in fear of being replaced if they fell at any hurdle. As I stayed in the situation, I began to believe it myself. I went to bed feeling more worthless than I ever and woke up resigned to my fate.
Everything about that working context told me there were not enough resources to support people. I actually began to believe there was a lack of money in the world! And so, thoughts of taking charge of the situation, of giving up this income and finding other ways to support myself, seemed ludicrous.
However, I have seen the world with perspective. I know this is a lie. What I don't know is how employers can be allowed to get away with it? There is enough money here to care for us all. It is just hidden. Each year, businesses report profits in the millions and billions. In the blink of an eye, six and nine-digit figures are added and subtracted to imaginary markets. The persistent exploitation of people is completely unnecessary. Furthermore, it is very bad business.
Still, logic seems to have little impact on the priorities of this society. Here, we kill people for crumbs. Those who've hoarded most of the money don't seem to have any useful ideas of what to do with it. The rest of us go to bed each night believing in the lie that we didn't matter. As long as this continues, very little will change.
I heard a story once, perhaps a legend, about a businesswoman who manufactured sweaters. As the demand for her product increased, so did her demand on her workers. Worryingly, their productivity went down. Upon investigation, she found the longer hours were straining their home life. Having little to lose, she reduced their hours and developed structured support. Surprisingly, they produced more in the shorter time and her business was able to grow again. You might tell me this is a lie, but I know at some point, something's got to change.