When I was first moved over in to QA, Simon commented a phenomenon that he had noticed in his short time there. He said that people would seem to go through periodic slumps. If you tried, you could catch a glimpse of them working on their resumes. Some would even brag that they’re going to go find a better job. Days would turn in to weeks and they would be reminded of why they ended up at Falstaff: An utter lack of opportunity elsewhere. Resigning themselves to Falstaff, they’d start to shape up and their performance would improve.
I’ve seen the same in myself. Once I resigned myself to the fact I would be spending the duration of my time as a Deseretian working at Falstaff, I sought to make the best of my situation here. That’s when I came up with the database application that I’m working on and when my personal numbers started to improve.
A few weeks ago, Edgar commented to me out of the blue that he was beginning to really appreciate his job. The pay is decent for the area, the demands aren’t all that much with all things considered, and the work atmosphere was probably the best he’d ever had. He decided that he was going to be sticking around. Sure enough, as days turned in to weeks his performance started improving drastically.
What he doesn’t know is that this little realization probably saved his job. We’re going to be cutting some dead weight soon and his improvement seems to have crossed the threshold from Dead Weight to Worth Keeping. Formerly it looked like both he and Charlie were out, but now it looks like it’s going to be just Charlie.
When I was interviewing for a job a while back, the man interviewing me complained about the current occupant getting “Short Timer Syndrome” — the lack of motivation that follows the realization that what they don’t do now they won’t have to do later.
It’s amazing what a little motivation will do for you. I’m not sure that Falstaff always appreciates that. When three-quarters of a department is looking for work, productivity is not so good. I think their general attitude is that we’re not going to find better - and we’re likely not - but the searching alone seems to be significant in itself. Willard is trying to free up enough funds to start paying certain people more money. Being one of those certain people I’m biased, but it seems necessary if he wants to retain people who are capable of jobs bigger and better than they have with the company, they may need to be paid for more than just doing their jobs. Even if they can’t find the bigger and better jobs they’re capable of.
Maybe it’s me, but it seems that there’s a degree of professional hopelessness that goes through the people in this area - is that a result of their adherence to the LDS doctrine? It seems to be the common thread of your fellow employees…
Such a rigidly defined heirarchy, with strong rules of what to wear, etc - plus the high morality requirements (the “wholesomeness” of it all) seems like it might put such restraints on everyone there’s no reason to excel, to create, to move beyond one’s capabilities. It’s amazing they’re able to muster enough creativity to put together a Tabernacle Choir.
Comment by Barry — December 2, 2005 @ 10:02 am
The hopelessness in terms of employment options in Mocum is largely justified. If anything, people are often too optomistic about finding a job out here. More than a few found good work in large western cities and them came back home figuring they would be able to find similar work here and are resentful when they find themselves working “lesser” jobs. It’s all kind of strange.
The cynicism, I think, is partly cultural. Some of it comes from being out west, which seems more cynical than does the south. But I think religion also plays a role: ex-Mormons may be the most cynical group I’ve ever become familiar with. According to Simon, The Church really wants you to have a “go get-em” attitude in the workplace.
In fact, shortly after I got here I was told that Mormons can be too enthusiastic about finding ways to make money and are particularly vulnerable to pyramid schemes (to the point that some churches started pulling phone directories because they were being used as calling lists by the perishoners).
Comment by trumwill — December 2, 2005 @ 10:37 am