I Owe My Soul to the Company Store

Jul 9

Careers End
Pardon me while I allow my career to strip me of all remaining humanity.

Those words and the the cartoon by the brilliant Hugh McLeod of gapingvoid fame, just knock me out. How many people allow their career choice to rule them? How many people trade their souls for their next promotion or a little more pay?

Do we, in HR, counsel people about trade offs? Sure, there are lots of “work/life balance” programs that get rolled out each year. But do we mean it? Do we really talk to employees about the choices they are making? Do we really want people to have balanced lives?

(If you’re reading this in Norway, I know you do. You have 3-year maternity leave, 6-8 weeks of holiday that people really take, and a real orientation to the whole person. I question how it goes in the rest of the world.)

I’ve said this before, but it’s essential that people know why they work. If they don’t then where’s the humanity?

About the Author

Frank Roche

Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.

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Comments

Wally Bock says:

July 10, 2007 at 8:13 am

I think that often we counsel too much, listen too little and hardly ever act to change the problems we hear about.

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Frank Roche says:

July 10, 2007 at 9:58 am

Wally, you are so right. I guess it’s the “actions speak louder than words” aspect. Talk a lot, do little doesn’t get people ahead in their careers or lives.

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