Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
Romans 12:11: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"
My book, I Will Stand, is a great book for showing a very COMMON SENSE approach to Christianity. It's where the rubber meets the road when it comes to your faith, and putting feet to your faith in your daily walk.
This morning I had a conversation with someone who was struggling with her job. It was very stressful, and things were not fair. She knows life isn't fair, but she had some legitimate concerns over how the boss treats the employees, and how negative the working conditions are at times. Here are some words of wisdom when you and coworkers are frustrated and really steamed about being treated unfairly.
First of all, vent with someone you know, love, and trust, like a parent or best friend. Get some things off your chest. I have written things down on a piece of paper in script form for my boss, and then after a few days went back to it and was able to draw some positives out of it, find some good constructive criticism, and then discard the rest. Then I was ready to meet with my boss.
After you have vented, make a list of things that you could actually suggest to your boss that might help the situation. Make sure you have at least one suggestion of what could fix the matter for every complaint you have. Present them respectfully with the hopes of being heard, understood, and action taken if possible. Realize that it might not be possible for your requests to be met, or an alternative solution might need to be reached, but at least you gave your input and contributed to the success of the business by having the courage to speak up on behalf of everyone, or yourself, whatever the case may be.
If your boss cannot make things better for you, determine if they are significant or not. Is it worth getting upset over? Is it a matter serious enough to you that you would quit your job if they cannot accommodate you? If so, then quietly start looking for another job that will suit your needs better. Do not backbite your employer while you are working there. That shows low class, will discourage and frustrate the other employees, and feed their resentment as well. Remember...your boss is paying you, so you work for them, and they deserve your loyalty and respect while working there, even if just for the position they hold and not for their integrity and personal character.
While you are at work, whether deciding to stay and make the best of it, or starting to keep your eyes open for another job, do your best, work hard, and maintain a great attitude! Be on time, and be reliable. Let it be said of you that you rarely call out sick. Be someone they would be sorry to lose! Be a positive person, so that when you come to work, no matter how bad the shift is going to be, the others will be happy knowing that at least they get to work with you! Maintain a sense of humor! When I worked in PACU, there were some really funny nurses who knew the secret to good morale - keeping it light with some comedy from time to time. Not to be obnoxious or loud in front of the patients or customers, but being kind, respectful, polite, a team player, and cracking a little joke from time to time. It got us through some very stressful times! You can do that as well. Be enjoyable! Make chaos into a good time. Don't take yourself or the stressors too seriously. Work through it instead.
Lastly, LEARN from the tough situations and tough people you are working with. One day you may be interviewing for a really good job, and they may ask you if you have ever experienced challenging customers, coworkers, or job conditions. How did you handle it? I've been asked that at an interview, and I wasn't prepared for that question. I was fortunately able to think of an example, and how I handled it. You want to look back and know that you handled it well, with poise and grace. Believe me - it comes back to you! Don't burn any bridges. You may need a written recommendation from that same boss you can't stand right now. If you showed respect, courtesy, and a hard day's work everyday, showed up on time and with a smile on your face, they'll likely write a review that you can feel good about, and may land you that dream job.
God bless you as you strive to be a CHAMPION OF CHARACTER! Remember that it is Christ we are ultimately working for and trying to please. When we do that, all of our human interactions will all fall into place. Ephesians 6:6: "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."
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