Disease
June 14, 2005
At what point does complaining become so infectious that it becomes chronic? When does it become so consistent that you are deemed negative? At work, especially on my floor, there are those who are so negative about their job that it sickens me to hear it day after day. It used to be harmless bitching that promoted a sense of community but after so long now, it’s just old.
When the best part of work is when you’re not doing it, and when you’re faced to do what you’re paid to do all day, you become so upset and at times visibly angry, I think it’s enough. Why they punish themselves I don’t know. I hear the same thing: “It’s easy money” or “This is the easiest job I’ve ever had” and yet, when faced with a full schedule, it becomes ugly. I hate to break it to you but you chose to be here. You are responsible for this. Many times they blame it on them. They shafted me. They screwed me over. Why punish yourself so badly when you can so easily leave by resigning and finding something better?
I find it very immature that people don’t own up to the consequences of their decisions. I choose to be here and hence, I choose to accept the results of my decision. There will be things out of my control and because they’re out of my control, I choose to not let them affect me to the best of my ability. I won’t feel too bad that I wasn’t born handsome nor intelligent - these were out of my control. However I choose to make the best of what I have amd try as much as I can.
I’m beginning to realize that negativity is a viscious cycle. Negativity breeds negativity. I don’t think I’ve ever seen people from this group ever break out and make their lives better for themselves. They talk about it, they say they can do better, they have some very good and very feasible plans. All, however, is for nought.
I’m planning to avoid this group as best as I can now. It’s like a toxin that will one day affect me for the worse.
June 17th, 2005 at 04:33
Avoiding the group is no better than being a part of the group. At work here, we’re working on a total nightmare project, one where it leaves me cursing rather loudly in my cubicle. Finally, my boss called me over and asked if things were going OK because of all the noise he was hearing from our team. So we talked it over and he got to understand some of the problems and he made an effort to try to correct a lot of them. At the same time, he also mentioned that we needed to stay positive to get the job done and that he would do everything in his power to resolve the issues.
In the end, I walked away from it in a better mood and realizing that I hadn’t gotten anywhere. I’m not sure if these people are your underlings or just fellow coworkers, but a pep talk and maybe giving them a few minutes to vent to you about the problems could go a long way in bringing up the general morale of the whole team.
June 17th, 2005 at 05:43
Hahaha. Had anyone have the power to correct the things that go wrong, we all would’ve done it years ago. Seriously. I’ve become to know the word stagnant much better. Furthermore, don’t you think I’ve tried working with these people?
I still leave it up to individuals to make their own decisions. It’s not just the concerns about work that I don’t like, it’s the attitude dealing with them. Most people are fine and remain positive.
I have a sinking suspicion that some of these guys are like this no matter what the circumstance.
June 18th, 2005 at 11:15
I hear you and feel it too.
Your distance is your freedom.
Whenever I spend time away from the place, I feel invincibly ‘normal’ - no worries, no qualms about what I’m doing here- everything feels right…then I step back into the pit of fear and negativity that is breeding and radiating - and it is tiresome. People resentful you had time away, people resentful you choose to better yourself rather than be a sheep, people who cling to each other incase they might need to live there own life and face themselves.
Sometimes the lonely road is the salvation and it soon becomes clear what’s important and what isn’t.
the motto is live soulfully or die bitterly
June 22nd, 2005 at 13:23
Welcome to teaching English. Be like me, I only work one day with one other foreigner. High Schools, baby!
I`m not exactly sure of your job. Are the go-to guy for employee complaints?
August 3rd, 2005 at 00:36
In many respects I agree with your sentiments regarding working at Nova. There are by far too many people nowadays complaining about their lot and it is impacting on what little enjoyment there is to be had working there. However, Nova itself has a lot to answer for in this regard. Before people would complain to one another just as a matter of course, an action to pass the time. It’s as natural as breathing and is no doubt common in any large company. That said, recently Nova has gone south in terms of both working conditions and workplace relations and this is no doubt encouraging the ill will floating around at work. Take for example 2 CATs a period or the surplus of extra group lessons now making the rounds. No one gets any free periods anymore (which to be fair, no one is entitled to but were the sweet side of a lousy day if you managed to get one) There is a lot of conjecture as to why this has happened, everything from efficiency experts Nova imported to tweak schedules and the lack of new teachers. Nova is a very cunning corporation, when they specify 8 teaching periods on your contract they certainly don’t mean 8 lessons a day. Expect 16 if you’re extra lucky.
Leaving all that aside however, Nova does nothing to encourage a positive working atmosphere. It doesn’t matter how much harder you work or how well you teach a lesson or how many demos you manage to sell, you receive no recognition nor incentive to improve. If you’re lucky you may get a token raise when you contract is renewed but even that is not guaranteed. THe only time you here from the inner machinery at Nova is when you have screwed up or made a mistake. Even then, you aren’t told directly what you have done wrong, you’re encouraged to discover the mistake yourself. Also, the trainers Nova employs are amateur at best. Most of the trainers on staff are only there through nepotism. Very rarely do people get promoted because they can do the job or have a desire to improve the teaching stock. More often that not they are there for an extra entry on their resume’s or to start the long climb up the bureaucratic ladder. There is a disease at Nova that is slowly eating the company from the inside. Teaching quality is at its lowest ebb and staff satisfaction is not far behind. There are ways to improve on the situation. Nova could actually train their staff properly, promote people on merit and not on whose ass they kissed and work at retaining old staff so they aren’t stuck in a situation where they are scrambling to train new teachers before their time. In short, behave like a company that doesn’t treat their employees like numbers.