Have you also discovered how alarming the high level of unemployment in our society is today? In Europe, it is estimated that 65% of people are without any jobs. Majority are youths whom are dropouts.
Many said unemployment level is this high due to the never-ending economical crisis. Some said it has to do with the loss of societal norms and values. Today, a large number of these youths depend solely on the government social aids for survival. Among these are the lucky ones with affluence parents, relatives and friends whom are very supportive. However, concerning the former, how do you expect a youth to have the willingness to work when he receives a monthly monetary allowance from the government?
Laziness brings nothing but emptiness. I knew so many people who grew up depending on the governmental social aids. Today they are married and stilll jobless. The love of dependency has dug deeper into their vein to extent that it is difficult for them to have a change of heart.
With the new government and its new system, France, no longer give social aids just about anyhow. Now many homes knew what this mean to their survival. They will do anything to sustain their livelihood.
Gone and forgotten were those days when a child will depend solely on the parents for survival. Not even in the present day Europe. Children knew they just have to find the means to support themselves and their family. This year summer, lots and lots of children made used of their long vacation to gain income. They engaged in various seasonal jobs. While some went off with their folks on vacation, the ones who truly knew what these meant to them came out into the job market just the way bees swarmed the honeycombs. You could not help but noticed them. They were everywhere.
Apart from my writing career, often, I engage in seasonal jobs. In this summer, my next point of work is Disneyland Resort Paris. In the costuming department where I am posted, majority of the employees are students on vacation. I saw the excitement in them; the need to show their worth.
The ironical part of it remains very visible as few of them are being forced to enter the job market. They must have had no choice other than this. Such are the cases of Steven and Craig (real names are altered for security reasons), barely in the same age-group.
Both are already out of school. Steven has a little daughter and his girlfriend to cater for. He was employed even before the seasonal period. He is such a loving person. He is friendly and easy-going. Everybody loves him. His fault; he kept long list of absentees without any justification. Frequently he came to work thirty minutes or an hour late. There were days he gave excuses of his lateness as having to baby-seated his daughter while her mother works with another company in the early hours of the morning.
He kept on doing this for months despite the series of warnings he got from the Team-leaders. Until one fateful day, he was fired. Steven never expected it. Being closed to him, I felt his pain, his guilt and his fault. The expulsion letter he was given destroyed his chances of ever coming to work in Disneyland again. It may equally block him from being employed by any other companies in France, in regards to the French employment system.
Craig was not different from Steven when it has to do with coming late to work. In addition, Craig is a young man without any respect for anybody. Either he challenged a Team-Leader, or he engaged in bitter quarrel with a colleague. He talked rudely. I watched him sometimes and the next line of thought in my head would be if ever he is actually human. Of course, he possesses some good sides. The worst sides of him widely overshadow his great qualities.
Barely two weeks after Steven was sacked, had Craig got his own letter. It was on a cool afternoon. He was summoned by the Manager. Craig refused to accept the letter. He insisted that the letter be sent to him by local postal. He added he must exercise his rights as an employee to the fullest. Also he must stay until the late date of his contract. In the Costuming department, we have a very pleasant though strict Manager. He did not argue with Craig. He let him be. The letter was posted to Craig. In the meantime, Craig continued to come to work. We saw him sitting with us during the briefings. He acted as if he is still part of us. Nobody asked him a word.
On the fifth day, Craig resumed as usual. The previous day, it was confirmed by the Post Office that Craig has gotten the letter. That morning, the first thing I noticed was that his name was not listed on the work-board for the day. Craig showed no sign even if he must have noticed it too. After the briefing, I noticed he walked up to the Team-Leader, asking why his name was not on the list. The latter added it right there without any word.
Before noon, few security men walked into the department. They came in search of Craig. In a polite manner, they ordered to escort him out of the premises. The company identity card he held was taken from him.
We watched Craig as he walked quietly away in their midst. It was heart-rending! If he had heeded the warning, he would not have been treated that way. He did not respect his worth. He felt he could do whatever he likes without thinking of the impact on those around him.
How many people like Craig are out there? When you feel you can behave the way you want irrespective of the consequences, then be ready for the worst. Life is not only about you.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, and in whatever society you find yourself, give the chance for people to discover the worth in you. How can you do that? You must love yourself. It is when you have this deep love for who you are and not what makes you what you are that you can truly bring to surface the worth within you. This is when you will earn the respect and the love you deserve.
If you are an employee, learn by heart these three rules;
- PUNCTUALITY
- COURTESY
- BE INDISPENSABLE
You stand greater chances of being the best if you possess these three qualities. Nobody can buy respect. No matter how much a fee you are willing to put down to purchase it, I must let you know that it will not be possible unless you deserve it.
Know your worth and go for it!
Cheers!
Copyrights © 2008 All Rights Reserved
A girlfriend does not understand why several people find it so hard to heed to her words. To her, she concluded that none of these people, whose majority are from her family do respect her.
