What does work give you ?

Former Member

Obviously money, but what does work give people besides this. Purpose ? Self esteem ?

Just wondering what people think are the benefits to work.

Also what would you say about unemployment ? This is my situation at the moment - I stay busy with different things, do courses, voluntary work.

Just wondering what people thing about both sides of the coin.

Former Member

my job gives me something to do that isn't focused on me, and it forces me to put my own feelings aside and get on with it. even studying is ultimately all about me because it's for my own future. customers don't care that you are sad or stressed or whatever else. i only work behind a bar so it's not my career (i hope...) but it's a good distraction from my own life. i get to mix with people and socialise and chat and do all the things that i find really hard. and i (occasionally) get a feeling of accomplishment at the end of a shift. some people might think it's a piece of piss but to me going to work is challenging, and i feel proud of myself for doing it.

i have only ever been unemployed for a few weeks but i found it a really uncertain time, because i didn't know when i would be in work again. i was lucky to get a job quite quickly but even in the short time i was out of work i felt like i lacked a purpose and didn't know what to do all day. if i had been unemployed for a longer period of time i would definitely have done what you are doing and done as much as possible to keep busy and to increase my employability. i think you have the right idea :thumb:

Former Member

I get to make a positive difference to people's lives every single day. They just don't notice, although occasionally, very very occasionally, I get a "thank you"

Former Member

I get a sense of self-worth, especially when someone comes to me in floods of tears and leaves with a smile, even if it's just a tiny little watery smile. I like people to think that I'm clever and know my stuff and my work gives me that feeling.

I also get structure in my life.

You can get all of those from volunteering, even a few hours a week, if you're out of work. I've been unemployed for one big period of about six months, and it was not good at all. With my last screen name I put something like 12,000 posts on this board in those six months.

Former Member

I don't know what I get from work. Technically money but I don't get anything like a living wage. All I know is that when I was unemployed it really screwed with my head and every month of unemployment felt like a year. When I feel like I cant be bothered to go to work I always remind myself of how it felt being unemployed. I suppose it does give me a sense of purpose.

Former Member

I don't really make any money from working even though i earn what is technically seen as a good wage and i have a fancy job title I spend nearly all of it on tax, childcare and getting too and from work.

However i get to design and implement projects, raise money for good causes, help people throughout the world, travel and do something that really makes a difference to peoples lives. It also gives me 20 child free hours a week to not have to be constantly worrying that she is OK, entertained, fed well etc.

I know that i'm incredibly incredibly lucky to have the job I have and I enjoy every minute of it.

I was unemployed for a month however and i saw it as a really exciting opportunity to look at what i wanted to do with my life and to move onto something new.

Former Member

Routine and a reason to get up in the morning / not get up at a silly time.

Something to do. Been unemployed for 3 and a half months now and I'm bored.

Former Member

similar, bored bored bored!

Former Member

I used to enjoy helping people with my job and I have really improved my social skills and self-esteem. I am pretty much fearless now, with dealing with people.... I work with lovely people as well.

However, it has all gone target focussed and our workload has doubled this month, making it impossible to really help anyone. You just have to push them away. I have seen people's morale go down and walked in on somebody crying because she can't handle the stress... I have also broken down and I'm normally a very strong person... The thing is, they don't close diaries when people go off sick, so it means a bigger workload if anyone is off with stress. I now just try to focus on trade union aspects.

So I used to be very passionate about work and loved the help I could give... I would still rather be employed than unemployed. It means I can save money.

I think my opinion on unemployment depends on whether or not it's a lifestyle choice. Most people at the moment want to work... I do feel a bit like people that play the system, or choose not to work because they don't want to are putting themselves on a pedastool above other people who do work. Its a bit like expecting your trade union to help you get a pay rise, but scabbing and not willing to put any effort in.

I have seen people who want to work lose a lot of self-esteem, their homes and their families due to the current climate. It doesn't look like a lot of fun.

Former Member

Enough money to mean I dont have to go back to my rents and a free Oyster card.

Other than that, bugger all.

Former Member

I get a cane, a hat, a purple cape, a large, $-shaped gold pendant and a gaggle of bitches.

Former Member

In terms of my own unemployment I feel I've kept busy. I was ill at university with mental health problems and so over the last few years I have tried to address this through going to my local MIND and doing a number of courses there which I've found beneficial.

I've always done something work related since uni - I volunteered for a year after uni, then did some internships in France for a year, came back did some temping and for around a year now since early 2010 have been volunteering and doing an advice and guidance course.

I graduated in 2007, but a large part of my life has been focused on the mental health side - trying to understand why I was ill and what to do to stay well. I think this has been the priority really, but I think I'm doing fairly well now and hopefully will get into paid employment.

Over the last few years the work side of life has suffered, but I have learned a lot about mental health, although I do feel that I would have been better on DLA, although they rejected me despite having a psychiatrist and having been in hospital. I've been on JSA. I think I've made the best of a not so ideal situation, but with the economic problems this has made it much harded to get a job.

It's a hard one - on the one hand I graduated at a bad time considering the economic climate, but having been unwell maybe it's been better to have been unemployed to concentrate more on the mental health side of things

Former Member

im a carer and although a lot of the time we get treated like skivvies or spoken to like shit. there are times when people can and will surprise you. being a carer allows you to if you want to, go the extra mile for people everyday. knowing that you've tried your best for that person, even if you don't get a thankyou or even a smile gives me a little boost.

Former Member

Without reading all the other posts, so it's possible I might duplicate some answers, I will give my own answers. What work gives me is self esteem, purpose, structure to my day, financial benefits, respect, and most importantly it provides growth in both my character and my skill set. I'm not just talking about skills for future employment, I'm talking about life skills. I work with many people that I can learn from in terms of how to deal with other people, how to manage people, how to manage pressure, etc.

I spent a period unemployed as a result of health issues and my general motivation suffered quite a lot. My day had no structure and my energy levels plummeted. I'm not saying that will be the same for everyone, that was just my personal experience.

Former Member

Do you really get all that from working? Money is the only positive aspect of work for me and that's it.

I work because I have to, I hate it but I put up and shut up. If I don't, things don't get paid. I never get any form of satisfaction, self-worth and I definitely don't get any form of self-esteem just because I get up at stupid o' clock every morning to complete mundane tasks for someone else who equally doesn't give a shit.

I get depressed, stressed, angry and annoyed. Only at work though.

I come away feeling empty, unfulfilled and sometimes quite down. Working for idiots and jobsworths that take inches of "power" and run miles with it seems to be getting more common these days. I would never, ever define myself by my job or my work and I'm always baffled by those people that talk about work when they're not even at work. Maybe it's just because I've been in offices for 10+ years so hopefully a career change will rectify things. Either that, or I need to get some job references/drugs from you lot.

I've been out of a job for 3 months now and it's been bliss. Don't get me wrong, I'm still looking for work (I want the money) but my working experience so far has been 50% meaningless and 50% stressful. I can't recall anything positive out of my 10 years in the "corporate machine" so far apart from materialistic things I've purchased out of my wages.

Former Member

I think it's a real shame that you feel like that, Aspire. It sounds like you're in the wrong job, although you seem to know that as well, based on your other post.

I don't want to reveal who my employer is, but my work is office-based in that I work in an office. But it's a field where I work with students to sort out their problems, whether they're money problems or academic problems or housing problems or even emotional problems. I see new people and I make a difference, albeit small, to their lives.

I am generally fairly able at my job, and my peers in the advice sector have recognised this with my presence on steering groups and advisory groups. That's where my self-esteem and my self-belief come from, helping people and having my intelligence and ability recognised by my peers. I don't define myself by my job, but I spend a lot of my week at work so obviously it is important to me that I'm recognised as being able.

Former Member

Arctic Roll wrote: »

I think it's a real shame that you feel like that, Aspire. It sounds like you're in the wrong job, although you seem to know that as well, based on your other post.

I don't want to reveal who my employer is, but my work is office-based in that I work in an office. But it's a field where I work with students to sort out their problems, whether they're money problems or academic problems or housing problems or even emotional problems. I see new people and I make a difference, albeit small, to their lives.

I am generally fairly able at my job, and my peers in the advice sector have recognised this with my presence on steering groups and advisory groups. That's where my self-esteem and my self-belief come from, helping people and having my intelligence and ability recognised by my peers. I don't define myself by my job, but I spend a lot of my week at work so obviously it is important to me that I'm recognised as being able.

I'm doing an Advice and Guidance course at the moment and quite enjoy the voluntary work I do.

Former Member

Oh I forgot to add, a boss that nags more than my mother!!!

Former Member

Calvin wrote: »

Oh I forgot to add, a boss that nags more than my mother!!!

Lol! I've actually been blessed with a truly fantastic and supportive boss, easily the best I've ever worked for. This is a person who came into the company in difficult times and had to make several people redundant. Anyone would have thought he was the devil incarnate the way those on the way out were talking about him, and perhaps understandably so given their position. However, in the 8yrs that I have worked for him I have been supported endlessly in both my work and personal life. I have had some long spells of absence due to my health issue and have been supported way beyond what I ever thought could be the case. Infact my boss supported me more than even my own family if truth be told. This guy is spoken about by anyone you might ask with respect and admiration. He empowers people, talks straight and rewards loyalty. All you have to do to be in his good books is to produce the goods when it really matters, and keep him informed of any issues before they become critical. It seems bizarre to speak so highly of a boss but seriously, the guy deserves it and is the major reason why I am both still with this company and actually healthy enough to work at all.

Former Member

stu147 wrote: »

Lol! I've actually been blessed with a truly fantastic and supportive boss,

My last boss was brilliant too.

Former Member

A bad back and some of what Aspire posted.

Former Member

The feeling that I can actually contribute something of value to the world, and money that I can go and spend knowing that it's mine all mine to do what I like with because I earnt it and I don't owe it to anyone. Also, total independance.

Volunteering gives me a warm fuzzy feeling, but that's something to do on top of a job, not instead of in my book.