Should You Stay or Should You Go?

  On the job stress has taken on new meaning in this economy. Most people with a job are doing the work of 2 to 5 people, it seems. The workload is heavy, and the pressure to perform can feel enormous. Still, the question I get most frequently is from people who are pressing for a raise or promotion for all the extra work they are doing. It is a question I can’t answer: should I stay or should I go?

Despite the current economy, and despite watching their colleagues getting pink slips, these busy professionals express confidence in their abilities and see themselves as assets to their companies. They want respect and say they aren’t afraid to fight for what they believe they are worth.

I was a bit stunned the first time I heard this. My reaction when I first got this scenario was to say, “Do you know what the job market is like out there? Do you read the news? You’re lucky to have a job.” But I didn’t say it.

  I stopped and thought about it. The American spirit of perseverance in the face of adversity is still alive and well. What if everyone sat back, bided their time, kept their career aspirations in check until this economic downturn passes? What if everyone settled? What if no one demanded respect? What if no one pushes back with their ideas?

We Americans have been at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for a more than a few generations now. As far as I know, we have always had the drive to move forward, grow, go for the next big thing. Once one has gone forward and experienced what it’s like at the next level, it’s hard to accept going backwards.

 

  What I learned is that these people are not in denial of the current economy, rather, they have faith in themselves. So, I don’t answer the question they ask and I don’t preach about the woes of the market. I support them in their decisions and wonder if they are helping to raise the bar, not only for themselves, but for the future job market.