As a therapist, I have some contracts with Employee Assistance Programs.
I get referrals of "troubled employees" who are having difficulties which seem to effect their work.
More and more, my referrals involve people whose main issue is how they are being treated at work, as the unemployment rates rise higher and higher.
I have had cases where a state employee has been made to work over 60-70 hours per week as a salaried employee,(w no overtime or flextime) when her job description is for 40. And while this phenomena is not unusual sometimes, to be expected to work these hours for the past 6 months and to be threatened with losing your job if you take time off is downright abusive.
Other instances below....
These include:
* a man suffered heat stroke after being required to do the work of three men ( who had been laid off) in a dangerous industrial environment
* a woman who was told she would lose her job if she took more than one day leave after her sister died suddenly, because "she was not immediate family".
* a man told that he would lose his job if he took a half day off for his anniversary trip, because "his values put his family above his job, and that kind of thing, did not fit the lifestyle required of someone who works here"
* a woman had a heart attack after a difficult divorce and stress on the job due to understaffing. when she returned to work her boss would not allow her to go to follow up medical appointments without being in danger of losing her job
* a woman who was being harassed at work by her boss, kept having panic attacks at work,---she is the sole supporter of her children and mother with dementia and does not qualify for FMLA as yet
Every day, there is a different story. This economy is bad, but many corporate employers see this as an opportunity to slash staff and not worry about the wear and tear on loyal employees. They are profiting off the desperation of those who need a job.
With the weakening of the unions and the removal of "merit system" tenure programs, I think that employees are in the worst shape since the great depression, when it comes to fair labor practices.
I wrote this diary to get a sense of this community's experience with current day work environments...and I would be pleased to get your comments. It will help with a book I am writing that includes a chapter on wage slavery. Thank you.