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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2008 > April > 17 > Entry
are you feeling squeezed?
Has the economy got you down? How are things going? Are you worried about paying your mortgage? Is the recession being felt at your house? Are you worried about your job?
Things are getting a bit worrisome for many Americans. The financial markets are spinning. Are you an investor? Do you feel secure? How is your retirement nest egg doing? Do you still have one?
A new book takes a hard look at how things stand here in the USA circa 2008. THE BIG SQUEEZE-Tough Times For The American Worker (Knopf) by Steven Greenhouse is a real eye opener.
Are you a fan of globalization? If you read this book you might change your viewpoint. Greenhouse spotted the rocky times coming and he places the blame where he feels it belongs, at the feet of employers who have been taking advantage of American workers.
Is your workplace a version of hell these days? Read this book. Understand why.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: booms and busts
Comments
By victor mickunas
April 27, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Max, I worked for a non-profit for 10+ years. Over that time I had good bosses and bad ones. Bad bosses can be found in any employment sector and while one might be idealistic and hope that the non-profit sector would attract a better sort of boss in my experience it simply was not so. Pompous windbags are attracted to non-profits because they can take up space without producing results that are easily measured. They can take the credit for the work done by others and blame their staff for their own failures.By Max D
April 24, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Honestly, I think it’s what sort of company you work for and what sort of mission it seeks to fulfill. I’ve been in non-profit for the last five years and I’ve never dreaded a day at work.By Blowfly
April 21, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
I like were I work. I realy can’t complain, and frankly I don’t here people complaining much either. Not every employer stives to grind their employees into dust. Frankly, it has a lot to do with expectations and choices in life. Of course, the playing field is not equal, but I don’t really believe in luck. “Most” (I have to qualify that term) people are living the lives they lead because that’s they choose to live that life (whether they admit it or not, whether they realize it or not).By prose
April 20, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
I’m happy for you Vick. However,except for the family employees or comfortably wealthy, I can’t find anyone who doesn’t admit to intensely disliking their place of work..in confidence of course. The fear factor has consumed honest discourse regarding what happens daily at peoples places of employment. We are treated as disposable, temporary annoyances for meeting their next revenue increase goals. Thinking this was a my personal situation only, I began asking others who I trust. Job security, satisfaction or just occasionally looking forward to their toil was nill. We can’t all be wrong on this issue. As Mark noted, the workplace is mostly.. hell. Try asking for a vacation day, let alone a vacation. Co-workers needing a sick day bring their contagions to the worksite, too terrorized to consider their own health or colleagues. Don’t ever ask questions or even wear a puzzled look on your face..you’ll instantly be accused of having the dreaded “bad attitude”. Translation: “not following the company line, troublemaker, find a way to get rid of them. Find a neophyte (half-price & desperate) who’ll be complacent and work till they drop dead. Soon. Overreaction? Not in my current experience or of others whom I’ve discussed this oppression with. It’s not paranoia if they ARE acting like this, AND conducting these career ending atrocities. If you’re not seeing this situation you’re not looking or listening very closely.By victor mickunas
April 20, 2008 6:16 AM | Link to this
Mark, I love my current workplace but then I have also worked in hellish places so I do have some perspective on that.By prose
April 19, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
“greed is the last legal vice”. I’ve forgotten the source but it’s message sure rings true. Most people I know feel like they’ve been trampled financially. Start planting a victory garden if you can. I think we haven’t seen the worst of this disaster. Most have little or nothing left to feel safe about in their lives. Solution? Government checks in the mail!By Mark from St Paul
April 19, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Are there still workplaces that aren’t hell?