THERE IS A HELL! - - - IT IS CALLED RETAIL SUPERVISORS | Page 15

their supervisor whenever they can get away with it. They leave work precisely at the
designated end work time. They go home to complain bitterly to their spouse about lousy
working conditions and the “jerk” that ruined their day. They never receive awards or
promotions to highly prized positions. One day, if they haven’t been fired, they retire with a
small pension and wonder to themselves, “Why did I stay so long?”
I should note, to be fair, that there are noble employees who live in this negative
environment but rise above it and conduct themselves with grace and distinction. They are
admired by their peers for their selflessness. But for most, the endurance comes at a very
high cost.

2. Find Another Job within the Company

You could move to another department with another boss who treats workers well. There
are a few courageous souls who want to stay within a company and simply
seek responsibilities somewhere else in the operation. They will quietly visit with HR to
learn about other options. There is risk, of course, for these migrants. What might happen
if the boss finds out ‘I’m looking’? Will he or she speak well of me to another
supervisor? Nevertheless they watch each week for new job postings and apply quickly
with a hope they might be interviewed and hired.
As a side note, I find many employees currently looking to leave current jobs to go back to
school to increase their knowledge base and thereby become more marketable. This often
occurs when they learn a job they hoped to have landed requires more skills than they
possess. To fix the problem, they take online courses or attend community college classes
at night or on the weekend. No matter what, they are driven to leave the “jerk” behind and
improve their future circumstances.

3. Talk to Your Boss

Invite your unkind boss to discuss your feelings. Seek to understand his or her issues as
well. Find common ground to develop mutual job satisfaction for both parties. This option
is definitely worth a try. Of course there is some risk. If a discussion doesn’t go well, there
may be serious consequences later. But if the boss has any heart at all, there may be a
very good chance of interpersonal improvement. This option requires significant courage
and self-confidence. It’s not for the faint of heart.
I have actually seen a situation where the plaintiff and the defendant enjoyed a significant
improvement in their relationship when the employee asked her boss if they could begin
their conversation with a prayer. When I heard of this exchange, I was very doubtful of the
outcome. But to my surprise and delight, hearts were somehow softened and the two
parties ceased to be adversaries.

4. Quit and Find a New Job

Tender your resignatio