Life Lessons: Talking Yourself Out of a Job

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Life Lessons

Talking Yourself Out of a Job

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A notice on a company bulletin board:

"Due to increased competition and a keen desire to stay in business, we find it necessary to institute a new policy.  We are asking that somewhere between starting time and quitting time, and without infringing on the time devoted to lunch, coffee breaks, rest periods, storytelling, ticket selling, vacation planning, and rehashing of gossip, each employee endeavors to find some time that can be set aside and known as the "Work Break".  This may seem a radical innovation, but we believe the idea has possibilities.  It can conceivably be an aid to steady employment and regular pay checks.  While adoption of the Work Break is not compulsory, it is hoped that each employee will find time to give it a fair trial."*

A major reason why people get fired is because they disrupt the work of others with gossip and talking about personal problems.  Are you literally talking yourself out of a job?

Employers need employees who do their work, not tie up valuable time talking about personal issues.  Solomon wrote:  "In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter only leads to poverty" (Proverbs 14:23).

*The Public Speaker's Treasure Chest, Herbert V. Prochnow, Harper and Row, 1964, p. 284.

Comments

  • Sherrie_Giddens
    This is interesting. Time management and the understanding of the value of time seems to have been lost, as we build a society that depends on "time saving" machines.
  • dziwczyna
    Not only that, but I've seen people on their smartphone all day either on Facebook or texting. I can't imagine those people are productive by any means, as their attention is constantly diverted. I also had an interview once where the manager/supervisor's Blackberry constantly went off whilst I was trying to answer his questions.
  • KARS
    So true. We customers would be able to leave the checkout stands quicker if they would just keep their minds at the task at hand. It's good to work and honest pay instead of just lounging around to quitting time. Thank you for your insight and article Mr. Petty.
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