October 27, 2003 2:43 PM

Of skeleton crews, worker morale, and what to do
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 2:43 PM

The latest BostonWorks in the Sunday Globe has a feature on today's stripped down workforces, where those left behind after staff reductions don't always feel so lucky:

Life isn't easy for members of these lean and mean work forces. One employee is apt to be doing the work of two or three. Forty percent of employees surveyed by the Discovery Group, a Sharon-based consulting firm, say that their workload is unreasonable.

Added to this comes the not-so-surprising report that worker morale is in the tank, all across the country:

Insecurity is the reigning sentiment in an economy that has shed an unprecedented 3 million jobs. Employees of all incomes and in all occupations feel dissatisfied or overworked. In addition to job-loss fears, rising premiums for health insurance and the smallest pay raises in nearly three decades fuel their anxiety. Many feel stuck in a job market with few escape hatches.

So what do you do in times like these? It's never easy, but if you are still employed, you really want to think twice before you make a lot of noise in the workplace, as 1,000 eager applicants are waiting just outside your door. Like it or not, you have to redouble your efforts, repeatedly prove to your employer that you are the best person for the job, and thank your lucky stars that you have a job - and income - while millions out there don't. You'll want some stress relievers, too - exercise, entertainment, travel. And keep your eyes open for alternatives if your situation grows worse. But in all but the direst cases, something is better than nothing.

If you're out of work and looking, that's the toughest of all. You envy anybody on the inside and can't believe they have the gall to whine about anything! But you, too, have to suck it up and keep putting one foot in front of the other. You know - you know - it has to get better. And ask yourself, too, if you are doing all the right things to promote your case and find the best fit for what you bring to the table. In that regard, BostonWorks continues to stand ready to help with thousands of local job openings and a steady stream of expert advice to help you get back in the saddle again.

Whatever your situation, chin up, and keep at it. It's always preferable to the alternative. And despite the bare bones situation, make sure you have a Happy Halloween.

--------