The Covid-19 pandemic led to many acid tests with one being how employers value employees.
‘People are our biggest asset’ is a phrase used by almost all employers and yet how many practise this? We saw a large percentage of big and very profitable companies including large conglomerates reducing salaries up to 50% and some employees asked to stay at home without any pay.
Contrary to this, we saw small and medium size business organisations practising the said phrase by not reducing salaries. This is an eye opener for many stakeholders. Employees of those companies which treated employees as their biggest asset should now reciprocate by giving their maximum for the growth of the organisation.
We all think that we’re important in other people’s lives. We want to be noticed, valued, respected and rewarded - and ponder about it day-in and day-out. Our whole focus is on ‘what’s in it for me’. Well, you deserve what you deserve. At the same time, as employees we have obligations to the employer as well. The ‘give and take’ policy applies in its true spirit to ‘employer–employee relationships’ too.
Gratitude is at the core of all healthy partnerships. You must also understand the difficulties and objectives of your employer, and then do the work you are being paid to do with honesty. Fulfill all your job responsibilities with a ‘sincere heart’ – I repeat with a ‘sincere heart’.
You have workplace rights – rightly so, but at the same time you have to do your job meeting expectations and respect your leaders’ vision — as in showing them consideration for their effort to keep the team intact and motivated for results that benefit all.
How about showing a little love and empathy to your employer? You may ask - What? The same people who gave me no or a very small salary increase this year and laid off my buddies? We are all too quick to go for the negative aspects of working in these tough times. But how about one single reason to be grateful - you have a job and a guaranteed income.
The majority of employees would never say they earn enough or are paid well – that’s nature. But mind you many are not lucky to have a job like you. It’s important to check both sides of the coin before you express your feelings and pass judgments. It’s your contribution that will make the business grow. You have to first give and take back your share later.
Contribute proactively
Volunteer for an important value creating project by your colleagues in another department. Maybe it’s not an interesting or resume-enhancing one, but it will help your bosses to sustain your benefit package or even enhance it. Work overtime or sacrifice a few hours during weekends if necessary without any expectations of acknowledgement or future compensation.
Ask yourself – have you not rejected such small extra contributions for the betterment of the organisation? How many times have you engaged in such activities wholeheartedly? You should train yourself to see the end result of your extra voluntary efforts.
Give reasons to your bosses to recognise and reward you. Don’t blame them if they have read you right and placed you where they think you should be.
After all, your bosses have feelings similar to what you have and they need inspiration and motivation.
How have you shown your employer/boss your gratitude lately? Your employer takes ultimate responsibility to pay you regardless of whether the company has made profits or not. Your employer gives you the security of a regular income and annual benefit package you can plan and depend on.
Your employer takes the hit when there is an economic collapse or slowdown, the dollar rises or falls, fluctuating interest rates or some other business sensitive market situation arises. Your employer deals with bitter and prohibitive regulations and legislation that negatively impact the business, pays high taxes and duties and makes various other contributions to the economy that helps your country men to have a decent quality of life.
You get to go on holiday with your family and leave the business behind – isn’t this guaranteed. Most of all you can leave the organisation for better prospects or for any personal reasons. How good is that? Have we ever tried to understand or comprehend the value of our employer and extended gratitude in whatever form or shape to say thank you and also feel good about the attitude of gratitude which all good human beings should nurture and respect.
Happiness
Cultivating gratitude is one of the simpler routes to a greater sense of emotional well-being, higher overall life satisfaction, and a greater sense of happiness in life. People with a greater level of gratitude have strong relationships in that they appreciate their loved ones more and their loved ones, feeling that appreciation, do more to earn it.
And because those who are happier, sleep better and enjoy healthy relationships - grateful people are healthier people. Fortunately, gratitude can be cultivated, and this can be accomplished in several ways.
For the next few weeks, try some of ways of and exercise good examples of gratitude you get exposed to, and you will notice a significant increase in your feelings of gratitude -— you will likely find yourself noticing more positive things in your life, dwelling less on negative or stressful events and feelings of rejection and having a greater sense of appreciation for the people and things in your life.
To start with when you notice yourself grumbling about a negative event or stressor in your work life, try to think of four or five related things for which you are grateful. Learn from others who are better than you – never benchmark with colleagues who do not demonstrate the ideal behaviour and attitude. Know that your bosses know to compare the right way. You cannot hide – you are exposed, which has its own merits and demerits.
Many people cause themselves unnecessary stress by making comparisons. More specifically, they cause themselves stress by making the wrong comparisons. They compare themselves only to those who have more, do more, or are in some way closer to their ideals, and allow themselves to feel inferior instead of being inspired.
In cultivating gratitude, you have one of two options if you find yourself making such comparisons: You can either choose to compare yourself to people who have less than you (which reminds you how truly rich and lucky you are), or you can feel gratitude for having people in your life who can inspire you.
Either road can lead away from stress and envy, and closer to feelings of gratitude.
Employers are often seen as the bad guys when in fact they are everyday heroes and optimists. If you are in a job right now, accept that until the time is right, a job is a very great privilege and say ‘Thank you’ to your bosses today.
Developing an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important and essential things that you can do to attract and manifest the things that you desire into your life – in this case through your employer.