My department at work is being reduced in force (RIF) due to budget contraints and there are three people who are losing their positions, but we are all being effected by this. Each person has their own reaction to this, although all three losing their positions agree the situation sucks. And, the six of us left behind, agree. But one of the most optimistic responses is from the youngest of the group: while she thinks the situation sucks, she is using the situation to explore what employment opportunities she can, and to try to make the most of each exploration.
So, this is a lesson on how we react to bad news. We can chose to think that this is the worst thing that can happen, or we can decide that this gives us an opportunity to try to do something different.
I have been through this process before. In 1987, after 10 years at Catholic Family Service, Inc, Diocese of Lubbock, I was told my position was demoted to half time. I do not know if my supervisor told me, when a new Federal grant was instated, my position would be instated to full time. I do not recall hearing that. I found a new job. I spent three and a half years at the county hospital, then moved on to a position at the Texas Department of Health. There I was able to advance my career, so when I moved to the Montford Unit, TDCJ under contract to TTUHSC, I had a good salary history that was not matched, but made comparable.
So, this is what social workers deal with regularly. I have been blessed. We move into positions where we can, and do what we can to get the best positions we can, given the constraints of funding and opportunities.
Sometimes, we have to decide that the opportunity to help is worth more than the monetary recompense. That is hard. But, we have to think about why we are in social work.
No comments:
Post a Comment