Steve was hired in the spring just before the spring rush. He had never worked on a landscaping crew before but caught on quickly. He enjoyed the work immensely, especially after being stuck inside a warehouse for the past dozen years. He loved being outside, even in inclement weather, and the satisfaction of seeing what he and his crew were able to accomplish each day. He never felt so excited to go to work each morning, and began to ponder what a future in the industry would look like.
His wife, family and friends told him he was crazy. After all, he had a college degree and ten years of experience. They encouraged him to keep looking for a “real” job with “normal” hours.
Steve was conflicted. Working 55-60 hours a week during the spring, and around 50 all summer, produced some nice paychecks with overtime pay. The company seemed to be growing and the work seemed to be constant, with no end in sight. At the warehouse, overtime was rare and the workload was sometimes very light, which left him with an uneasy feeling that the company wasn’t all that healthy.
Recently, Steve overheard some of his co-workers talking about a seasonal layoff and collecting unemployment. Panic set in, as he realized this may affect him, although he wasn’t sure. His mind swirled with thoughts and a sick feeling overtook him. What would he tell his wife and his family? How could he pay his bills? Does he really have a future in this industry? Why didn’t he know this was something that happens every year? Why isn’t his manager talking with him about this?
Steve was never one to make waves and was a bit of a shy type. After about a week of this eating at him, he decided that his wife, family and friends were right. He cleaned up his resume and started looking for another job. He decided not to tell his manager, as he was hurt and angry. This would be for the best, he thought.
Unfortunately, panic sets in at this time of year. What are you doing to be proactive about seasonal changes and how are you going to hold onto the “Steves” of the world?
Now go forth.
Photo:Dean Hochman / photo on flickr
