Workforce Dirty Terms

Some readers will understand the slant on this article. They live it each day. If not  personally, they recognize family members or friends and can relate to the dirty terms. I would even bet in a barroom conversation, many would claim "having many friends" falling into this category. Others will deny or at least pass aside the article totally.

The term is marginal jobs. Employees in marginal jobs are those, for various reasons, employed and (use this term within the context) engaged in conditions less than favorable. Positions falling into this category include positions that are:

• Boring
• Low-paid
• Intermittent
• Little or no autonomy
• Dead-end

In many cases, employees holding these positions remain hard-working, loyal employees because of an inability to find better jobs. Marginal refers to the work, not the worker. In the economy today, we might find more than usual employed in these jobs.

Networking while employed in marginal work, surely takes a toll on both pride and esteem for the worker. In fact, I would venture “networking” is another dirty term. Those in marginal positions find themselves isolated for many reasons, none-the-less being somewhat embarrassed to network in communities with higher skills and income.

Often, management maintains a preferred group within the organization. This preferred group may stem from common ground or tenure within the company. Regardless, those in marginal positions are less likely to find invitations to lunch with the boss or owner. They are also less likely to find invitations to stimulating work or training.

As a reference, those who watch the television show “Undercover Boss” only find instances where the boss invades the workplace undercover. We rarely hear the real reason why someone participates in this show (other than advertising, marketing, and income) unless the intent is to try and find trouble. I doubt we would see a show with all those outtakes.

When will we see a reality show when the boss invites marginal job employees to lunch? Even the Geico pig cannot REALLY fly.

Those employed in marginal work include personnel with:

• Learning disabilities (these vary as much as any part of society)
• Family influences
• Experience
• Legal backgrounds
• Poor choices in early life

Many employees find themselves excluded, instead of included, from opportunities to improve. We could rant and rave over the “why’s” of this issue, but just to recognize those in marginal industries or employment areas are rarely marginal employees or with marginal potential.