What?

First off I am not talking about working your full time corporate job all while taking on hourly/contract or even part-time work at your local Kohl’s. No. I am talking about working one job and receiving, in your mind a salary, but in reality you are just getting an hourly wage.

Whether you’re exempt or non-exempt, we have all become hourly employees

The answer to the ‘HOW’ is so simple. Ready… Ready… you sure? Ready to hear the answer… here it goes:

Work 70 Hours a week.

That’s right. Work 70 hours a week and that’s the difference between roughly 34 bucks an hour (40 hrs) and 17$. “But Ben, I would never do that!” Ooooh… That’s what you say.

Many of you are doing it now. Throw out the misguided idea of work-life im-balance balance. Dump your misconception of “I am making this $$ a year.” Think outside the box. I am sure you are already saying “no way”. Here’s how you are doing it and how it adds up.

• 1hr = When you get up in the morning and after you clean up, first thing you do is check email from work, colleagues and vendors.
• 8hrs = You work at the gig.
• 1hr = You don’t go out for lunch, instead you catch up on stuff.
• 2hr (at least) = After you get home your working on it.
• Now multiply all that 6X. Because in reality you have so much of a connection between your personal and professional life, contacts and colleagues that you even take it home over the weekends.

Grand estimated total/average result: (1 + 8 + 1 + 2 hrs) X 6 days= 72 hrs a week. This is all before you take out how much you are losing to taxes, benefits, etc.

Question is: Is it all worth it?

First off 65K is a great salary for most people. As stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average American worker only makes around 34K a year and that’s a long shot. I would venture to say it is closer to 25k. So if you are making 65K a year woo haa for you. That’s still better than the average American worker makes. But does the above scenario and equation fit your situation?

At the same time you have to ask yourself, is the amount of time you are putting in worth it? Is it worth the time? Am I adding value, getting something out of it or am I just working harder and not smarter.

It’s so common… But like Trish McFarlane has asked… have we all been brain washed. Don’t question the hours. Don’t question the salary. Question your own sanity!

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy what you do so much that you can’t get away or are you falling victim and can’t get away?

This past week I watched Disney/Pixar’s movie – UP. If you have not seen it then you are missing a telling tale of what it means to come to what you think is the apex of your life, only to find out you have more life to live and more life to give.

It made me think to a few years back when I came across a short video called “The Key to Happiness.” It is only a 2 1/2 minute animation but it tells so much of the work of one life and all it did to get to one moment of true happiness. I am very much into inspirational media and at around 2 minutes and 17 seconds into it is where this video holds its depth.

“Key to Happiness” (Click to View Video)

My Point: What are you working towards?

There are many of us that are driven. Driven to do… “things“. For some, these things would be to build buildings or plant memories. For others, they are driven to build a career and maybe even uplift people. At times these things that we build are mediocre things. Other times they can be extraordinary.

Many of us spend our whole lives searching, searching for the right friendships or relationships. We look for the best neighborhoods, the right car… the perfect job. It’s as if there is this black, bottomless whole we are constantly trying to fill. As if we need THINGS to complete us. As if they can somehow make us feel whole. But how many work their whole lives toward one passion; toward one thing that will truly make us whole?

The question I would like to ask to you:

• What is your drive?
• What are you willing to do, as an individual, to achieve your “things”
• What is the drive within you to reach that which is extraordinary, not necessarily in another persons eyes, but within your own?

So about the title… umm you just got laid off, through no fault of your own. It can be difficult to sit on the other end of a desk. The supervisor or person who you feel might as well be holding a gun to your head to keep you from reaching over and slapping them for saying, “this is nothing personal.” Well guess what, they are wrong. While dissolving of a position or reduction of workforce may be a business decision, it is very personal, for the people giving the news and the individual receiving it. It is easy to list a few of the many disadvantages; the packing of personal or company items (for you thieves) with or without security, the walk to the car, the oh so long drive on the way home to think about what has just happened, the breaking of news to the family and then the subtle but daunting task of searching for a new position.

So what could possibly be the benefit that comes from losing, for what many of us is, our only source of income? What great things could be hidden in this process for the HR person delivering the news? Few would agree that there are any benefits, yet believe it or not there are. There are even more benefits now then there were even a few years ago. Having a good breakfast and calling other unemployed friends are not among the reasons I am discussing, although pretty damn good and funny!

For HR:

• It’s a chance for HR to make the company look Humane. Being in the room for a lay-off with the manager and employee is not something any of us wants to be apart of often but it is one task that can come with the job. You have a chance to show what gratitude there may be for the employees service and help in retaining the brand of your company. The last thing you want is for the person to have a bad experience, echo it out to the world through twitter and the blogosphere and set you up as a bad guy, ultimately leaving a bad impression on any future candidate that you want to hire for that same position after the righteous company comeback (did I just say “that same position” oops). We, HR, can be perceived as the good people for a change!
• Performance issues. Have to be careful here but, let’s face it, not all supervisors do a good job in effectively giving performance reviews. The good and bad  is not always outlined. But regardless of who is at fault, if there were issues with the employee/employer relationship, reduction in workforce is an easier argument to have and a much quicker conversation. Especially in this economy.
• More quiet time. Fewer employees mean fewer grievances, reduced visits to your office and request for the “private talk” about ones supervisor and/or boss. OK, this is not really a good argument, but you have all thought about it haven’t you? Why be afraid, admit it.

For the Unemployed:

• Family Time. The maximum benefit would be the time you spend with your family and friends. You can become even closer with the extra time you are spending together. Let’s face it, your kids, significant other and people who are most important to you will never say, “Dang you should have spent more time at work.”
• Regenerate/Reflection. If you are like me, there is never enough time in the day. If you are currently not working, you often feel like you have more work to do then you did when you were working. In this time away, you can now take the time to get to know another side of yourself that you have not experienced in awhile. You take the time to discover what that side is.
• Reevaluate life and career goals. Why Not Re-Evaluate Your Career Path Choices? Nuff said.
• Unemployment Benefits. No longer are there long lines at the unemployment office. The unemployed can now handle everything online (that is if they can still afford internet access). Don’t quote me but the max you can receive on an unemployment claim is around $452, given you make more than $900, give or take. There has been talk of an added benefit under the new administration prolonging benefits for an added 13 months as well as an increase in benefits for up to $25 to those who qualify. You scoff, “Ooh a whole $25 extra.” Yeah you are laughing now but an extra $25 can go a long way in tough times.
• Retraining. Yes, if you need an upgrade in certifications, knowledge or skills; there is potential to receive added funds. Only to those who quality and ask.
• Other possible benefits: Refinance or Modification of a Mortgage Loan (check with your bank), Return the school, etc.
• Excuses to be cheap. When people ask for change, asking to cover the tab, or donations; you actually have a good excuse to be cheap!

This is a simple and brief list. Some of these were meant to help you laugh to keep from crying but there are real ways to deal and even recover from reduction in force. While difficult, a lay-off can end up being the bridge between the move from a potentially bad situation to better one, for both the employee and/or the employer.