'Superjobs': Why You Work More, Enjoy It Less . Example: Pastry Chef expected to double as handyman

[Liberal_in_LA]

'Superjobs': Why You Work More, Enjoy It Less .

Businesses expect a lot more out of their employees these days, as a visit to Rioja, the top-rated Denver restaurant, can demonstrate. If you like Rioja's hazelnut tortamisu, thank pastry chef Eric Dale. And if you happen to pop your head into the bakery room and admire the tile job on the floor, you can thank him for that, too.

Ever since his boss, chef Jen Jasinski, discovered that Mr. Dale is handy, she's had him doing double duty as the maintenance man. He has spent hours repainting the oven, fixing the plumbing and installing a garbage disposal. And that's just the start. He used to manage the dessert operation at one of Ms. Jasinski's restaurants; now he's up to three. All told, Mr. Dale says, his hours have expanded to more than 60 a week.

In this new era of the superjob, everyone does windows, and anyone who gripes about working too hard will hear an even hairier tale from the exec on the next bar stool. Emboldened by an unemployment crisis that's only now easing up, businesses of all sizes have asked employees to take on extra tasks that have little to do with their primary roles and expertise -- with engineers going on sales calls, accountants pitching in on customer service and chief financial officers running a division on the side. And some believe this shift is permanent, as the quickening pace of change demands more flexibility from everyone at the office.

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If you're wondering why it's hard to juggle new roles, ask a neuroscientist. Recent research suggests that multitasking can reduce productivity, because it takes a ton of mental energy to switch from one task to the next. The sheer number of hours demanded by the superjob also can impair your performance as your brain gets fatigued, says Susan Koen, an organizational psychologist and consultant whose clients include Pfizer, Alcoa and Procter & Gamble.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703859304576309533100131932.html

[dana_b]

1. no matter what job interview I have had lately

the expectation is "40+" - more like 50 or more is realistic. Also people are being asked to do jobs that they aren't really trained for. It's scary and it is just going to get worse.

[CoffeeCat]

2. They've got us by the balls...

I see the toll this takes on my husband. He is the technical manager for an Internet Service Provider. Something goes
wrong with any client--and he's the fixer. This job takes a great deal of technical expertise and skill. My husband has
been an uber geek his entire life.

Well, guess what they have him doing, in addition to this job? He's now the Customer Service Manger. They moved him
into this position--which should have been a separate position for a new hire with a managing background. So now,
in addition to the technical junk, he's managing a group of people and a call center.

He works at least 100 hours a week. He gets calls throughout the night--at all hours. He works on weekends. He's
majorly stressed out; and he defines a good day as one that doesn't include stress-induced chest pains. And those
are rare.

Does he dare complain? Are you kidding. This is how it works now. We are slaves. Everyone is miserable. You
have a job and you do whatever the hell they ask of you--or else you're out. These companies are saving more than
$150k this way. My husband is basically working another job for free.

And please, spare me the "At least he has a job" malarkey. Yes, we are very grateful for everything we have. That's
not the point. The point is that companies are increasing profits by abusing their employees.

People at every socioeconomic level are being squeezed, used and treated like dispensable objects.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. +5

[qazplm]

7. well this is the reason

why others DONT have a job, uber efficiency.

[Brickbat]

4. Why on earth didn't Dale tell the boss to fuck off when it came to the maintenance work?

[ThomCat]

9. Perhaps the risk of losing that job to someone else?

:shrug:

Anyone who says no to the boss is replaceable.

[Brickbat]

10. Which shows the importance of hiring letters, contracts and job descriptions.

But if people don't think of getting stuff like that down in writing when they're hired, and then won't say no later on, then I can only assume they're OK with the situation. :shrug:

[KansDem]

5. I guess "That's not in my job description!" won't hold true anymore...

...when the job description reads:

Job Description:










...now get off your fat ass and get to work!

[Motown_Johnny]

6. Bad example. In the restaurant business 60 hour weeks are common

[MattSh]

8. Well, should they be???

:shrug:

[Dappleganger]

11. If we had stronger union representation this wouldn't happen.

In right to work states we are totally fucked.

[CBGLuthier]

12. I had a manager once tell me that he would mop the floors for what they paid him.

I handed him my mop and said to have it because they did not pay me enough. I was a skilled technician not a janitor. I only lasted another year with that company but he was gone before me.

I doubt this man spent his life training to be a pastry chef so he can do tile floors. But a serf got no choice. That is why I don't work for other people any more.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. The pastry chef is also fixing the sewer pipes?

Yummy.

[brooklynite]

14. So, you're saying I shouldn't fix the copier?

I know how to do it and it gets done quickly, but I'm a manager, so apparently it's better to call building services and have them send someone up?