Give Kindness to the Workforce This Season

Andrew G.R.

I did something last Friday night that I've never done before.

I answered survey questions from a telemarketer.

When the phone initially rang, my instinct told me to ignore it--or worse yet--pick it up and give the caller a piece of my mind.

But then something happened: A wave of compassion came over me and I decided to play along. After all, the voice on the other end of the line is only trying to do his job, and who am I to stand in the way of a job well done?

Predictably, the survey went on for too long and asked me a bunch of questions I couldn't care less about. But that wasn't the point. While I might not have taken any joy in participating, I DID take joy in the fact that I was potentially helping the caller meet a quota. Complete his job. KEEP his job.

Ever since I started Jobacle, I have become cognizant of people's jobs and how it's important to make an effort to separate what they do from who they are. I still have a long way to go, but perhaps this blog post can serve as a reminder that your actions not only affect your career, but you also have the ability--like it or not--to impact those working around you.

The chill of the global economy is causing hundreds of thousands of jobs to evaporate. Imagine if your lack of participation was part of what cost that telemarketer his job? Took food out of his family's mouth? Caused a foreclosure on his home? I know, I know--it sounds extreme. But are you willing to take that risk?

So before you complain about that forgetful waitress...or call that 1-800 number to tell that trucker's company how he's driving, remember that your actions have consequences. That telemarketer might need your help to keep his job. Wouldn't you want him to help you?

After holding down various media jobs, including stops at MTV Networks and Fox News, Andrew G.R. was completely discouraged—not only about his own career but about the lack of job resources that truly spoke to him. Enter Jobacle.com, the employment blog and podcast designed to Make Work Better.

• For more from Andrew G.R., check out his previous posts here.
• Also, find the Jobacle's official 2009 Sick Day Calendar here. It's free!