Job Insecurity: It’s the Disease of the 21st Century – And It’s Killing Us

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/156104/job_insecurity%3A_it’s_the_disease_of_the_21st_century_–_and_it’s_killing_us/

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Remember Dilbert, the mid-level, white-collar Cubicle Guy of the '90s who could never seem to get ahead? In the 21st century, his position looks almost enviable.

He has been replaced by Waiting-For-the-Other-Shoe-to-Drop Man.

Across America, freaked-out employees are coping with sweat-drenched nights and heart-pounding days. They’re reaching for the Xanax and piling on the work of two or three people. They’re running the risk of short-term collapse and long-term disease.

The hell created by three grinding years of 8 percent-plus unemployment brings us plenty of stories of what people suffer when they lose their jobs. But what about the untold millions who live in chronic fear that tomorrow’s paycheck will be their last?

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Welcome To The Success Of The Reagan Revolution

Now Mittwit and the GOP plan to deliver more of the same on steroids. Their mantra is "job insecurity and no pension" is a good thing for American workers. It keeps them motivated.

[HughBeaumont]

2. You know what's really scary?

The GOP is only going to get worse with every subsequent candidate as far as Reaganomics goes, and the Democrats can't gain any campaign funding unless they promise Big Business their status quo they so enjoy (i.e. no progressive legislation whatsoever), leaving no real "opposition" to Milton Friedman's crapcake plan.

[NoMoreWarNow]

5. the elites love it, for sure-- extra productivity for the same money

but it just can't be sustained. Chickens will come home to roost.

[mnhtnbb]

7. OMG. First time I've seen the nickname "Mittwit". I LOVE it!

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. Me too. Now, that's got potential. n/t

[HiPointDem]

3. kr for sure

[LittleGirl]

4. Oh, we're so living this...

my husband was given his pink slip in May. His job will end on Dec 31st and while he is working a high end, high profile project, he also has to take the time to look for another job. Right now, he's looking inside the company but next month, he's determined to look outside. He will get a severance and 3 months of health insurance after he leaves the company, but he's only been with the company for 2.5 yrs so it won't be much. It's better than nothing.

I had my nervous breakdown last week. I was exhausted from lack of sleep and I just broke down into a weeping mess. He comforted me and hopefully, his certain breakdown will occur on a day when I am stronger. We need to support each other through this. The uncertainty really is the worst. The unknown.

[NoMoreWarNow]

6. sorry to hear-- I hope things work out for you

scary times, all the way around.

[LittleGirl]

8. Thanks so much

for your kind words.

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. +1. n/t

[Marrah_G]

9. That's me!

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Great article. The unemployed are getting the worst of the Great Decession, but...

... the barely employed ( which may actually make up a statistical majority of the entire workforce) are a close second.

I see it every day. There's a poison in the air where I am and people are coping inadequately. Lots of clinical stuff including off-the-charts anxiety, hypertension, depression and -- most likely-- all manner of substance dependency and abuse.

I hope we get to look back on these days as a bad dream... like our parents did the Depression.

I *hope*.