Odd hours opinion
Despite having worked around 15 different jobs over the last 13 years, I don't really think any job that I've had can really stand out as "the worst job." Every job had its good sides and bad. Take my current job for example: while it has some of the worst downsides I've ever encountered, it can also be incredibly fulfilling.
My current job is working at a psychiatric lockdown facility as a Mental Health Worker.
The downsides: the risk of assault, injury, infectious disease; constant exposure to harassment and inappropriate comments/behavior. I have been hit, spit on, pinched, poked, grabbed, thrown against a wall, had stuff thrown at me, been verbally abused, had to deflect extremely inappropriate sexual advances (did I mention I work with sex offenders?), and had my life threatened. Not to mention the fact that I've had to clean up everything the human body can be made to excrete (with the exception of cerebrospinal fluid, although I'm sure that will happen any day now). This was at its worst when I was working graveyard shift for 10 months (while in school). By the way, this is all for around $10/hour.
The upsides: the most obvious is that it is liquid gold for graduate school applications. In addition, it (barely) pays the bills. The less tangible rewards include being able to really help people. In this job you have the ability to make a profound difference in someone's life--whether you stop them from committing suicide, or just convince them that somebody cares. It is the most amazing feeling when someone you have been working closely with improves and is better able to manage their symptoms.
It is because of this that I do not feel that workers are entirely separated from the fruits of their labors. I think that you can reap fantastic rewards simply being of service to others (and yes, I have waitressed). While you may not be harvesting material crops, you are still breaking the cycle of isolation.
My current job is working at a psychiatric lockdown facility as a Mental Health Worker.
The downsides: the risk of assault, injury, infectious disease; constant exposure to harassment and inappropriate comments/behavior. I have been hit, spit on, pinched, poked, grabbed, thrown against a wall, had stuff thrown at me, been verbally abused, had to deflect extremely inappropriate sexual advances (did I mention I work with sex offenders?), and had my life threatened. Not to mention the fact that I've had to clean up everything the human body can be made to excrete (with the exception of cerebrospinal fluid, although I'm sure that will happen any day now). This was at its worst when I was working graveyard shift for 10 months (while in school). By the way, this is all for around $10/hour.
The upsides: the most obvious is that it is liquid gold for graduate school applications. In addition, it (barely) pays the bills. The less tangible rewards include being able to really help people. In this job you have the ability to make a profound difference in someone's life--whether you stop them from committing suicide, or just convince them that somebody cares. It is the most amazing feeling when someone you have been working closely with improves and is better able to manage their symptoms.
It is because of this that I do not feel that workers are entirely separated from the fruits of their labors. I think that you can reap fantastic rewards simply being of service to others (and yes, I have waitressed). While you may not be harvesting material crops, you are still breaking the cycle of isolation.
posted by Tara at 12:14 AM
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