Binge Thinking

Happy Hour is 9 - 5 - Ros Palmer

I just came across this book (Happy Hour is 9 - 5) by Alexander Kjerulf because I Googled:  'Happy at work'. 
 
I was prompted by two recent articles, one in Psychologies magazine about workplace contentment and a report in People Management on Organisational Development (What does OD DO?).  All have a common theme regarding engaging workforces and making work a good place to be.  OD is "generally considered as a post-war response to the dehumanising effects of scientific management practices, which saw workers as small cogs within a well-oiled organisational machinery".

Now we have a more humanistic approach to work.  But is it standing up to recessionary pressures and is it a global right?
 
Alain de Botton's book 'The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work' is mentioned in the Psychologies article and there has been much media coverage of it (and some Twittering about how de Botton reacts to bad reviews -  but I digress). 
 
Clearly there is still dehumanising work around (poorer call centres are mentioned in the book and a recent book by a 'Beepeuse' (a checkout girl in France) reveals just how monotonous and dehumanising this role sometimes can be).  On the other hand, there are some particular pleasures to be had whilst at work.  de Botton says: "Long before we ever earned money, we were aware of the necessity of keeping busy.  We knew the satisfactions of stacking bricks, pouring water into and out of containers, untroubled by the greater purpose of our actions.  The start of work on a Monday means entering a more focused, rational and intense realm.  Our thousands of possibilities are reduced to an agreeable handful.  You are once again who it says you are on your business card".  
 
The civility and consideration of a work context is also lauded as is the fact that a workplace can be a place for friendship, meaning, a sense of identity and a place for hope and optimism.   The article concludes:  'In a year like this, we should remind ourselves that work can be satisfying and rewarding even beyond its rocky capacity to make us a reliable amount of money'. 
 
So all good food for thought.  Surely, for everyone at work today or hoping to be at work again soon the question has to be: 'How can I make my job more meaningful and change things for the better?'.