Common Problems‿ in the workplace

My name‿ is Paul. I spen(t) four years‿ in‿ a call centre,│ an(d) the problems‿ I encountered there were structural rather than personal,│ which‿ is why I have los(t) patience with the argumen(t) that‿ a better^be-der‿ attitude‿ is the solution.

The wage was stagnant:│ over four years‿ it rose by three percent│ while the cost‿ of living rose by eleven,│ which‿ is‿ a cut described politely as‿ a pay rise. Work was precarious,│ breaks were cancelled‿ at shor(t) notice,│ an(d) the grievance procedure‿ existed‿ on paper‿ an(d) nowhere‿ else. Turnover was‿ understandably enormous‿ an(d) the attrition was‿ interpreted by management‿ as‿ an‿ attitude problem rather than‿ a symptom,│ which‿ is convenien(t) for‿ a company that does not wish to raise‿ its pay. The union was the only body that produced‿ a single change,│ an(d) collective bargaining won‿ us fifteen minutes per shift. It was not much,│ and‿ it was more than four years‿ of‿ individual complaint‿ achieved.

I resigned,│ and‿ I now work‿ in‿ a smaller firm│ where the balance between work‿ an(d) life‿ is genuinely respected. I am‿ aware,│ however,│ that my improvemen(t) was‿ a personal‿ escape rather than‿ a remedy. Where statutory protection‿ is weak‿ and‿ enforcement‿ is weaker,│ some‿ employers will‿ exploit precisely to the limit the law allows,│ an(d) no amount‿ of collegiality will‿ alter the arithmetic.