Campus Zombies

The campus I work on has at last 4 different companies leasing space.  Each company is a big name business that employees thousands of people across the country.  A week or so ago, Terri told me of a conversation she had with one of her customers who had visited the campus to get her cell phone replaced.  Terri's customer had noticed the employees walking around on the campus looked unhappy, almost like zombies.

I think the observation was spot on.  Regardless of the company they work for, we have many things in common.  The recent economic recession has forced businesses to save expenses and the remaining employees have felt the brunt of those changes.  I believe that over the past 3 years, all the campus employees have:

• taken on more work for the same or less salary,
• become so busy that all their efforts can be described as minimal, or whatever time will allow,
• seen their benefits reduced,
• seen good friends laid off,
• taken on a larger scope of responsibility within their current job title,
• less of an idea what is expected of them by their boss,
• given up time away from the office,
• endured more pressure to produce in their job.

I have seen the zombie-like appearance also.  It makes me wonder if most employees are looking for new employment, and will bolt their current job once the job market heats up (which it will eventually).

Then I remember that we are the lucky ones that still have high-paying jobs.