In the span of 4 or 5 years, my employer, a government-run non-profit organization and healthcare provider for the under-served population of the entire state of Minnesota, in the interest of viability underwent a radical change of governance to become what was, essentially, a non-profit healthcare provider to the under-served population of a single, albeit large, county, that for all other purposes adopted the business model and practices of private corporations all across America. And before the dust settled organizationally, I would see 2 new Lab Directors, 3 new managers, 5 supervisory changes and enough rearrangement of instrumentation and work space to keep me moving in circles forever.
Staff changes, benefit changes, rules, regulations, inspections, hospital evaluation surveys, lab safety, inventory, environment surveys, regulatory changes, procedural changes, all contributed to a general feeling of chaos and dissatisfaction, amidst an administrative model that solicited more opinions than it could possibly accommodate and at the end of the day, ignore them all.
Many of my coworkers had never worked anywhere else, and being less surprised meant listening to the indignation and sense of entitlement that government jobs are said to foster. Surviving the day on the good side of satisfied was my new measure of success.
Solutions are great, but sometimes being reminded that we are not alone in our experience of even the most complicated circumstances is all the relief the moment requires. Take comfort where you find it. (Wasn;t that a song, like a hundred years ago? Bread if I'm not mistaken...)
As usual, I found this looking for something else...I don't remember what it was now, and look what I got instead! Thanks Des, Cole, Princes if ever there was.
Tracy