Used to love my job, the idea of having a career, learning and being backed to succeed.
But, certainly at our place, once you hit middle age onwards, and especially if you're not already at the big table or they can't advance you and get recognition for it or meet an in vogue cliche, then you're uninteresting to them. In return I, and I would say most of those with over a decade at the company, have become so demoralised and uninterested in our own jobs that we just do enough to keep pace with the average, rather than looking to excel. It tells in trying to organize works nights out, they've given up now but largely because nobody wanted to hang around with each other after the end of the working day, especially on our own time and money.
The level of favoruitsm for some staff is frustrating too, not particularly because others are getting the backing but because the ones getting backed are useless. One guy got a promotion last year despite being with us only 11 months and failing all of his targets, but he did organize a summer party that he and nobody else was asked to organize by the management team. But all the people he now line managers come to me and others with problems, as they know he's a) unkowledgeable and b) uninterested if it won't lead him to another promotion. If I'd wanted that kind of responsibility I'd have brown nosed my own way to a promotion! Reflects very badly on our management, if they think that kind of joker is the right hands to be taking the company forward.
I don't want to be that person and considered leaving several times, had a concrete offer on the table just last month, but two decades of service and the nice little perks keep me there. But I honestly no longer care much whether the company succeeds or fails. Pay me, I do as expected, when my working hours are up don't bother me.
I even thought of retraining completely to a different occupation a couple of years back, but it seems to cost a fortune. Still not discounting it though, I've had my fill of the smarmy corporate bandwagon I think. It's just how long I can cheerfully smile along and take their pay slips I guess.
