About two months ago I invited a close friend of mine out to dinner.  He said he’d love to join me, but it would have to be after his late shift at the steak house where he works, and has been the acting sous chef for almost six years.  As I waited for him at the restaurant, I began to worry, and after half an hour and my friend’s late arrival I finally got a surprising explanation for his tardiness.  He explained that the company was trying to consolidate their external services and had decided to have the cooks take over the cleaning responsibilities.  Not a huge problem, right?  Well, it becomes a problem for the salaried chefs when the hourly cooks must leave at a specific time in order to keep hours in check.  So who takes over the cleaning responsibilities?  Yep, you’ve got it, my friend the chef.  He’s also been asked to fix a few pieces of machinery, as well as pickup and deliver specific food items.  As I’m listening to his explanation I’m thinking, this is great - he’s probably received a comparable raise!  But no, all of his extra duties come at no cost to the company, and he’s fine with that.  He finished up his story by saying that he may not like the additional workload he’s taken on, but at least he has a job and an income. 

As of May 2011, our country’s unemployment rate was 9.1%.  Small businesses and large corporations alike are doing everything they can to pinch pennies in this tough economy.  From layoffs to department closures to bankruptcy filings, our economy has hit the business world and working Americans with a strong uppercut, and everyone is doing what they can to make it through this tough economic period.  For those still punching the time clock, it would seem that their job description is constantly changing, but their paycheck is not.  More and more individuals are being given extra tasks and responsibilities at their workplace, but will see no additional compensation.  And who can complain?  Just like my friend the chef said, at least they have a job and an income.  In a recent survey by Spherion Staffing, 53% of workers surveyed said they've taken on new roles, most of them without extra pay (just 7% got a raise or a bonus). 

While some experts believe that this shift in employment flexibility and demand will be permanent, many are asking if this has a beneficial or detrimental effect on the business and the employee.  In retrospect, assigning new roles to existing employees can be a smart move.  Through stretch experiences and new practices, employees can learn and grow through this new trend.  The problems arise when employers stretch their workers too thin.  There are limits to take into account, and overworking your employees can lead to numerous negative effects, including a decrease in productivity, emotional stress and an unhappy work environment.  Additionally, it is crucial that employers think long and hard about the decisions they are going to make.  Many companies have taken a hit during the recession because they reassigned job tasks too quickly and with little training. 

So what can companies and individuals do to combat the trending job industry?  If companies are unable or unwilling to provide monetary compensation for their workers, they should implement recognition programs and reward employees in other ways.  For overworked individuals, workload management ultimately falls on you to organize.  Don’t be shy if you are clearly taking on too much, talk with your superiors and try to figure out the best plan of action so that both parties are happy.  Lastly, don’t get discouraged - you’re not the only one going through myriad changes in the workplace.  Take advantage of others like you and discuss strategies to make the changes more manageable.  And always remember – like my friend the chef says, at least you have a job and an income!

Photo: earl53, morguefile