When I was out late last night, I had the chance to listen to a debate. One of the comments was something to the effect of "if people are so unhappy about their jobs, then why don't they leave?". That's a really good question. It has been proposed to many of us at weekly meetings by our supervisor. Even the divisional director sent an e-mail to all lead workers last year that stated "if you're not a team player, then just leave". Let me give you my thoughts on the subject...

When I hear this from people, whether or not they are supervisors, I get upset. Why? Because it shows me that your contibutions to the company do not have any merit. There is no value on you as an employee, when you are told "if you don't like it, then leave". This has always been the HHT way. Many of you have challenged the rules and regulations in the past, only to find out this grim reminder of your fate at HHT. For others, it just not that easy to walk away. Some of us don't have that luxury. Many of us have families, are adding to the family, or are just in the midst of starting one. Others have worked in healthcare for decades and want to retire. If it was that easy, then most of us would have walked a long time ago. Some of us like our jobs, the clients we help change for the better, and our co-workers. We don't have to like the atomosphere and the working environment. We don't have to sell ourselves short by allowing management to walk all over us.

Many of you feel that adopting a wait and see policy is the best way to proceed. Many of us have tried that approach for a year or more. Wait, you say? This is a new company that "sounds" like they care. They sound like every company that been threatened with union activity. They are going to use love tactics to win your trust. At this point, they have made it clear there are no promises. It sickens me when our supervisor and management tell us how great we are and want to be our friends. Just a couple months ago, they were telling us how worthless the advisors are. The questions you have to ask yourself are: Why did it take a hostile takeover from another company to change the attitude of management at HHT? Why couldn't HHT treat the health advisors better before the acquisition? Why won't management address the need to make changes? Why has a company that says they will hire internally offer one job to an exernal candidate and hire another project manager from outside the company? Why would the HR director say the company would work within the law to oppose the union and then violate the rights of 6 health advisors?

Think about trying to answer those questions and then ask yourself: Is waiting to see if this company has really changed the best way to proceed?