Disabled Workers
My brother is disabled. He has neurofibromotosis and it has made him blind and made him a disabled learner. So, he's a little slow when it comes to homework, or life in general. I told you that just so you wouldn't think that I was cold-hearted towards disabled people when I tell you what's going on at work.
They now have this program in which mentally disabled people come to the movie theater and work there for usually about 2 1/2 hours. They don't get paid anything but a free soda and free popcorn. The program is in place to teach them to be responsible and to get them used to functioning in the real world. However, when they come, guess who's job they do? Mine. They go around cleaning theaters, which, as an usher, that's what I'd usually be doing. So, my supervisor finds other jobs for me to do while they do my usual one.
I'd like to think that this doesn't bother me, but it does a little. To think that I typically do a job that mentally challenged people can do is a little hard to handle. I always realized that cleaning theaters is a simple job but this program really shows how true that is.
When they come to work, I try to treat them like other workers as much as I can. They have their own supervisor who helps them to stay on track so I really don't have much contact with them. Some of the other workers make fun of them behind their backs, which I feel confused about. Certainly, making fun of them because their disabled is mean. But what about when they have an attitude? Or when they won't listen to you and they just do exactly the opposite of what you ask them to do? It's still not justified to make fun of them, but can you really blame some of the other workers for not liking them and making some cheap remarks?
I know I'd be angry if it was my brother that they were making fun of, regardless of what he does. But I can see their side. Anyway, I either have to come to terms with the fact that my job can be done by mentally challenged people or I have to find another job. I'll probably come to terms with it because I love seeing the movies for free and I love how low-stress the job is.
Sounds like you pretty much have decided to stay with your job. Good for you! Any job is going to have pluses and minuses. Maybe you can change your attitude a little. Think of the mentally retarded adults as your assistants. If you are able to do more challenging work and they keep you, maybe you will get a promotion. Whatever happens, good luck to you!
David, there are actually at least three ways to look at this. You've enumerated two. Keep the first one. Your job can be done by those who are mentally challenged. The challenge of the job is low enough that they can competently do it and gain a great deal of self satisfaction and sense of autonomy. It is very good that you accept the role that is available to these people and that they are entitled to a place in the workstream.
If you do not feel you belong in the category of mentally challenged, then there is another option to quitting your job. You have trained yourself to a competency. Believe it or not, you have advanced. You are multi-tasking. But you don't say whether you're doing other things instead of clean-up on a task-by-task basis or two or three functions simultaneously. It doesn't sound like you're feeling stressed about doing several other things. How many other things are you doing and are you doing them simultaneously?
It is now time for you to reach farther in developing your skills. What is the next level of stretch? There was a problem with running 12 projectors on two different floors. What would happen if you ran two projectors on the same floor? Report back to me.