Welcome to Pushing Ink, where we discuss the broken world of work, mostly, mixed with pop culture, sometimes … among other hot topics.
If there’s one thing the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico has taught us—aside from how much time and energy can be wasted on non-issues—it’s that nothing lasts forever. It doesn’t matter if a body of water has carried the same name (or some variation) since the 16th century. Out with the old, in with the new.
And if the gulf isn’t safe from rebranding, consider it a not-so-subtle reminder that nothing is permanent. Not names, not rights, not privileges—not even the illusion of security.
The Fragility of Workplace Security
The Gulf of Mexico renamed the Gulf of America, proves nothing is safe—not even a 500-year-old name. So if you think your job is secure (not sure why anyone would assume so in today’s America), just remember: if a whole oceanic region can be rebranded by the ol’ Red, White, and Blue, with a quick swirl of a pen, so can your job.
The world of work can shift abruptly, often at the whim of corporate interests, political movements, powerful colleagues or economic downturns. The working class are expected to be adaptable, but the structures meant to support and protect us (you know, job stability, pensions, fair wages, OSHA) are increasingly fragile, on the chopping block, if seemingly or out-right non-existent. Just ask the federal workers being let go in droves.
We’re all expendable at a moment’s notice—the old adage about our obit running after (or alongside) our job posting is practically a business model now.
Pssst … honestly, after two decades in and out of the newspaper business, I’m surprised no one has streamlined the process. I can imagine it far too easily, a brief hiring pitch from your former employer at the end of your obit.
Hey, maybe the boss will announce the job opening you left in your demise during the eulogy. It is a match made in heaven! Literally. Well… for some.
I am Gumball in this situation—at least according to my mother, who swears my hair should erupt in flames anytime I set foot near a church.
The Illusion of Stability
Make no mistake, we workers (the majority) are often lulled into a false sense of security, believing in the longevity of our employment, industry, and/or skills. The latter is one of my favorites. This assumption one’s capabilities and faculties will be as spry at 70 as they were at 20. I make no such declaration as my plan is to check out at 60 ol’ Yeller style. I am not about to continue on this rock for the absurd pretend busyness we call life.
I’ve got nine years, folks. Nine!
As for stability. Like a name that’s been around for centuries can be rewritten, so too can workplace rules and expectations—often without warning. Where does one even begin as we become inundated with artificial intelligence (AI). It’s not so much pushing us but drop-kicking us out the door. Along with other forms of automation. And let us not forget the mass layoffs to make shareholders happy. You’d think they’d have enough already but …
… they need that dozenth yacht. Screw feeding your children!
Oh, and let us not forget how once-stable career paths are disappearing, too.
I’m looking (confused) at you STEMM. Are we in or are we out?
The Power Struggles Over Work & Identity
Let us draw a parallel between the debate over renaming the Gulf and the shifting power dynamics in the workplace. Who gets to decide what matters? Who gets to name the things? While employers redefine job roles, eliminate benefits, and reframe labor rights, a single person can apparently rename landmarks—often with little input from the people. Workers, like citizens, may protest, but their voices, even while the loudest in the room, go unheard, considered or even noticed. State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, made such a scenario perfectly clear with the passage of Ohio SB 1. How the mass voices don’t matter. Not when his response to the more than 800-plus people actively opposing the bill was, “The sheer numbers are irrelevant.”
I’m surprised he didn’t give a Dr. Evil pose while he said it.
If We’re Just Going to do Whatever …
I often wonder—did any of our leaders actually take a single history class? Did we learn the same things? I don’t feel like we learned the same things. Don’t get me wrong, our textbooks are too watered down or whitewashed. Still, didn’t at least one of their English teachers along the way make them read The Jungle, The Diary of Anne Frank, 1984, or The Most Dangerous Game?
At the very least, we’ve all watched Idiocracy, right? And walked away feeling… unsettled. That itchy, crawly sensation—was it the truth creeping in or just the lingering effect of a cult classic that, let’s be honest, wasn’t exactly great?
Maybe all the above?
Or have we really reached the point where we’re too busy to care, corporations call all the shots, constitutional collapse becomes just another personality trait (much like politics), and we just rename all the things, however we see fit?
What do you think?
Until next time, my friends—take your breaks, breathe, and be ready to lead.
Beth aka The Pushing Ink
Now for Something Different
Be sure to enlarge this one because you’ll want to read just a few of the wild job postings I’ve shared over the years on my TikTok page. Note: While the song is based on a Korean drinking game, I feel the lyrics could just as well apply to the #job #search. Feeling slightly crazy with each #resume sent out, hoping a #job will want you as much as you want it. Let alone the wilderness that is the #job #ad. (Is AI writing this stuff?) There’s always a story in these things, though I’m not sure if the genre—comedy, horror, etc.
About me
I’ve held an interest in the broken world of work for as long as I can remember. I began my working adventures at age 12, delivering newspapers, and since then, it has been one head-scratching employment-lesson after the next.
While I initially returned to school late in life to be a divorce counselor, I switched it up to follow my genuine passion—fixing the broken world of work and pointing out the snobbery in jobs. I obtained a bachelor’s in Applied Psychology in 2014 (work psychology) and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership in 2018.
With over two decades in and out of the newspaper business, covering the city beat along with court cases and more, plus multiple years in the broken nonprofit sector, I’m back with a new goal and path with Pushing Ink. It’s the namesake of one of my former newspaper columns, my passion project. Topics include leadership, eliminating student debt, mental health (particularly the tyranny of niceness and ending people-pleasing) gaming, books, and humor as much as possible and when possible (see below).
Visit me at varied social media sites (minus the former bird app) under Pushing Ink.
