This is an awkward post for my because a acquaintence from work passed away last night in his sleep from a heart attack. The problem is that this man was only in his late thirties to early forties and this is the second person from this company in that age range who has died at such a relatively young age while in seemingly good shape.
I am discussing this because, though this is anecdotal evidence, I believe many more of us will have to face similar situations down the road. While many on my project site have speculated as to what caused the heart attacks, I believe it was due to the work and manner in which that work was and is scheduled. Both of these men had schedules that never allowed for proper rest and allows required some form of stimulant to work the on-call hours demanded by this employer. Both men might get back to their hotel and get a call to be back on site within a few hours to work at least 12 hours. As for the gentleman who just passed, others who knew him better than I said he drank a Monster energy drink every hour. This cannot be good for your heart.
While this post may only seem like a straight forward argument against over indulging in energy drinks it is also an indictment against the practices that more employers are utilizing to squeeze every bit of productivity from the diminishing workforce. Making people double or triple up on the workload not only has diminishing returns, but it is quite honestly an unfair and immoral practice. Instead of the employer taking a pay cut or realizing less profit, the employee or employees are made to suffer consequences as dire as losing their lives.
Another aspect, at least in the circumstances surrounding my deceased colleague is that requiring such long hours of labor is a safety issue. I have personally found myself dozing off in traffic as I made my way home after a 12 hour day. In total, I am awake a total of 15 hours from the time I wake up until the time I am driving home. Most days I manage, but on several occasions, I have struggled to keep my eyes open. And, what's worse is that some many of the companies involved in this project promote safety as one of their main tenets. As an employee, you must take safety courses and sign documentation stating that you took said safety course and will abide by the ideas presented. I have even taken a safety course (video) and signed the form that says I took the course and will abide by it only to be told right after the course to break the rules by my supervisor.
In 2018, I wrote a book highlighting the problems Humanity would face if more power, wealth, and control was funneled to a small group of elite individuals, groups, or organizations. In my book, I provided solutions (from myself and others) to the inevitable problems and also a means for the Public to analyze, compare, and contrast the words and deeds of those we choose to follow against reality. In my book Solutions: Enough complaining. Let's fix America.
In "Solutions...", I provide the means for readers to disseminate information as provided by their news sources of choice, their elected officials, and any other authority they choose to follow. The book also offers a means to hold their leaders up, not just to a higher standard than is currently accepted but to one that would improve their lives and the lives of those for whom they care.
