My Smarticles - Funemployment

How do you explain funemployment?

For most of those finding themselves unemployed, the recession is proving to be very far from fun. Families are swamped by mortgage and credit card debts and have little hope of returning to their previous income levels and standards of living. So how can you explain the recent new term, funemployment? How can you explain funemployment, when for most it's hard to see the fun?

Surprising then, for some former wage slaves their unemployment has been welcomed and indeed re labelled as funemployment. Changing their predicament into a positive experience, and allowing time for fun pursuits rather than the constant strain of the treadmill.

 

In general, unemployment is extremely detrimental to happiness. However, it’s not necessarily for the reason we might think. The worst thing about unemployment isn’t always about having less money either. It’s that unemployment can be so socially isolating. It’s hard if other people think you are unwanted in the job market, especially if your prior employment role gave you a status and membership of a group in the work force. Losing your job can also mean losing your sense of who you are. Instead of focusng on what they have lost, the funemployed are adopting a new positive identity. By labelling themselves as funemployed rather than unemployed, those embracing funemployment are saying, "look, I’m not just unemployed — I’ve found a way to be part of this cool, new group and it is fun!"

The funemployed can make the most of a work-free summer to travel, take up new hobbies, surf or simply lie on the beach. I spoke to one lady who had worked full time for nearly twenty years and had now been made redundant. Rather than being devasted, she felt it was the best thing that had happened to her for years. For the first time she was able to look forward to spending the summer holidays with her young children. Unemployment was transformed into a positive experience, is that funemployment?

The funemployed are chosing to communicate with the world at large about their funemployment. The funemployed write blogs, issue regular up-dates on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. They create entire websites full of helpful advice and encouragement. It is a community apparently focusing on ways to make the most of the position they find themselves in. So does this explain funemployment, a new more positive label to replace an overwhelmingly negative one?

Of course unemployment is not one big reason to celebrate. Losing your job can be a devastating blow to your self esteem, but it also provides time to re-assess priorities and escape from a rut. During their funemployment the funemployed have time to be creative about the future and find that they are worth more than just their job title. There are numerous examples, exciting new businesses blossoming out of individual redundancy and joblessness. In these examples the new employment may be more fun than the old 9 - 5. Does this positive development explain funemployment?

Funemployment is of course a contradiction in terms for most, but if it allows people to be positive about the experience of unemployment then maybe it is has a role to play.

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