Kinda a follow up to my last post.
My dad still doesn't realise just how much his work is screwing with him. He actually did get offered a position at another factory for a similar position but less physical labour and at least a $5p/h higher salary.
He had a meeting with the his current employers to discuss some of his dissatisfaction at work. What they proceeded to do was go into the history of the company and how passionate they are about what they do there and tell him “we're a family here”. Of course he took no notice on what that really means and how that's frequently used to justify treating employees like crap. They told him they don't want to see him go but he'd always be able to come back, which sounds nice enough until you realise that if he quits now he'd lose his long service benefits/the benefits he'll be soon entitled to and it'd start over again. They eventually did give him a $3 raise, which is better than nothing but still less than most everyone else that works there despite having been there nearly two decades.
A while ago he applied for a rep position which he was super excited about, but obviously he didn't get the job. He said he didn't want to mention the past at all so he didn't bring up what he actually wants to be doing because he doesn't want to make things awkward. Recently he even put forward the idea of becoming a rep for the rural areas because even though that's what the community the company was initially based around supporting, they've ditched a lot of these retailers to focus on selling overseas, so he was trying to repair those relationships. Again, this goes back to those values he's felt like have been ignored because we come from a rural town so the way this company has treated these places is pretty disgusting. A lot of these small places now just spit at the company's name and will never do business with them again which is super disappointing because this company is one of the few Aussie owned and operated left standing in its industry.
But, he keeps saying that he is loyal and it's not about the money and he owes this company. So he's fallen for their empty sentiments and has been convinced that what he actually wants to do in his life and as his career don't matter because it's better for him to just be shoved in a corner, standing on his feet all day doing repetitive tasks in on a hot factory floor even though his body is barely keeping up with it.
To make things more frustrating, my mother has had to cut back on her work because of her health and she's the one that pays most the bills.
It's just getting hard to be sympathetic to my dad because he just bottles up all that frustration and brings it home with him. On top of the fact that he's supposed to be modelling to me and my brother how to actually stand up for yourself and pursue your dreams or whatever, which he always attempted to encourage when we were kids by saying he'll be supportive no matter what it turns out we want to do but it's hard to believe it when he keeps dragging along these hindering mentalities and 'values' that are just worthless and doing nothing for him in terms of actually creating a life worth living.
Like, how do you even know if your parents have handed down bad beliefs that are gonna screw you over later?
I'd be hopefully moving out soon enough (kinda difficult with disability and illness though but I can't just stay there), but I bet they aren't going to be able to appreciate an empty nest (after my brother leaves as well, that is) because at this it's still gonna be the same daily grind until their bodies just can't keep because if you aren't working and doing everything an employer wants then you're worthless.