1320: Breaking Up with Your Job: Mad Men Demonstrates What Work Relationships and Romantic Relationships Have in Common by Samantha Joel of Luvze

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[00:00:27] This is Optimal Work Daily, Episode 1320, Breaking Up With Your Job.

[00:00:32] Mad Men demonstrates what work relationships and romantic relationships have in common.

[00:00:37] By Samantha Joel of Loves.com

[00:00:40] And I am Dan, I'm the host of this show, and if you're new here,

[00:00:44] this is where we read each and every day from these great blogs that cover work-related topics.

[00:00:50] Like starting a business, finding work, leaving your job, and all that great stuff.

[00:00:55] So, let's now hear from a brand new author on the show, Samantha Joel,

[00:00:59] and I'll tell you a little bit more about Samantha and the site, Loves.com, when I'm finished.

[00:01:04] But for now, let's get to the post and optimize your life.

[00:01:07] Breaking up with your job.

[00:01:12] Mad Men demonstrates what work relationships and romantic relationships have in common.

[00:01:17] By Samantha Joel of Loves.com

[00:01:21] In one episode of Mad Men, Peggy was seriously thinking about jumping ship from SCDP to another company.

[00:01:27] In case you're not completely caught up with the show, I won't tell you what she ended up choosing,

[00:01:31] but you can see how this could be a very difficult decision for her or for anyone contemplating leaving a job.

[00:01:37] On the one hand, Peggy likely holds some resentment for her boss and her co-workers,

[00:01:42] given that she's not always been treated fairly at SCDP.

[00:01:46] This dissatisfaction may motivate her to look elsewhere.

[00:01:49] On the other hand, as we know, breaking up is hard to do.

[00:01:52] What about all the time and energy she's put into the company over the years?

[00:01:56] And what about her loyalty to Dawn?

[00:01:58] The questions Peggy grapples with when she thinks about leaving her company

[00:02:02] are not that different from the sorts of questions that people grapple with when they think about leaving a romantic partner.

[00:02:07] Indeed, research on commitment shows that the thought processes that affect these two decisions are really quite similar.

[00:02:14] The three factors that best predict commitment to a romantic partner –

[00:02:17] satisfaction, investment and quality of alternatives –

[00:02:21] also prove to be useful in predicting commitment to a company.

[00:02:25] Satisfaction represents whether or not people are getting what they need from a particular relationship.

[00:02:30] In the case of Peggy and her relationship with SCDP, her satisfaction is pretty low.

[00:02:36] Things took a turn for the worst in Season 4 when Peggy was not given any credit for helping land a prestigious advertising award.

[00:02:43] Dawn – It's your job. I give you money, you give me ideas.

[00:02:47] Peggy – And you never say thank you.

[00:02:50] Dawn – That's what the money's for.

[00:02:53] This lack of respect and appreciation became even more blatant as the brand new male hire, Ginsburg,

[00:02:59] has continually received all the best accounts and opportunities while Peggy has received nothing but a higher workload.

[00:03:05] All of this has served to make Peggy resentful and unhappy with her job.

[00:03:10] Just like someone who's dissatisfied with a romantic partner,

[00:03:13] Peggy's low satisfaction with her company is likely to motivate her to leave.

[00:03:17] Investment represents how many resources, such as time, energy and money,

[00:03:22] a person has put into a relationship that they risk losing if the relationship ends.

[00:03:27] For example, people in romantic relationships offer consider investments such as the experiences they've shared with their partners,

[00:03:34] the mutual friendships they've developed, and the plans for the future that they've made together.

[00:03:39] Investments are likely to be a key source of conflict for Peggy, as her investment in SCDP is quite high.

[00:03:46] Peggy has been working at the same company for many years.

[00:03:49] If she leaves, what will become of her relationships with her clients and her co-workers?

[00:03:53] Most importantly, what will become of her relationship with Dawn?

[00:03:57] Although Dawn has often failed to appreciate Peggy's efforts,

[00:04:00] he's also been there for her during some important times in her life,

[00:04:04] like when he promoted her from secretary to copywriter in season one,

[00:04:08] or when he visited her in the hospital after she gave a baby up for adoption in season two.

[00:04:13] She is also one of the few characters who's been there for Dawn when he needed support,

[00:04:17] such as when Anna Draper died in season four.

[00:04:20] Altogether, Peggy and Dawn have developed a very close mentor-mentee bond.

[00:04:25] The risk of losing that relationship is a huge motivator for Peggy to stay at SCDP.

[00:04:30] My guess is that it's the reason she hasn't left already.

[00:04:34] Quality of alternatives represents what a person thinks they would have if they were not in their current relationship.

[00:04:40] In the case of a romantic relationship, quality of alternatives usually refers to other romantic partners who a person thinks they could attract,

[00:04:47] those proverbial fish in the sea.

[00:04:49] In Peggy's case, quality of alternatives refers to the other companies that might be willing to hire her

[00:04:54] and whether or not they are likely to treat her any better than the folks at SCDP.

[00:04:59] People who are already highly committed to their relationships,

[00:05:02] in other words, highly invested and highly satisfied,

[00:05:05] usually don't pay much attention to their alternatives.

[00:05:08] For example, Peggy wasn't even thinking about going for job interviews right after she got promoted to copywriter

[00:05:13] or after she got her own office back in season three.

[00:05:16] But for those with low commitment, like Peggy has in season five,

[00:05:20] quality of alternatives can become the deal-breaker that determines whether they ultimately choose to stay or leave.

[00:05:26] So Peggy's decision about whether to leave may hinge on whether or not she can get a better deal elsewhere.

[00:05:31] Overall, Peggy's relationship with her company is much like a romantic relationship that has run its course.

[00:05:37] Although she's made a lot of investments into the company,

[00:05:40] she's just not getting what she needs at this agency, which is motivating her to look elsewhere.

[00:05:45] Now it all depends on whether or not a different agency is prepared to offer her more.

[00:05:50] And for Peggy, more doesn't just mean more money.

[00:05:53] She's looking for intangibles like power, respect and appreciation.

[00:05:57] If she manages to find them in another company, it may be difficult for Dawn to match the offer.

[00:06:02] You just listen to the post titled, Breaking Up With Your Job,

[00:06:10] Mad Men demonstrates what work relationships and romantic relationships have in common by Samantha Joel of loves.com.

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[00:07:19] And thank you so much to both Samantha and loves.com.

[00:07:23] Loves.com takes research findings from the fields of psychology, family studies, sociology, communication, evolutionary biology and others

[00:07:32] and puts them in a format that you can use.

[00:07:34] They are actual experts who are active researchers and professors in the field of relationship science, publish in peer reviewed scientific journals

[00:07:43] and are frequently sought out by the media and popular press sources to share their expertise.

[00:07:48] And as for today's contributors, Samantha Joel, she is an assistant professor at the University of Utah who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.

[00:07:56] Samantha's research examines how people make decisions about their romantic relationships.

[00:08:01] For example, what sort of factors do people take into consideration when they try to decide whether to pursue a potential date, invest in a new relationship or break up with a romantic partner?

[00:08:11] Samantha is particularly interested in states of ambivalence or indecisiveness over these important relationship choices.

[00:08:18] Her work often integrates judgment and decision making techniques and concepts as well as attachment theory.

[00:08:24] So come on by loves.com for a lot more.

[00:08:28] And that has an unusual spelling, which I'll share for you.

[00:08:31] It's L-U-V-Z-E dot com.

[00:08:34] And that's going to do it for this episode of OWD.

[00:08:37] I as always thank you so much for tuning in and staying all the way through to the end.

[00:08:41] Hope you enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you right back here tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.