I had a problem. Then I listened to Planet Money Podcast #844: Nice Game. It solved my problem and freed my conscience.
My schedule is killing me. I am stuck feeling bad though, because I am only available half the month with half my time dedicated to shared parenting. I have offered ways to maximize this to my scheduler. I have offered every spare moment not accounted for to my job. I have cried over my failure to do more.
I now have been freed from this burden. This is what happened:
I gave every availability possible. I asked for 24-36 hours after night shifts, no more than 2 evenings or 3 days in a row, and ideally four shifts a week. I left my weeks open.
But instead of respecting my parameters, I got 2 shifts one week, 5 another, and 4 weekend nights in August, two in a row at a time.
The theory of economics that works the best, working from the prisoner's dilemma, is to offer to cooperate until you are taken advantage of. Then you are best not to cooperate, until the cooperation is offered back to you.
It may save missiles being launched in our current world climate. It helps me to stop feeling guilty about laying out my time as carte blanche. It allows me to insist that I don't get 5 shifts in a row, and that I may not be able to do as many shifts as my boss thinks I should be doing.
I like the idea of living in a society that you give your best first, but you don't have to be a doormat.
If it's good enough for avoid geopolitical disasters, it seems like a good way to live my little life.
No comments:
Post a Comment