Social workers most underpaid

Social workers were listed as the # 1 underpaid and overworked position in an article by Jessica Dickler on Nov. 16, 2009 at CNN-Money. I know they’ve got a tough job to do. I work close with social workers every day. I prefer being a recreational therapist over a social worker any day.

I enjoyed the quote listed by Heather Giffith. She’s a social worker for children in Boston. Heather said:
"You're getting paid $12 an hour and kids are screaming at you, telling you that you are just in it for the money and you're just like, really?" I know how that is. I have children scream and curse at me quite often at work.

Here is a funny story that recently happened. A patient yelled, “Danny, I want to tell you to go to h*** (and add a few more obscenities here), but I’m not going to tell you that because I know you don’t like that kind of language, so will you give me a side hug before you leave today?” Laugh aloud. The boy had already said all of the obscenities and curse words. I gave him a side-hug before I left. Some people said that I was rewarding his negative behavior. I argued that I was taking an unconditional approach to let him know that I still care about him even if he makes mistakes (like he had with the curse words).

Salary comment: I’ve read career postings for social workers in West Virginia with a starting salary of less then $20K a year. It’s tough, I know because recreational therapists earn around the same salary as social workers (at least I’d imagine). I don’t have any facts or stats to support that. Kids have told me that I only work there for the money. I remind them that I am fortunate because I got to choose the kind of work I do. However, they do have me on this one. I won’t tell them that, but I do depend on the salary for my livelihood. I’m fortunate that I have a position I do enjoy and one that I had predetermined to do and become.

People in the human service field usually don’t enter to become rich. They do it for a greater reason. They find a purpose and meaning in their work. I had once read an ad for a position at Starbucks that paid more than my recreational therapy salary (about 5-years ago). I felt stressed over it at the time. Of course, I could have left my job to brew and serve coffee. And I could do that work if I had to. However, I know that I want to help people, especially, children with special needs to have a greater life. And I know that I can do this best as a recreational therapist. I don’t see myself doing anything else.


Recreational therapists were not listed in the report of underpaid and overworked positions, however, # 2, was in the leisure services and recreation profession: Special Events Coordinator.

Source:
Read the full article here:
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108148/stressful-jobs-that-pay-badly?mod=career-salary_negotiation