Let’s be honest—people at work can drive us crazy.
Not because they’re terrible human beings (usually), but because we see them more than we see our own families.
Do the math.
If you work a 12-hour shift, five days a week, you’re logging 60 hours with your coworkers—often more time than you spend awake with your spouse, kids, or friends combined. And if you’ve worked that job for years? That’s more hours than a decade of family holidays.
So what happens when we work this closely, this often, with other human beings?
Everything.
You see the best in people.
You endure the worst in people.
And, if we’re honest, we reveal both in ourselves too.
Let me tell you about Rhonda.
Meet Rhonda: “I Love My Job… Except for the People”
Rhonda worked her way up the ladder in a major retail chain.
You’ve been in her store. You’ve probably bought something there this year.
She started as a stock clerk, then became a cashier, then a department lead, and finally, the store manager.
Rhonda was sharp, no-nonsense, and dependable. Her employees respected her hustle, but they didn’t always like her.
What they didn’t always understand was this:
Even though Rhonda was the “top boss” in the store, she wasn’t actually in charge.
She answered to Corporate.
That meant when policies changed, when systems got upgraded, or when budgets got cut—it wasn’t her decision. But she still took the heat.
One day she sighed and said, “I love my job… except for the people.”
She said it half-joking. But only half.
The Hidden Weight of Leadership
Rhonda felt caught in the middle.
- Corporate sent down directives—protocols, tech upgrades, training videos, budget adjustments.
- Employees complained about change, and who did they vent to? Rhonda.
- Turnover was high, and the revolving door wore her down.
- Some workers showed up late, called in constantly, or put in the bare minimum. And Rhonda, who gave everything, was left picking up the pieces.
Privately, she confessed, “It’s not the work. It’s not the hours. It’s the way people quit caring.”
So What Can Be Done?
Whether you’re a leader like Rhonda or an employee on the front lines—you are a person of influence.
And if you’re a follower of Jesus, that influence carries kingdom weight.
Paul writes in Colossians 3:23-24:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
This is our anchor.
Not that we do everything perfectly.
Not that we’ll always get along with everyone.
But that our attitude, ethic, and example reflect something greater than the daily grind.
Advice for the Rhondas (Leaders Under Pressure)
- Clarify What You Can Control
You’re not God. You’re not Corporate. But you are a voice, a presence, a witness to what’s possible when someone leads with integrity and clarity. - Communicate Early, Often, and Kindly
Explain changes before frustration festers. People may still grumble—but respect grows when transparency is consistent. - Don’t Let Bitterness Build
The revolving door may not stop—but your hope doesn’t have to spin with it. Find support outside work. Find rest. You’re not meant to carry this alone.
Advice for the Employees (Followers of Jesus on the Floor and In the Back Room)
- Stop Grumbling—Start Working as Worship
You’re not invisible. The way you mop the floor, stock the shelf, or run the register is seen by God. - Don’t Be the Reason Someone Hates Their Job
Choose encouragement over gossip. Show up. Do your part. Be someone others can count on—even when it’s hard. - Be a Peacemaker in a Place of Pressure
Every workplace needs someone who defuses drama instead of igniting it. Let it be you.
Final Thought: You’re Not Just Clocking In—You’re Building a Witness
When you work like Jesus is your supervisor…
When you treat people like He’s standing next to you (because He is)…
When you lead with grace and follow with faithfulness…
You change the culture.
One shift, one attitude, one act of unseen faithfulness at a time.
So, to the Rhondas out there:
You’re not alone.
You’re not forgotten.
And the work you do—it matters more than you think.
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31
Lead like that.
