this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024
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Blame it largely on the pandemic, which weakened the hold the workplace held on people’s psyches

By outward appearances, the labor market today looks much as it did before the pandemic. The unemployment rate is just as low, the share of adults in the labor force is just as high, and wages are growing at roughly the same pace after inflation.

But beneath the surface, the nature of labor has changed profoundly. Career and work aren’t nearly as central to the lives of Americans. They want more time for their families and themselves, and more flexibility about when, where and how they work.

The impact of this change can already be seen in both individual companies and the broader economy. It has led to a persistent shortage of workers, especially in jobs that seem less desirable because, for example, they require in-person work or fixed hours. That, in turn, has altered the bargaining position of employers and employees—forcing employers to adapt, not just by paying more but giving priority to quality of life in job offers.

To be sure, some of these changes arise from an exceptionally tight labor market. If unemployment rises, some of employees’ newfound leverage may evaporate.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

Cause companies don't care. It's a 2 way street. Help me help you.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, people stopped caring about work because we all know it doesn't matter. You can give every last inch of yourself to your employer and they will simply say "not enough". You can give your left kidney to an executive in need of a transplant, in the hopes that it will look good on your review, and the executive will say, "Should have given me both kidneys.". They are hungry and ravenous beasts, who bite and bite and bite and are never full.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I hate that that kidney case actually happened.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago

Yeah. Employees used to be rewarded for going above and beyond, now "above and beyond" IS the expectation. And nobody was ever rewarded for just meeting expectations.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

I just realized at some point how bullshit it is that I spend so much of my not doing what I really love to do. Work on projects I care about, hang out with friends, play games, go camping, sew, paint, read, cook, bake, all the little things we're told to appreciate get crammed into our limited waking hours after clocking out. And the job just sucks away the energy I have to do those things. Why do I have to be 65 (at least) to finally relax and just enjoy life?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

So, that means we'll soon have a minimum of 5 weeks vacation time like the Europeans, right? Right?

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm just a sponge being squeezed of every ounce of productivity when I'm at work. It's never a case of "you're good enough" but always "aim higher, be better". I'm over it. The veil has been lifted. None of these businesses see me as a human, and I'm dedicating my world to them I'm exchange for the bare minimum. If everyone was fighting together I'd want to rally, but I don't get a better slice of the pie if I make it bigger. So... fuck em.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

I watched "engineers" spend 14 hours attempting to make a new process work. Caused 8 hours of down time. So a total of 22 hours total for a process. They counted only the active time and high fived each other getting the process down from 12 hours to 8 hours. Operators are now expected to do 14-24 hours worth of work in 8 for 22.50 an hour.

I feel terrible for them.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago (1 children)

What's the point?

I make more than most of my acquaintances in the city (my friends are poor), yet it's not enough to rent a house much less buy one. It's not enough to save for retirement. It's not even enough to move to a better apartment. The only reason I can think of owning a house is my inheritance - period.

My company touts their generous benefits which start on day one. But I'm about to lose access to my therapist because they want to push virtual and self-help resources instead. They publish pamphlets that exaggerate medical benefits, when you go to use them the insurance company says "Nah lol."

We have no union and in fact the state disincentivized formation of unions with "right to work" laws.

Work leaves me feeling exhausted and hopeless. My paycheck covers the bills, buys food, and keeps a derelict roof over my head. Apparently that makes me "lucky" and I should be grateful for it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

My company touts their generous benefits which start on day one. But I’m about to lose access to my therapist because they want to push virtual and self-help resources instead.

-pure rage-

😡 😡 😡

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It really sucks. We have a great dynamic and she has helped me so much over the last year, words can't express.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I want you to remember this is a violence being done upon you by the healthcare industry and your employer.

You are a victim of violence here as sure as if someone had physically attacked you on the street, except the violence was premeditated, utterly unnecessary and hurtful in a way that doesn’t heal like bruises do.

Stay angry about that, not in a way that eats your heart away, but in a way that transmutes hopelessness into resistance.

From a logical standpoint, healthcare should see the fact that you found a therapist that works for you as a “WE FOUND THE NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK!” moment which is precisely not the moment you say “well we might as well throw this needle away and keep searching because we can just find another!”.

Gosh I don’t wish harm upon others easily, but it is hard not to feel like the people who make the decisions to structure society this way should be hurt very badly to the point that other people who want to commit similar atrocities would simply be too scared to try it even if they wanted to.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 months ago

Gen Z here. I have a house, (its small, i wouldn't want a bigger one, because there is no need for it,) a decent car, am married, dont have any debt other than a mortgage, and i can comfortably pay everything i need to now and save a bit for the future. Why would I want to work harder for a better car? I don't have a desire to show off or anything. Instead of working hard for someone else, I want to create things. Stories, games, art, I want to be creative, i dont want to work my ass of for someone else, doing menial labor.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago

The only thing that I get if I meet my absurd deadlines is more deadlines to meet. And so, under managers that don't have a fucking clue what I do anyway, I bullshit my way doing probably 20% of what I used to. I even still get a glowing performance review and no real raises are coming. Its a crummy situation, but I'm certainly not gonna kill myself to enrich someone else.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago

About 90% of all jobs produce useless nonsense like enterprise software, cars and all sorts of clothes. We could've lived in a paradise wearing togas to spaceports by now if not for all the vanity.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago

People care less because their money buys less. Why work harder when for most people it wont mean they make any more money? Seems pretty simple to me.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 6 months ago

so what the solution beside not working guys ? in the past we have french revolution, now because everyone can watch netflix and play games nobody do shit anymore

[–] [email protected] 24 points 6 months ago

I’ve done the math. I make $10,000 less today than I did in 2018, adjusted for inflation. No shit I care less about work.

The pandemic also showed how quick companies were to cut staff the second stuff happened. And while the government quickly came up with PPP, with Trump’s poor oversight, companies learned they could just pocket the money and screw the employees it was meant for.

That said, the pandemic just exposed a lot of long term feelings the younger generation has had.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Talk to some older folks.

As late as 1980, $20.00 made you feel like a big shot. You could buy yourself something fancy, or go out for a nice night on the town, or throw a great party.

You can have $20,000.00 in your hand today and feel like a chump. It won't get you a new car, or make a downpayment on a house, Might let you rent a tiny room for a year, but you'll be eating a lot of ramen.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That's because people already had cars and houses then. So the $20 was extra. You could spend it on a nice meal, or some gas to go on a road trip. You could have seen the Rolling Stones in San Francisco for $15.50 in 1981:

https://www.valueyourmusic.com/items/186268753475-rolling-stones-used-concert-ticket-pair-1981-candlestick-park-san-francisco

Life is "better" now, because communications are essentially free. But basic things cost way more.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It sounds like you're making the same point I am.

Back in the day a front row ticket was the best seat in the house. Now if a regular person spends the money for the front row they know that the really rich folks are having a real party in the sky box.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

It's funny you say this, but so many of the shows I go to have the cheap seats up in the stands, but the real expensive tickets are gen ad on the floor in/near the pit.

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