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.
Won’t somebody think of the shareholders!
Me while holding my firearm
People need to have the courage to tank the existing economy and rebuild without the feudalistic tendencies built in. We really ought not to be maintaining the peasant/lord dynamic at this point in history.
Cause companies don’t care. It’s a 2 way street. Help me help you.
Work is less valuable to us because it has literally become less valuable. We get much less in terms of real purchasing power.
You want me to care more about my job? Make it more valuable to me.
Loyalty is paid in cash, want me to be loyal, then pay me what I feel keeps me loyal.
Also any job one might be passionate about pays the bare minimum it can, because not hating your job is basically a rare perk now.
Absolute bullshit.
I actually enjoy my job. I like the people and I like the environment and I get paid decently as well. From what I’ve observed personally, everybody wants a job but it seems like the general work ethic of the younger generation is very poor. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming them. I actually do not think it’s their fault, I think it’s just the way that they’ve been raised. So many iPad babies.
Everyone has said this about the younger generations for as long as humans have been around.
I understand that and I used to say the same thing. That’s ridiculous, old people just don’t like the younger generation BUT I’ve seen it. I currently work at the same place that I worked at almost 20 years ago. I did the same job then that they are doing now. It is almost frightening how many kids lack common sense and basic skills. Maybe it’s always been that way but it’s something I’ve observed personally. Don’t get me wrong, I work with some extremely smart and talented teens but they are few and far between.
how many kids lack common sense and basic skills
Because the common sense and basic skills that they use every day are different, they exist in an entirely different world.
Yes they are different but they are still COMMON and BASIC. As in, they should be something that everyone possesses regardless of the world they live in. The sad thing is that so many of these kids don’t have them. It’s not their fault, I understand that. I try to share my knowledge with anyone that wants to listen
It’s this total lack of self awareness that has defined the older generations forever, as well.
No appreciation for how the world has changed for young people and the new challenges they face, overweighting the things older people have seen and done.
Don’t be part of the problem with the world.
Examples?
I’m still youngish (29) but there’s been a definite shift in new hires at our tech company. I know “everyone always complains about the young generation” anecdotally so I’ll give some concrete examples (I used to work with the internal reporting people so I’ve seen the data):
-5x+ increase on cheating in onboarding tests (not hr bs but like actual stuff for the job). Everyone’s cheating. And talking to people who were in school in the pandemic with virtual classes, everyone there was cheating too so if you didn’t cheat you were falling behind
-people coming in at 10 and leaving at 2. Our company had been around for 50+ years and has a generally laid back tech vibe where you get your work done and you’re good. It’s never been an issue. So many new hires this past year were doing it that we had to institute a mandatory 9-5 which really pissed off everyone else who was getting shit done
-customer feedback. Objective ratings of the support from newer hires is lower than we’ve ever had for the tenure cohort
Each of these backs up the anecdotal feeling we have that newer hires aren’t as independent or resilient. That being said, this is a generalization and the majority of them are doing good work. Just less than before
I think the issue is with slave wages and not being able to survive on one job. I understand that this is a rampant problem.
But I’m so glad for you that this serious problem does not apply to you.
I don’t understand why this is the prevailing sentiment here. Almost everyone here is computer savvy and more than likely most people here either work in high tech high paying industries, or at least decent paying and probably use computers somehow. So why is everyone saying you need two jobs? That might be true for the population on average but it would seem not to apply to people here.
That might be true for the population on average but it would seem not to apply to people here
I hear you, and thank you for that point.
I was thinking about the average, however, and trying to speak on their behalf.
You’re right, it doesn’t apply to me. I pay my employees decent wages.
ipads came out in 2008. People who grew up as ipad babies are literally JUST able to start working now. Gen Z didn’t grow up with ipads instead of parents. That’s the generation coming up right now.
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.
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:
Life is “better” now, because communications are essentially free. But basic things cost way more.
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.
Peter Gibbons: The thing is, Bob, it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.
Bob Porter: Don’t… don’t care?
Peter Gibbons: It’s a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships a few extra units, I don’t see another dime; so where’s the motivation? And here’s something else, Bob: I have eight different bosses right now.
Bob Slydell: I beg your pardon?
Peter Gibbons: Eight bosses.
Bob Slydell: Eight?
Peter Gibbons: Eight, Bob. So that means that when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That’s my only real motivation is not to be hassled; that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired.
Plus ça change…
This movie has defined my working life.
The fact that nothing much has changed about this in 25 years is an indictment of both our economy and society.
Oh it’s definitely changed. For the worse.
Compared to an open office the cubicles in Office Space look amazing.
They saw it and said, “how can we do this, exploit it, and pay them less?”
“How much more can we steal from them without getting our building burned down?”
“Just make sure they don’t have enough money to buy gas or matches and we’re golden!”
I don’t have a Swingline…
It was Marxisim 101 stuff that goes back well over a century. Peter was basically reinventing the premises on the spot.
They say blame the pandemic. I say blame the companies that bitch when people finally realize how important their time was.
People finally realized what is important and got a taste of life without constantly being overworked. Good for them. Most of modern work is totally ridiculous bullshit in the big scheme of things.
Indeed. Death is approaching us all at a pretty respectable pace, so it’s not really worth toiling your life away for next to nothing
It’s not worth it regardless of the pay.
I say blame the lack of enforcement of antitrust law for eroding the value of work.
It’s really hard to give a shit about working when doing so only barely keeps you from being homeless, meanwhile the CEO drives to work every day in his Ferrari.
Americans are being treated like shit by their bosses and are finally starting to realize that the fantasy of “anyone can be rich” they’ve been promised all their lives is a total sham. Of course they’re not working as hard.
My read on this is we are readjusting the deal, seems like a good thing. Let’s keep going. We don’t need more rich people who never need to work while there are still people who must work their whole lives just to survive.
make a fourth of what made five years ago but same job
think part of why people work less now is because of no incentive
pay is way down, moral is low, and bills are higher than the income
recreational drugs are being outpriced for the first time in my lifetime by food costs
Dude. For some time in my area of Canada, I could buy a gram of weed for less than a head of lettuce ($6 vs $7)
Weed salad for dinner
Economy solved
I personally was tired of working my ass off for some rich ceo douche bag so looking for something better
Can confirm
That’s a Texas sized ten-four from me too
Nobody should ever want to work, work should be the thing we work on minimising to maximise our living.
Work to live, don’t live to work.
It’s telling that the people who push this narrative are the people whose jobs pay the most money for the least amount of actual work.
Yeah but they deserve it because they are the guilded class and also fuck you.
This comment offers such great perspective that I wish more people were aware of. The problem with the youngest generation is always there same. Maybe Gen Z will remember where the rest of us have forgotten, but historically the odds are long.
Eh, I have faith that the wide availability of knowledge will lead to a better result
Once we get over killing each other about it, it’s gonna be great
Plus less lead doesn’t hurt the odds.
Eh, I have faith that the wide availability of knowledge will lead to a better result
You wouldn’t want anything to happen to them Tik Toks now, would you?
Racks shotgun Republicanly
1 in 5 Executive leaders agree with this statement…
Imagine lie so bad that even executives have hard time agreeing xD
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.
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.
