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While companies should definitely be doing something about this, at the end of the day it is our responsibility to look after ourselves. Too many people tolerat

While companies should definitely be doing something about this, at the end of the day it is our responsibility to look after ourselves. Too many people tolerate this type of treatment out of fear. I understand that this is easier said than done, but I do not think the situation will change much unless people start standing up for themselves. Remember the number 1 regret Bronnie Ware observed while caring for people in the last 12 weeks of their lives: I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

itgoon 10y ago
Some of the best life advice I got from my Grandmother: You are always working for yourself. You may have an employer, but you are still working for yourself, not them. You're trading your time for money, like any other business. If you don't like the deal, then walk away.
- TobyGiacometti 10y ago
  Your grandmother was a wise woman!
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - AstralStorm 10y ago
    She forgot to mention a caveat: don't get trapped in a situation you cannot get out of. It is easy to get caught by debt, lack of savings, education or skill. Just as easy by not figuring your advantages and capitalizing on them. The corollary is that it is as easy to stay in place by standing as by running on a treadmill.
    - TobyGiacometti 10y ago
      > The corollary is that it is as easy to stay in place by standing as by running on a treadmill. I like this metaphor! However, once we realize that we are the treadmill, we can turn it off and walk away...
      - mathgeek 10y ago
        Assuming, of course, that you didn't spend way too much buying the treadmill and can't afford another exercise device until you pay that one off.
    - itgoon 10y ago
      Plenty of businesses make those mistakes. FWIW, there is a learning curve to it all. I won't deny having some painful lessons in my past.
gthtjtkt 10y ago
Whenever this topic comes up I always think of the letter Bukowski wrote about it. A few quotes: > You know my old saying, "Slavery was never abolished, it was only extended to include all the colors." > what hurts is the steadily diminishing humanity of those fighting to hold jobs they don't want but fear the alternative worse. > They never pay the slaves enough so they can get free, just enough so they can stay alive and come back to work. I could see all this. Why couldn't they? I figured the park bench was just as good or being a barfly was just as good. Why not get there first before they put me there? Why wait? The full letter: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/10/people-simply-empty-out.html http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/10/people-simply-empty-out...
- TobyGiacometti 10y ago
  Thanks for sharing!
dclowd9901 10y ago
Is it really that surprising? The employment game has been re-engineered to be a race to the bottom for employees. We take the minimum pay because we're afraid someone will take less. We take the minimum vacation because we're afraid someone will work more. As a result, we live month to month on consumer credit because we _can_ live something approaching a desirable lifestyle that reflects the amount of sacrifice we've made to get there. It's bullshit. Stop living on credit, stop using credit cards and ask for what you deserve.

itgoon 10y ago

Some of the best life advice I got from my Grandmother: You are always working for yourself. You may have an employer, but you are still working for yourself, not them. You're trading your time for money, like any other business. If you don't like the deal, then walk away.

TobyGiacometti 10y ago
Your grandmother was a wise woman!
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- AstralStorm 10y ago
  She forgot to mention a caveat: don't get trapped in a situation you cannot get out of. It is easy to get caught by debt, lack of savings, education or skill. Just as easy by not figuring your advantages and capitalizing on them. The corollary is that it is as easy to stay in place by standing as by running on a treadmill.
  - TobyGiacometti 10y ago
    > The corollary is that it is as easy to stay in place by standing as by running on a treadmill. I like this metaphor! However, once we realize that we are the treadmill, we can turn it off and walk away...
    - mathgeek 10y ago
      Assuming, of course, that you didn't spend way too much buying the treadmill and can't afford another exercise device until you pay that one off.
  - itgoon 10y ago
    Plenty of businesses make those mistakes. FWIW, there is a learning curve to it all. I won't deny having some painful lessons in my past.

gthtjtkt 10y ago

Whenever this topic comes up I always think of the letter Bukowski wrote about it. A few quotes: > You know my old saying, "Slavery was never abolished, it was only extended to include all the colors." > what hurts is the steadily diminishing humanity of those fighting to hold jobs they don't want but fear the alternative worse. > They never pay the slaves enough so they can get free, just enough so they can stay alive and come back to work. I could see all this. Why couldn't they? I figured the park bench was just as good or being a barfly was just as good. Why not get there first before they put me there? Why wait? The full letter: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/10/people-simply-empty-out.html http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/10/people-simply-empty-out...

TobyGiacometti 10y ago
Thanks for sharing!

dclowd9901 10y ago

Is it really that surprising? The employment game has been re-engineered to be a race to the bottom for employees. We take the minimum pay because we're afraid someone will take less. We take the minimum vacation because we're afraid someone will work more. As a result, we live month to month on consumer credit because we _can_ live something approaching a desirable lifestyle that reflects the amount of sacrifice we've made to get there. It's bullshit. Stop living on credit, stop using credit cards and ask for what you deserve.