4 ms·

People didn't work so hard before because they felt like they earned a fair share - has this ever been the case before? They did it out of necessity, cultural e

by epups 4y ago

People didn't work so hard before because they felt like they earned a fair share - has this ever been the case before? They did it out of necessity, cultural expectations and personal fulfillment. The first two factors have changed a lot, but it's the third one that keeps me going. I personally feel much better if I use all my brain and a ton of energy at work. I've had a couple of jobs where this wasn't the case, and I found myself much less happy and, ironically, exhausted. At least in my case, working hard has led to a lot of opportunities for learning and growing, and money followed too. Not enough to buy a house, that's true, but I live a more comfortable life than my parents who did have a house. I guess what I'm trying to say is that while the game might be rigged at a high level, my personal experience is that working hard still puts me where I would like to be.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
jimnotgym 4y ago
Do you have a job like in the article? A close to minimum wage job at a packing station. Which of the 3 factors would keep you there
- epups 4y ago
  There were many kinds of jobs discussed in the article. And I think the defeatist sentiment in the parent did not come from a person working on a minimum wage job.
autoexec 4y ago
> People didn't work so hard before because they felt like they earned a fair share - has this ever been the case before? It's always been the case and research shows that when employees feel that they are valued, trusted, and fairly compensated their performance improves (for examples see https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/03/well-being https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/03/well-being or https://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2021/1751495/ https://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2021/1751495/ or https://www.ijlass.org/data/frontImages/gallery/Vol._3_No._1/10._92-104.pdf https://www.ijlass.org/data/frontImages/gallery/Vol._3_No._1...) > They did it out of necessity, cultural expectations and personal fulfillment. Necessity and cultural expectations might make someone seek and maintain employment, but being treated fairly makes them work harder, makes them more loyal, and leads to better outcomes. Demoralizing employees is always going to result in reduced productivity. It may be true that the work you do is is fulfilling enough to prevent you from being demoralized even if your employer treats you like shit, but I doubt most people feel that strongly about their work. If they aren't earning enough to take care of themselves, let alone their families, morale isn't going to be very high. Hard work can lead to financial security, fair compensation, and professional fulfillment, but there is no guarantee that it will. It's an employers job to convince their employees that their hard work is worthwhile and will pay off for them in the end.

by epups 4y ago

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

jimnotgym 4y ago

Do you have a job like in the article? A close to minimum wage job at a packing station. Which of the 3 factors would keep you there

epups 4y ago
There were many kinds of jobs discussed in the article. And I think the defeatist sentiment in the parent did not come from a person working on a minimum wage job.

autoexec 4y ago

> People didn't work so hard before because they felt like they earned a fair share - has this ever been the case before? It's always been the case and research shows that when employees feel that they are valued, trusted, and fairly compensated their performance improves (for examples see https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/03/well-being https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/03/well-being or https://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2021/1751495/ https://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2021/1751495/ or https://www.ijlass.org/data/frontImages/gallery/Vol._3_No._1/10._92-104.pdf https://www.ijlass.org/data/frontImages/gallery/Vol._3_No._1...) > They did it out of necessity, cultural expectations and personal fulfillment. Necessity and cultural expectations might make someone seek and maintain employment, but being treated fairly makes them work harder, makes them more loyal, and leads to better outcomes. Demoralizing employees is always going to result in reduced productivity. It may be true that the work you do is is fulfilling enough to prevent you from being demoralized even if your employer treats you like shit, but I doubt most people feel that strongly about their work. If they aren't earning enough to take care of themselves, let alone their families, morale isn't going to be very high. Hard work can lead to financial security, fair compensation, and professional fulfillment, but there is no guarantee that it will. It's an employers job to convince their employees that their hard work is worthwhile and will pay off for them in the end.