Quiet quitting, Act you wage, Lazy Girl, Snail Girl, Bare minimum Mondays...
I will let you in on a secret - if you are young and your approach to work is a trend from social media that looks to minimize the effort needed at work -
Future you is probably fucked.
Maybe you aren't, I don't really know,
but I have a strong suspicion that a lot of people trying to shortcut their professional lives are going to come to regret it in the future, as they will have missed opportunity after opportunity to build the kinds of resources they need to have a "good life", which they dictate themselves. The kind of life where they get to enjoy some of the finer things, a little luxury, a holiday or two, a nice car, a nice meal with friends.
But that is okay.
Because, you are only young once, and whilst the majority of the young are minimizing their work effort, it gives space for those who are willing to maximize it, to make gains hand and fist over them.
Work culture has changed dramatically over the last decades, but so has the working ecosystem. Back in the day, it was possible to be a bit of a fuckup when young and then settle down later, finding stable work that pays a decent salary, get into a house, have a family and live an average life, with a few trimmings. This is not the case anymore however, so if a person has no skills or quality experience by the time they are thirty or so, they are likely going to struggle. And, if their work ethic is shite, they can't even power their way through.
Oh well?
I was reading an article the other day about how people who have just entered employment are burning out. The article cited that it was down to the pressures of young people having to be available in ways that "past generations" didn't have to be. Another secret?
Those past generations are still fucking working!
They are connected, they are available, they are doing the tasks, and they aren't "digital natives", they have had to change, old dogs needing to learn new tricks. And, they have successfully done so - without burning out at near the same rate. Not all have transitioned smoothly, but on average, it hasn't phased the majority, because it had to be done. Yet, younger generations have every bloody excuse as to why they can't fit in, expecting the world to provide the "right" conditions for them - conditions that mean they don't have to work very hard.
If you don't want to work very hard, get an easier job.
Of course, an easier job will generally come with a significantly lower pay, but if you think that easier work is in your best personal interest, you owe it to yourself. After all, money doesn't buy you happiness, does it? Flip burgers at a fast food chain, because there is very little responsibility that comes with that. Sweep up floors as a janitor, because you can work at your own pace.
There is nothing wrong with these jobs.
Yet, the expectation is that they aren't going to pay very much and that means that there are going to be lifestyle implications. Perhaps no over seas holidays. Perhaps unable to get into the housing market. Perhaps no hobbies that require a significant investment.
Ideally for me, I want to "be able" to work a minimum wage job, and still have all the good life trimmings that I desire. But, in order to do that, I have to have multiple streams of income that supplement a minimum wage. However, I don't plan on working a minimum wage job unless forced, because I would rather have a job that I feel holds some purpose for me. Ultimately though, that might not be a well-paying position, so in order to do more of what I like, I would have to do a bit of what I don't in order to get to where I am able to support myself.
As said, the work conditions are changing, but this means that we have to adapt to the conditions, or be left behind. I feel that a lot of people are making decisions that will affect their entire lives in their relative youth, without the experience of just how impacted they might be in the future. Since we don't predict how we are really going to feel down the track, I think a lot of people have overestimated how resilient they are to future financial adversity. This is actually quite interesting, considering that the same people are burning out in the first couple years of their "careers".
For people who are talking about mental health and taking care of themselves, the media at least seems to put all the emphasis in being okay in the moment, without acknowledging that health know also has to consider they are going to have to "be okay" for a lifetime.
The "saving grace" for some of these people is going to be that their grandparents and parents have done the work in the past and they will inherit from them. However, this is just kicking the can down the road, as without a work ethic and a desire for "self-care", they are likely going to have that money taken from them by the corporations who are conditioning them to give it to them. Most of the money that pours into the younger generations through inheritance in the coming two decades, is going to pass straight through and into the hands of the 0.1% again - people who are working to ensure their future, even if it comes at a cost to others.
There is nothing wrong with doing the bare minimum work, but it is good to understand that there are consequences to that approach. It is like a sportsperson who is not willing to practice and train to build the skills and strength needed to play the game well - they aren't a sportsperson. You can't live a life of the "rich and famous" without having the resources that enable it.
We want it all.
No one is going to give it to us.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Posted Using LeoFinance Alpha
It's bad for me as an elder millennial seeing the promised opportunities of my youth fading into inflation, debt, and red tape. It has to be far worse for Zoomers entering the workforce in the past few years. Then there is a definite friction dealing with the stereotypical Karens. This scourge of trying to serve people who refuse to be satisfied with anything while you're getting shit pay with no prospect is infuriating and degrading.
That said, there is also a lot of terrible advice from people who say our solution is to unionize and demand better pay as if we can squeeze blood from a stone when no one except the most politically-connected have that kind of fiscal surplus in the first place. There is a Utopian idea that we can just legislate wealth into existence through price controls and tax reform. Everyone is "owed" a "living wage"based on purely arbitrary standards, and no one should need to produce value for others to receive value back.
It's easy to say, "If you want more, offer more," but in the current world of leveraged debt, skyrocketing costs for basic housing, and an education system that has completely failed the past several generations, I can also understand the societal ennui. I wish there were an easy answer like, "just get a better job," but the opportunities are often simply not there in the first place. There is real burnout when you try to get traction only to see costs rising faster than pay.
Many in the US are working one or more part-time jobs because high-minded bureaucratic dictates screwed with the costs of hiring for employers. An employer needs to provide an extra benefits package mandated by government to those who work more than X hours, so they resort to hiring more people at part-time hours. The employer would prefer the logistics of fewer employee with more full-time jobs. The employees would prefer the stability of full-time jobs. The economic reality of regulatory intervention means part-time jobs abound, and the result is shitty jobs with dissatisfied, stressed-out employees.
I am at the tailend of genX - it isn't better.
I think this is where "make a better job" comes into play. Just have a look at what is happening in blockchain and crypto - it should be easy for "digital natives" that are confident "content creators" to build into, right?
Well, if I can do it, anyone can.
Comparing the jobs of our grandparents to the jobs now seem unfair. Back then you can feed a family, get a house, car, and vacations on a single income, with that person working regular jobs and not a CEO or manager of a company. A lot of the jobs then were physical labor intensive. Factory workers, mechanics, even a lot of IT related jobs were simple, like data entry. There were only a few coders if any.
The work environment now is more complex. A lot of work need brain power. Coding and debugging programs, maintaining databases, monitoring and correcting systems. You are doing a lot more work than previous generations, while just sitting in front of a computer. Everything is also faster. When I was working on databases, downtimes should not happen, and if they did, it needs to be fixed in minutes. Issues should be resolved almost instantaneously. The stress of finding and troubleshooting the problem while your bosses, and their bosses are literally right behind you while you work is nerve wracking. I even had on-call support, where I am available for 24 hours and they are free to call me anytime if there are issues. I handled multiple systems so there was bound to be at least one call every time. I then have to work the next day. I think that is where the burn out comes from. Back then once you clock out, everything is done.
I'm not trying to defend the younger generation. I consider myself to be in the middle, and having experienced both sides. I don't think burning out after just entering the work force is agreeable. But saying those old dogs are still learning new tricks are not that accurate. I have worked with a lot of older employees, and their output and performance is significantly less than their younger peers. There are a lot of older generation in managerial and higher work, and they try their best to keep their position, even going for consultation position and pay cut just to keep their job. While it is admirable, it is also preventing those promising younger generation from being promoted. There are very limited positions for officers, and most are taken by the older generation. If you are under a boss who is 50 years old, you'll have to wait 10-15 years to be promoted, because their boss is only 55 and also needs to be promoted.
Apart from the workplace, you then have the salary and inflation issue. You work hard, but it is only barely enough to rent a small apartment. Your parents/grandparents were able to afford their houses with close to minimum wage. Your daily life becomes a cycle of going to work, and sleeping. There is no hope of promotion, your increase of 5 percent per year is below the inflation rate, you can't afford vacations, and the older generation that are living their best life are telling you to just work hard, stop complaining, and multiple back in my days, aren't making things easier.
This is getting long. There are points for both sides, and the debate can be endless. In the end, everyone has problems, and life is difficult. Just got to learn to live through it.
Yes. A lot of these types of jobs are better paid now, yet there aren't the young people to fill them.
Have you considered how many people can do these jobs? Education might have gone up, but IQ is still what it is. The people who are likely struggling in the jobs and burning out, might not be the most suited for the jobs, right?
But, this hasn't been the case for 30 years. I don't think I have been able to "clock out" in the last twenty. The people who are burning out now would have been 5 years old at the time. I think there are more issues ongoing than this, because even though people talk about not being able to switch off, that is not actually the case with the majority of companies and roles. Maybe they need better time management skills and they definitely need better understanding.
At least in Finland, they are begging older people not to retire, because they don't have enough young people coming through. In some cases, they are bringing people out of retirement to take care of things, including some coding jobs, weirdly.
Do you think this was different 40 or 50 years ago?
The conditions are what they are and the attitude that a lot of the young are taking, isn't going to work in their favor. They are cutting themselves off to opportunity and growth.
Enjoyed reading this piece. I think this sums up the hard truths that people ought to know, there is no easy way out in life, unless one is born with a silver spoon. And majority are us aren't. Thanks for sharing!
Wouldn't life be grand having been born with a silver spoon!
Hahahaha
Oh really?! I'm still manifesting my sugar momma. She's out there somewhere!
If she has a sister...
Got no doubts there, it is inevitable, no one can escape it. Some consistent fuckery is necessary so that we don't get too comfortable, and stay on our toes.
Fucked by design.
Fueled by fuckery. 😂
Adapting to the ever-changing work landscape is crucial, and while the pursuit of a fulfilling career is important, it's equally vital to maintain a sense of realism and avoid becoming overly fixated on it 😣
I recently came across a survey among younger generations where a significant number expressed aspirations to become influencers. While the allure of glitz and glamour may be appealing, I have concerns, as this path may not be suitable for everyone. It's important to remember that the influencers we see on social media are often the success stories, and there are many others who have tried and not succeeded 😢
Very few paths are suitable for everyone, which is also part of the problem with the jobs people choose. If someone who would make a better mechanic is trying to do an office job, will they burnout faster?
When individuals pursue jobs that don't align with their inherent skills and interests, burnout can become a real concern. A lack of fulfillment, a mismatch of skills and interests, elevated stress levels, and reduced job performance definitely leads to a faster burnout 😣
I've notice that the work ethic is definitely different. There are always some exceptions, of course. The funny thing is, a lot of the younger workers I see don't seem to be motivated by money as much. If that is the case, I a not sure why they aren't picking the easier jobs. That fact about the burn out rate is just silly. People are so soft these days!
Maybe they aren't motivated by money as much because they seem to think it will be handed out to them. Seems there is no end to how many people they can cram into an "exclusive" festival for Instagram pictures.
Yeah, that is a good point. It's curious to me. I try to be understanding with my workers, but sometimes I just need to shake my head.
There are definitely exceptions. I work with a few younger people and they are working hard - but it is also dependent on their surroundings. They are surrounded by hard workers.
Dear @tarazkp !
What is the hourly wage in Finland?
The minimum wage in the world where I live is US$5.50.
7-8€, but that is the lowest. It is impossible to compare on wage levels though, as living costs are wildly different.
Thank you for kind answer!
There are so many things that youths do now and it is surely going to affect their future but I am amazed that a lot of us just think and do not even care about the future?
Have you seen people who don't care about their futures?
The thing about not caring, is it is only possible until the pain is so high that it can't be ignored. By then, it is too late.
I also don't think there is anything wrong with the bare minimum either so long as they get the work done. Of course, I agree that the pay should scale with the expertise/work that people do though. I honestly wouldn't mind doing the same but generating those source of incomes is tough.
Yeah - it isn't easy to get the capital and then, make the right investment choices.
You are not far from the truth, it is either we learn and adapt to the change condition or be left behind. I just hope the young ones gets to see these and start putting in more efforts to work hard instead.
The funny thing is that the "young" are near 30 now - that is not young at all.
Haha! It's truly funny but truth is, they need to wake up out of the lazy mentality because time waits for no one and there's no job for lazy People as every work requires hard work and dedication
On the other hand I have seen different things. I have seen women in 40s joining workforce after the divorce and the death of the family people since the pandemic like events. I suppose the world has changed that they are not being ageist and stopping people from having an income source. Which is kind of welcoming if you ask me.
Yes. I have seen this too. It is good, especially since people are likely living longer. But, they need to be willing to do the work.
This is so true, this generation has a whole new world of opportunities but they seem to just point towards an "easy" life. They do not have a sense of accountability effort and perseverance. And the worst of all is many do not even know how different is the world that is coming.
Just imagine if they actually got serious about their finances and started building into blockchain and crypto tech.
Strange to see the same things for youngs in another country. I have noticed that today's youngs are reluctant to work hard for hours, they want less time for work, much time for themselves (I wish). Also, when they make mistake or become insufficient at work and you warn them to be more careful, you might be guilty 😄
As if they have earned it :D
Everyone else is to blame for my fragility, except me.
Quiet quitting is an interesting phenomenon. A lot of people do minimal work and yet get the promotions while there are the 'Boxers' who do a lot of work and get nowhere. I think working hard is a base standard but folks have to look out for themselves and work for the right bosses and the right companies.
In thirty years of work, I am yet to actually see this happen. I have seen it happen occasionally that people who have been promoted earlier, run out of steam later in their careers.
Oh how I suspect that this will be the case!
"Note to future me"
I love hive because here payout mostly depends on efforts put. For example in art effort in creating things is not enough you need a talent to sell them. But in hive as long as you continue to put your effort eventually some bigger accounts will likely notice you. So in hive all one needs to succeed is effort and patience.
And, you get to work your own hours. Some people work as little as possible.
Great post @tarazkp.
It is very true that the employment/working system has changed over the past years. The usual procedure of going to college and getting a good job is gradually fading, which as resulted to large state of confusion among the younger generations.
No doubt, some younger ones who have realize that no inheritance awaits them, are gradually taken every moment of their life's by grabbing the necessary opportunities for the future.
And lastly, decision making is surprisingly a big problem in today's world. Younger generations don't know how to make decisions for themselves, always wanting their parents or third party to decide for them even when they've passed the age of 20.
The world is changing, how well can this young ones change with it ?.
I got a degree in architectural drafting in 2005.
Worst.
Timing.
Ever.
Stable employment in a strong economy has never been in the cards for my entire adult life.
So sorry about that 🥲.
The only opportunities available now are for those with connections or those that have someone somewhere in a top position. But it's good that web 3.0 and other internet efforts have created some opportunities for those who chooses to make good use of it.
I suspect for those who aren't willing to make their own decisions, the real reason is that they don't want to wear the blame for making the wrong one. People seem to think it is is better to have a crappy life and blame others, than to take responsibility.
Lol 😂, you've just said the plain truth
Congratulations @tarazkp! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
Just yesterday I was listening to a renowned pastor and he said one striking thing that's been on my mind all day he said
Really outspoken on this one, you see this current generation do not seem to bother about HARDWORK talkless of minimum wage pay, the advancement of science and technology has so maade things a lot easier, for instance Hive Blockchain were one can build unlimited wealth far doubling what minimum wage can pay,
But then the need for skills craftsmanship is very necessary, just like the sportsmanship who's needful to build a career during his younger days so that when he retires there will be more to his name than playing on the pitch
It's everyone's dream to live the "Good life" but the capacity to Finance that and maintain it, is were lies the bigger problem...
That's right. Younger generations don't care and won't care anything of what you are saying about their future anytime soon. Since they maintain the strong belief that there will always be the chap of the pencil up there who will introduce them to the little mermaid with her magic wand and will grant them their three wishes to please all their desires and solve all their problems magically in one fell swoop.