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Workaholism In America Is Hurting the Economy
An anonymous reader writes Work/life balance is a constant problem in the tech industry. Even though experienced and mature engineers have been vocal in fighting it, every new generation buys into the American cultural identity of excessive work being a virtue. Each generation suffers for it, and the economy does, too. This article backs up that wisdom with hard numbers: "The 40-hour workweek is mostly a thing of the past. Ninety-four percent of professional workers put in 50 or more hours, and nearly half work 65 or above. All workers have managed to cut down on our time on the job by 112 hours over the last 40 years, but we're far behind other countries: The French cut down by 491 hours, the Dutch by 425, and Canadians by 215 in the same time period. ... This overwork shows up in our sleep. Out of five developed peers, four other countries sleep more than us. That has again worsened over the years. In 1942, more than 80 percent of Americans slept seven hours a night or more. Today, 40 percent sleep six hours or less. A lack of sleep makes us poorer workers: People who sleep less than seven hours a night have a much harder time concentrating and getting work done."
Oh yes, production line workers love being on a production line, road side cleaners love cleaning roads, soldiers love being shot at, food services people love serving serving cranky customers etc etc etc. Seriously and I mean it FUCK OFF. Only the very luckiest few manage to get away with jobs they love, many more than them end up doing jobs they hate while desperately trying to get a job they love ie waitresses and the movie industry and far more than that end up doing jobs that straight up suck but they need to get done.
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
That's because we do have a choice.
In different words, there are other people willing to do your job for less, and you don't like it. Your beef isn't with business, it's with the people you compete against and who are either better or cheaper than you.
I don't see anybody "blaming" anybody. It's a pretty simple transaction: you set the terms under which you offer your labor and businesses either buy from you or they buy from someone else. No blame involved, and nothing personal.
Unions can go fuck themselves, btw.
Fuck you. And fuck everyone else who says workers can't get together to demand a decent work week.
You are a selfish and mean SOB to think employers can dictate the market solely on there terms.
Learn some fucking history you knuckle dragging moron.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Unions just protect those that are incompetent or barely capable.
Fuck unions. I haven't even had to negotiate a raise in 3 years because they are a afraid of me leaving. >10% *grins*