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People are finally starting to figure it out

SeaCat

Shared on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 09:15

In a recent techrepublic blurb I get, there was a short article on people wanting less responsibility in their jobs.  In a study by Families and Work Institute, from 1992-2002 the percentage of college educated men and women who wanted more job responsibility dropped from 21% to 16% respectively.

I think some people are starting to finally figure out that working 16hrs a day 7 days a week and neglecting your personal life isn't worth it anymore.  There were several replies to the thread of people being laid off, not being recognized for their hard work, so on so forth.  Basically saying it's just not worth it to invest so much time and effort in to a place when you could be released at a moment's notice.

Where I work there are several execs and managers that make the phat cash, driving tricked out Dodge Vipers, pimped Harley's, and other cars I don't even know what they are.  They work ceaselessly and are always "about the company".  Everyone knows their family life is non-existent, you can tell by their kids, not to mention it's a smaller town so everyone knows how things go for these people. 

I'm not a rich person, nor am I all about the company 24x7.  I work hard, do my job, and at 5pm, I'm done.  I switch it all off, work is shut down.  Then it's all about my wife and my child from that point on for the night.  My family means more to me then anything and I'll never let my job interfere with that.  I'm blessed to have such a wonderful family and I'm very thankful for that.  I'm thankful that I know what's important.

What do you all think is the reason people are starting to want less responsibility at their jobs? 

Comments

wilderz's picture
Submitted by wilderz on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 09:29
I think you hit the nail right on the head. Also, as we get older, our priorities change....especially when you start having children. Do you want to work hard to provide for your family? Sure you do. But do you want to work so much that you miss out on first steps, birthdays, etc....? Not me. Some would argue " I work this hard to provide for my family". When really what kids need are parents who are simply 'there'. Like you said in your post, you can bust your balls 24x7 but that doesn't mean your job can be yanked out from under you in a heartbeat. I was let go from a job earlier in the year, because I was expected to work Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, half-day Saturdays, and be on call a few nights a week as well. F' that man, I don't need to make money so badly that I don't even get to enjoy my wife and daughter. I would much rather work at a job making less, working less if it means I get to spend more time with my family... because when this life is all said and done, you can't take any of that 'stuff' that is sooooo seemingly important with you. As long as I make enough to pay the bills, and sock some away for retirement.. well then, that's good enough for me.
Deman267's picture
Submitted by Deman267 on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 10:18
People now are really aware of the fact that your Company does not give a flying fuck about you or your family.They show no loyalty to their employees,so why should workers care?The average CEO makes 400 times the amount of a line worker,let HIM stay all day and night.
TANK's picture
Submitted by TANK on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 10:35
I figured that out long ago after i worked for two companies that i worked my ass off for and my thanks for the effort was a layoff as their ships sunk with two weeks severence. Kicker was i was the last round of layoffs for both companies because i was 'so valuable' except people who got laid off months earlier in the first round got like a month severence. Bullshit... After that i've had an i don't give a shit attitude towards working. I do what i'm paid to, i don't do anything more than that and it's rare for me to put in any more than 40 hours. It's necessary sometimes to work a weekend here or there or an evening if there's a problem but those are now few and far between. If you aren't working for yourself.... there is absolutly no point in killing yourself for your job. Your job is simply a means to live the life you want, it isn't your life. If work is your life and you're not the owner, you need to take a better look at your priorities.

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