I'm a worker from South Africa and I've gone from a hard-core “work harder and you'll have more” person being raised in that mindset seeing it work for friends( the sons and daughters of company owners or readily settled and well-off businessmen) it's shocking to see how blatantly wrong I was.
After finishing college, I spent nearly 3 months trying to find a job within 30 miles of me
I've found success in finding and applying to these jobs but as a college graduate I get paid just enough to pay for fuel every month or when I've found closer employment the pay falls short for everything else. I've been told to put in more hours by parents and others but get told I can't put any more extra hours in by employers.
My day starts at 4 am and usually includes 1 to 2 straight hours of driving each way on a good day. I get home at 6 or 7 6 leaving me with 3 glorious hours before I need to sleep that I can use for whatever I'd like
Then we get into medical
In this country, public hospitals are a death sentence, especially the one I'd be sent to in an emergency if I didn't have medical aid.
A life without paying 500 bucks to 1000 (20 Rands (our currency) equates roundabout to 1 dollar)
I get paid in a good position 7 to 8 k half of that is already for fuel alone then comes student loans then basics up keep of my vehicle the fact I need medical aid and eventually through all the monthly expenses I'm left with approximately 300 to 600 bucks a month that I use for basic shopping (a month's groceries equates to 1k usually)
After 3 months of working, I was burned out tired soulless lost contact with everyone in my life and still recovering from it now. I've since attempted to get a part-time job but get turned down from the positions due to the qualifications I have (I just want to stack shelves 3 or 4 days a week so I don't starve) but I get told I'm overqualified but if I apply for my qualification level I can't find Jobs that cost more than half of my pay check in fuel alone (not an exaggeration btw)
If I rent that just adds 7 to 8 k a month extra excluding power water and everything else I'd be paying for rent in pretty bad neighborhoods
Above all this, I've recently been diagnosed autistic and ADHD as in medicate or can't function normally. This has caused problem after problem. If a company finds out about it they are far less likely to offer up any positions and will even work to push you out of your employment (what happened to me at my last position)
I spoke to someone in hr regarding a therapist I see who has helped me a lot and suddenly the next week my boss told me “your not working out in this position you will be fully compensated for the time you've worked but employment will no longer be an option” I know I shouldn't have just backed off but if I didn't I'd have more problems than I already do.
It's one after the other fuck you and at some point, I've lost any drive or determination to work my position I just want something that won't let me starve the end of the month