I hate working and I consider myself to be one of the least ambitious people out there. The only thing that motivates me to chase more money or “work hard” is that I hate struggling more than I hate working hard. I want to stop commuting for hours a day and just be able to afford to live close to work. Sleep an extra 2-3 hours a day. Use those extra hours to unwind and on myself rather than be sleep deprived chasing buses, tired and hungry and repeating it all the next day.
I’ve worked comfortable decent paying office jobs my entire life, I still struggled and couldn’t afford luxuries but wasn’t living paycheck to pay check and could save for leisure purposes. Recently I started working part time at a store as I’m in between jobs. I’ve met some amazing people, super hard working, super nice, super smart and every time I ask someone how long they’ve been at the store, they say they’ve been there for years.
I know good opportunities are hard to come by, I know people are too exhausted from their job(s) to look for work after their shift and I don’t know people’s situations but in my head “I’m like you’re so smart, hard working and nice, why are you still here?” I’m not talking about students who see it as a temp thing or people working multiple part time jobs to increase overall monthly income, I’m talking about people who work that one job and have been at the same pay, position or company for years.
One guy has been with the company nearly 50 years and he’s still just an assistant manager of one department of the store. Granted pay must have increased over those 50 years and minimum wage would’ve been able to do a lot in the 70’s but 50 years in the same place, same store doing the same work surely you’d want a change no?
Not changing jobs for 50 years and not seeing what’s out there is mind blowing to me. Another guy is amazing but he settles for part time minimum wage and isn’t even bothering to look elsewhere because he didn’t finish uni. A degree sadly makes you more employable but he’s amazing irrespective of a degree. He would do so well anywhere and should atleast be looking.
I know it’s their lives and as long as they’re happy that’s all that matters but I wish they would just get compensated better for their hard work which should be the case everywhere but sadly it isn’t.
I haven’t stopped looking for work since before I even joined the store. If and when I get a job, I’ll continue looking to get a new job that pays more and has a better work life balance and I’ll continue doing that until I’m comfortable financially and have a good work life balance and even then I’ll keep looking for more money and comfort.
Im not looking down on anyone, no work is beneath me, I’m in no way better than anyone else and get my hands dirty at work for minimum wage, I’m on the same bus on the same long commute, to a neighbourhood where rent is cheaper.
My point is I just want people to atleast look for better pay and better work life balance and benefits. They may not get it if they look but they surely won’t if they don’t. Maybe society has programmed people to think they don’t deserve better. A coworker said to me that she wished she made 18/hr and I’m like you’re amazing, you deserve so much more.
We all hate working but I don’t want you to work and struggle. I won’t them to be work and be comfortable and well compensated. I know everyone’s situation is different but please do it if you can. Please atleast look to see what’s out there. You’re amazing and you deserve to be paid your worth and to get the comfort you deserve for your work.