Hi r/antiwork, I hope I am in the right place, I pass by in this subreddit from time to time but I have never been active here before. The reason I decided to post here is to seek advice from people that start from the same point of view as myself: we work to live we do not live to work and when we work, we deserve to be adequately compensated and treated with dignity in every aspect of the job. If my post is not in line with the sub, please let me know and apologies.
I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine that is tormenting me.
The background situation of my friend is sadly common: friend has been employee in a company since their high school graduation, and has been doing the same accountant job since 15 years. In the 15 years they have been there, they have never been on holidays for more than a week although in our Country (in EU) at least 20 days per year are mandatory. They work much more than the contract hours and also in the weekend that should be normally off. They keep saying that their company do not deserve them, but at the same time they do not seek anything else.
Please note that the friend has no family to support and lives with their dad that is covering most of their living expenses. I don't like to assume how people should manage their money, but this is to say that there are no dependands to support and there would be other options rather than working themself to death.
This friend has just gone thorugh surgery for cancer, I was checking on them today while they are still in the hospital and they are already making plan on how to work during their medical leave (that is completely paid in my Country and the companny cannot absolutely fire you for that or ask you to work anyway). Moreover, their are not even trying to ask the company to cover for them.
Now, the reason on this post is not the company, we know them too well: until you act as a donkey they will keep loading you, but is my friend: they are not even fighting for their own rights. They are lying to themself saying that they are the only one “capable of doing the job” and that there are no other options. They are putting themselves voluntarily thought this situation.
I confronted them many times in the past with the same reply: there is no one “capable of doing the job”, that is again another lie. Because to me, even if company has specific procedures, in 15 years would have been possible to train someone else! Plus, this is the company problem, not the employee problem!
I tried in the past saying something about the fact that nobody is irreplaceable, but my frind took it as a great offense because they really believe they are irrepleaceable and at this point they would have to admit to have waisted years of youth caught up in a lie.
Now I don't want to be too hard on them due to their sickness, but it enrages me to see that they are disrespecting themself and their own work. How it is possible to reach changes if the people inside the system lie to themselves?
I really do not know what to do/say. Any suggestion?
Thank you in advance.