I feel pretty aligned with the Antiwork viewpoint. Prior to even thinking about work in this context, I’ve spent a lot of my life thinking how much our systems are just social constructs we agree to. We agree that paper has value and we can use it for the purchase of goods, for whatever reason.
So I truly believe people should be properly compensated for their work and efforts and not exploited. It doesn’t bother me if people put in the bare minimum for a job that mistreats them and under values them.
However, there’s a whole subsection of jobs that is poorly compensated but also works with vulnerable populations. When I think about caring for the elderly, working in schools and preschools, working in mental health… those jobs are not paid well and those people are overworked, however… is it really a job where people should put in the bare minimum? I know it’s the system that’s messed up here but if you do take a job in that field, is it fair to only put in what you’re paid when the well being of others is at stake?
Just curious about others’ thoughts on this. It’s one thing when you work for a bank or in IT and working the bare minimum really doesn’t hurt anyone but being slack at a nursing home or preschool could hurt someone.