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Antiwork

Why people don’t to themselves?

Why people do it to themselves? I worked for some years for a transport company. Pay wasn't great but I know the bosses were paying what they could and the atmosphere was nice and very laid back. It was in Europe where drivers have to take breaks, to simplify the matter for the sake of our story it will be enough to say that on your usual day you were taking 45 minutes. Breaks are unpaid and so I was always taking them, going to canteen or walking to nearby cafe then sitting at the picnic table we had in the hard (or inside if cold) and eating, reading book and so on. Some other guys were annoyed with me as it was usually job and finish, so they worked during their breaks (which is illegall) doing some yard work, driving forklifts, sorting cargo, loading/unloading the trucks, you name it.…


Why people do it to themselves?

I worked for some years for a transport company. Pay wasn't great but I know the bosses were paying what they could and the atmosphere was nice and very laid back.

It was in Europe where drivers have to take breaks, to simplify the matter for the sake of our story it will be enough to say that on your usual day you were taking 45 minutes.

Breaks are unpaid and so I was always taking them, going to canteen or walking to nearby cafe then sitting at the picnic table we had in the hard (or inside if cold) and eating, reading book and so on.

Some other guys were annoyed with me as it was usually job and finish, so they worked during their breaks (which is illegall) doing some yard work, driving forklifts, sorting cargo, loading/unloading the trucks, you name it.

Then they were writing on their punch cards “no break” and telling me that this way boss knows they worked and will pay them for that.

I actually know for the fact he could not do as his payroll records from punchcards were checked against their tachograph records, and he HAD to deduct breaks (which were recorded on the tacho cards when trucks were stationary in the yard), so they were basically working for 45 minutes for free AND incriminating themselves by providing the company written information they took no breaks. The company was didn't bothered – the VOSA (institution that tracks drivers working records) only checks the tacho cards so there was no risk for them, but they could use it against drivers at any time if they wanted to.

I tried to explain that to them for many years, even going as far as to encouraging them to do the math for their payslips, but never succeeded. The practice was there when I came and it was there when I left…

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