On The Nature of Work
In recent years, the prevailing view of work — what it entails, what purpose it serves, why we do it — has been shifting. Some predominantly online communities originally devoted to critiquing modern work have devolved to angrily criticizing it and finding new ways to do as little as possible while holding a job. The term may have seen its use decline, but “quiet quitting” is alive and well in practice as national productivity figures can attest, the metric now sitting slightly above 2015 levels after a brief rise and precipitous fall. This shift in mindset and subsequent productivity drop has coincided with the pandemic and it’s resulting increase in worker burnout. As people have become accustomed to a new work culture of overload and permanent short staffing, many have understandably been soured on the idea of work as a concept. Yet this shift in thinking has and will continue to poison the everyday lives of people who are now facing the realities of a post pandemic world.
Even a cursory glance at these communities shows an unbridled hatred of work far beyond the regular doldrums that come with unwanted responsibility. There is a growing disdain for having to produce anything in any quantity in order to secure a decent lifestyle for one’s family. This reasoning stems from the idea that one should not have to justify their existence with production. That none should ever be without simply because they have not contributed or earned. Putting aside the inevitable collapse of society where the responsibility to produce is replaced with a childish demand to be provided for, the issue runs much deeper than the inability to understand basic economic realities.
Our work is an important part of how we define ourselves. Not because we have become a materialistic, self-aggrandizing society as the cynic would tell you but because our work produces much more than money. It is how we create value for others and it is a tremendous part of how we leave our mark on the world. Our work defines our contribution to society, to facilitate the needs of others, and our ability to support ourselves and our loved ones.
A doctor is held in high regard because of his ability to heal and he is richly compensated in return. There is an inherent pride that comes with that and a great deal of respect shown by strangers when they learn that someone is a healer. The respect is not derived solely by the amount of compensation the doctor receives, it is a direct result of the incredible value they produce for others. This is why the thief is not seen as more deserving of praise than the doctor by any but the lowliest of people despite his wealth far eclipsing the doctor’s. Nothing is generated by the thief and his gains are the loss of others who have in all likelihood produced actual value. Moreover, the production by the doctor entailed a great deal of difficult schooling and very long hours of work, even well into a career. Once a fortune is amassed, it would stand to reason that people (who work only to enrich or sustain themselves as they are forced to do) would significantly curtail or completely eliminate their work, opting to teach or consult in a reduced capacity in order to enjoy their wealth. The reality is very often the complete opposite with doctors working longer hours as healthcare demands increase and delaying retirement even when financial concerns have long ago disappeared.
A seemingly obvious criticism would be that not all workers are doctors or are engaged in similar work that is so impactful. Someone who helps heal the sick can obviously find pride where other vocations cannot. This is another symptom of viewing work as meaningless drudgery and merely something to be put up with because society is unwilling to carry one from cradle to grave. Sickness and the need for treatment are universal and healing is a skill valued by all as they either need it, know someone who does, or will one day need it themselves. Other skills are not so wide ranging but are equally valuable, especially for one in immediate need.
One is not just a chef or line cook. They possess the skills to feed the hungry and prepare meals that others derive both critical nutrition and immense enjoyment from. They make something that is fundamental to life. A plumber may come into contact with human waste but their skills are invaluable to leading sanitary and dignified lives. Secretaries, assistants, and other office support staff play an integral role in keeping a business organized and efficient with their absences felt immediately by other staff members. Entertainers and athletes are often compensated far more than all but the most successful of entrepreneurs when their contributions are technically unnecessary but their true value is the delight of millions.
People take pride in their work and become very passionate about it when things go awry. It is not uncommon to find people furious at the inadequacies of their colleagues, even in low paid work. The resulting confusion of onlookers plain to see as they wonder why someone with such a position would even care that their tasks are being made impossible. This is not a symptom of corporate slavery or those who have been blinded to the truth of the system. This is an inevitable result of people who pride themselves on what they accomplish and how those accomplishments better both themselves and others in their completion.
People want to see their efforts bear fruit as they are not merely the means to a paycheque. That may be their main impetus, but these efforts are the person’s craft — an expression of their competence and skill, regardless of the undertaking itself. There is no shortage of poor and ineffectual workers but they are not a newly enlightened bunch. They are predominantly the disillusioned, downtrodden, or lazy.
There is an important discussion to be had about work as it is today. Our society has by no means perfected it, whether referring to compensation or the treatment of workers. With our level of technological advancement, we should be investigating the possibility of many of today’s service and office jobs being entirely done from home to enhance the lives of workers. Pay needs to be reviewed considering the stagnant wages workers have endured for over a decade. Further, the amount of pay given to low skilled but critical work needs to be commensurate with the nature of the work being accomplished. There is a great deal of work to do on the subject of work as it is an issue so central to our lives. That said, augmenting or changing how we work or what we receive in turn is a far cry from the current discourse that revolves around the idea that all work and all necessary labour is nothing more than modern day slavery.
Work is simultaneously an identity and a means to earn a living. It is not the sole way one self-identifies nor should it be, but it is an integral part of what makes one unique. How you interact with and provide value to others and society at large is likely the most profound impact you will have on the world around you. If it is viewed as something to be avoided or done as poorly as possible while still receiving pay, one’s opportunity to positively influence the world outside their very limited social circle is almost completely eroded. It may be in the very best interests of all involved to properly rethink the concept of work and the role it plays in our lives.
