Well, it's official. I've lost my work ethic.

The BBQ Pit
1

Of course, it didn’t happen all at once. It took years for life in the workplace to grind it away.

I just realized last week that my work ethic is gone. I find the feeling intensely liberating.

No more trying to do the best job I can, getting the job done right, only to be told, “Thea, you have the best quality rating of anyone in the shop, but you’re just not making rate.”

No more trying to fix everyone else’s mistakes then hearing cow orkers complain that I’m not at my little workstation doing my job, all the while because I’m doing their fucking jobs.

No more busting my ass for the same $8.00/hr that my cow orkers make screwing off.

I’ve become adept at “looking busy” without doing actual work. So adept that managers tell me, “great job” as they pass by my register while I’m doing unnecessary cleaning, or straightening up the impulse racks as a means of avoiding waiting on actual customers.

I volunteer to do “go backs” and take my sweet time doing them, to avoid cash register duty.

I feel so good…

2

Burned out a bit, are we?

Yeah, I know the feeling. But it shouldn’t last.

3

Thea,

Maybe you just need something more challanging than working on the till in a shop.

There are probably hundreds of jobs out there that you would be great at and would really fire you up…

Dunno - just a thought.

4

Heh, I work at Cala/Ralphs/Kroger. I know the feeling well. Thankfully, my immediate boss in the service deli and co-workers range from good to great, so I have no problem working hard for them. But outside out little corner of the store, the mind-numbing rays start to take over.

It is nice when you resolve yourself to not give a shit anymore, ain’t it?

5

You have been liberated from your bondage, Thea. Ignore those who say you’ll get over it. That’s like telling you that you’re an idiot. Because the work ethic your bosses want you to have is the work ethic that will do your bosses the most good, and you the least good. It will make you crazy, because you can never win; the better you do your job, the more they need to keep you right where you are, doing your job. Promotion? No way. Then what would they do without you?

The American workplace has lost its ability to appreciate quality, or effort, or effectiveness, or intelligence. Through a long slow process, it has arrived at the point where only the truly mediocre can succeed, or the completely ruthless. If you’re a good, honest, hardworking person, you’re so screwed it’s not funny. Really not funny. Jay Leno level not funny. The good, honest, hardworking people are the self-effacing, efficient, non-squeaky wheels who will inevitably get the shaft from some self-promoting useless git who knows nothing about working, but knows how to make themselves look good.

Which, believe it or not, Thea, is good for you. Really. Now that you know the secret, you can cruise through your work with a smile on your face as you present the appearance of competence, and fulifill all the idiotic demands presented to you with a smile, while watching the inevitable disasters that come of unquestioning and unconcerned underlings. Let the nonsense of work flow over you with aplomb; you are now above it all.

Spend your efforts in making your life better; work hard and well at projects you enjoy, that will make nice things for yourself and your loved ones. Excel at producing things of useless beauty that bring joy into the world.

And for forty hours a week, work just barely enough to bring home sufficient money to keep yourself fed and amused, and try not to let it get on your nerves that most of your potential to help whatever business you work for has been lost. It’s not lost to you, remember; it’s lost to your employer. And they, quite honestly, don’t deserve it.

6

That’s why I’ve quit my job. I no longer give a fuck whether its done right or not. That’s a sign that it is time to move on.

I have to work to live, and by damn if I have to do it I might as well do something I like and want to do to earn my living.

7

Well, actually, I’m going to school to be a massage therapist, so I figure between finishing that, and getting my license (a lengthy process in Vegas, for reasons that have more to do with politics than suspected prostitution), I figure I’ll be working at Wally World for a year, max.

Meanwhile, I’m focussing my efforts into my schoolwork. Just wish I didnt’ have to work so many hours. I am soooo tired so much of the time.

8

Just a thought…
Since you’re going to be doing this type of work for a year or so, why not call some of the massage businesses or physical therapy clinics in the area to see if they need a receptionist or similar position. It still may not be what you want, but at least you’ll be working in an environment that holds some interest for you. It would also provide you with invaluable contacts once you are licensed and could lead to a position.

Jeff

9

Ahh, I call that the “Constansa Moment”. It is even worse if you have internet access at work. When I first saw your OP, I thought- hmm she must have got a job with the state government. After 2 weeks of working here almost everyone has their Constansa Moment, and settles in the routine of not working very hard at all.

10

Try putting up with “rolling layoffs” for 2 years. Watch your co-workers get picked off one by one while new VPs are still being hired (to manage who?). Ugh. I lost my work ethic a long time ago.

11

[Jon Stewart]

And now, your Daily Zen Moment [/JS]

**It’s not getting any smarter out there. You have to come to terms with stupidity and make it work for you. **

-Frank Zappa

12

Daydreaming about the Barbi twins, are we? :slight_smile:

13

Join the club, thea.

A liberating feeling, no?

A year or so ago I realized that I had pretty much hit my ceiling, and that more and better work would be rewarded with nothing but yet more work. So I made the conscious decision to decrease the volume of my work output, and to take more time off to play golf than in previous years. Last month I received the largest bonus I have gotten in 16+ years at this job!

Work to live, don’t live to work.

14

Thea, just remember the old SubGenius saying:

“Act like a dumbshit and they’ll treat you like an equal.”

15

Hard workers get paid the same and just wind up with more work, I’ve found.

16

That was what drove me out of Kmart, finally. I was having constant panic attacks, crying all the time, and calling in sick because I just didn’t give a shit. Finally I said, fuck it, and quit.

But here’s the thing-I still feel guilty sometimes. “If I had just stuck it out a little longer, if I had just sucked it up…”

Yeah, it’s liberating-but it also makes me feel guilty as hell.

17

Thea, I’m right there with you. I’ve been slowly losing my work ethic, starting about two years ago, when I realized that no matter how good of a job I do, it will never be good enough. So what’s the point? Why should I bust my butt when it doesn’t matter anyway? I get raked over the coals and bitched at in staff meetings for no good reason, and now I just don’t care anymore. I get criticized for things that I was told were ongoing problems when I interviewed for the job, because my boss would rather blame someone instead of trying to solve the problems. I can’t fix things, and I’ve learned not to worry about it anymore.

So, good luck with massage school. I’m sure your work ethic will come back when you’re doing something you really care about.

ME

18

My work ethic hit the bottom of the shitcan long ago. Worked for too many assholes that sucked the life right outta me. Now, I actually work for a place that deserves a job well done, and I can barely manage! (look at that post count! I can only recall posting here from home 2 times! :open_mouth: All the rest is from work, just like NOW!) Oh well, my boss knows I’m slacking and doesn’t worry too much. I still get everything done that he pays me for.

This place rocks!

Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore.

19

After six months of specialized training to become professionally certified, I underwent a desk audit and was re-classed downward, along with seventeen other employees. I still make the same money, but with no hope of advancement, ever. Also after serving as interim section supervisor for six months, my application for the permanent position was refused because I failed to ‘qualify’.
As you might guess, I work for a government agency. Truly, mediocrity, sniveling, dishonesty and ignorance are qualities that are most highly valued here. Served alongside a healthy portion of ass-kissitude and whiny arrogance, the “leadership” in this place feasts on a smorgasbord of incompetence.
Work ethic? Heh. I will never again do more than the absolute minimum necessary to keep my job.

20

Now all we need is someone to come bursting in and rant about how we’re destroying America with our lack of work ethic.