# Your co-worker hits huge lottery, but doesn't quit. How do you feel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166 "2005-11-21T23:35:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/1 "2005-11-21T23:35:16Z")
Let’s say your co-worker (who likes his/her job) hits a huge lottery ($10 million+), but decides to stay at the job. How would this make you feel? I personally don’t think I could concentrate on my job like I should and feel it would be best to move on. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/2 "2005-11-21T23:36:07Z")
I don’t think I’d really care, except if I asked to borrow a buck for a pop from the machine and he said no. Stingy bastard. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/3 "2005-11-21T23:45:50Z")
Well, assuming that they’re not a total jerk to begin with and don’t become a total jerk, I wouldn’t really care. Though, yeah, they’d totally be the one I’d go to from then on out if I needed to borrow a dollar for a soda or something. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/4 "2005-11-21T23:59:51Z")
I would be happy for them at first and maybe a little concerned later. I have seen what happens to lottery winners first-hand. The fact that the coworker didn’t quit his job is a good sign if it isn’t one of those mega-jackpots. Money doesn’t always go as far as you might think when you are talking about a life-time. Better keep of those work skills. Unless the coworker did something really obnoxious all the time, I wouldn’t care. It doesn’t affect me directly so that’s the end of it. I don’t see why anyone would care. Go out and win the lottery yourself if it is that big a deal. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/5 "2005-11-22T00:53:50Z")
I work with someone that received a 7 figure settlement when her husband died about 10 years ago. She does not have to work but does just to keep busy. She has talked of retiring since she reached 55 a few years ago but it’s always “maybe next year”. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/6 "2005-11-22T01:14:35Z")
He may not have a choice. A friend of my father’s lost his job when he won the lottery. Too much liability. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/7 "2005-11-22T01:19:26Z")
I’d feel great! He’s a multi-millionaire, and he _still_ won’t give up his job? Our company must be one great place to work!! ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/8 "2005-11-22T01:32:31Z")
This actually happened to me, a few years back. A man at the factory I worked with won $10 million. He didn’t quit. It’s one of the shittiest, backbreaking, unsatisfying jobs - hard labour, long, unpredictable hours, working in filth and stink (\*fish \* stink), being treated like crap… it’s awful. But he said that money didn’t matter. It paid off his bills, and he bought nice cars for most of his family, fixed up his home a little bit, and that was it. He wanted to conitnue working hard, to show his children that nothing in life was free or easy, and to get what you want, you should have to work for it. Apparently he put some of it away for his kids to go to school, gave a good chunk to charity, and the rest went into a retirement fund. When it happened, I mostly felt it was none of my business, but naturally, everyone was talking about it. Most people called him stupid. I think it was his decision to make, and if he wants to work, let him be. It may be a shitty job, but he’s always been a good worker, and that hasn’t changed. It must be satisfying to him on some level, in a way that quitting his job wouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/9 "2005-11-22T02:08:55Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > He may not have a choice. A friend of my father’s lost his job when he won the lottery. Too much liability. I don’t understand the reasoning behind this. How does it create liability for the employer? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/10 "2005-11-22T02:09:31Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > When it happened, I mostly felt it was none of my business, but naturally, everyone was talking about it. Most people called him stupid. I think it was his decision to make, and if he wants to work, let him be. It may be a shitty job, but he’s always been a good worker, and that hasn’t changed. It must be satisfying to him on some level, in a way that quitting his job wouldn’t be. How could anyone call that “stupid”? He’s doing what he enjoys and wants to do with his life, and apparently always wanted to. If winning big bucks means you will change your career, maybe you should re-evaluate your career choice, maybe you’re the one who’s stupid? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/11 "2005-11-22T02:16:18Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > I don’t understand the reasoning behind this. How does it create liability for the employer? The guy knows he doesn’t need the job and might cause problems if he gets sufficiently pissed. Imagine an assembly line where a lottery-winning worker in a key position decides he’s finally had enough. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/12 "2005-11-22T02:21:53Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > The guy knows he doesn’t need the job and might cause problems if he gets sufficiently pissed. Imagine an assembly line where a lottery-winning worker in a key position decides he’s finally had enough. Are there really workplaces that rely on the fact that everybody really needs the job to operate? How do places like that stay in business…? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/13 "2005-11-22T02:23:48Z")
> [@groman](#): > > How could anyone call that “stupid”? He’s doing what he enjoys and wants to do with his life, and apparently always wanted to. If winning big bucks means you will change your career, maybe you should re-evaluate your career choice, maybe you’re the one who’s stupid? SHE didn’t say he was stupid, just that some of her co-workers felt that way. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/14 "2005-11-22T02:24:42Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > SHE didn’t say he was stupid, just that some of her co-workers felt that way. I was using the theoretical “you” addressing the co-workers, not her. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/15 "2005-11-22T02:36:22Z")
> [@groman](#): > > Are there really workplaces that rely on the fact that everybody really needs the job to operate? How do places like that stay in business…? It’s not so much that they rely on everybody, just that they usually aren’t prepared in the event someone doesn’t perform or show up. They are temporarily crippled. I once worked in a small grocery store where most everybody could do any job in the store in just such an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/16 "2005-11-22T02:42:00Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I was using the theoretical “you” addressing the co-workers, not her. My apologies. I’m glad you straightened it out that you were addressing the co-workers, and not the poster, as personal insults are not allowed in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/17 "2005-11-22T03:10:29Z")
It’s cool, guys, it’s cool, thank you - I gotcha **groman**. 🙂 And yes, the factory I worked at (and the town that I come from) has quite a few small-minded people. Most of the people who insisted the poor fellow was “stupid” were people who are usually very sour, bitter people to begin with, and love to begrudge everyone around them anything good that happens to them. Jealousy, spite, nastiness… it’s not a nice place to live. Some people seem to think it’s a nice place to visit, though. They haven’t gotten to know the locals, is all. ☹ Last I heard, though, the rich fellow was still working. Good for him, I say. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/18 "2005-11-22T03:19:51Z")
I think we’re all forgetting the health insurance and other jobs provide. That can be a major allure to keep a job even if one has enough money. Also, some people really enjoy their job or the social aspects of it. I’ve known several weathy people who have worked in one of the standardized test scoring centers. True, they don’t want to work all year long. But, they come back every summer for the peak season. They like the people they meet and also enjoy that the money is basically their “beer” money. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/19 "2005-11-22T03:54:31Z")
I worked way too hard for my liscense to give up nursing just because I won a lot of money. Lose my mad skills?! Cutting back to 2 days a month, however…doing a really demanding job like pediatric oncology or burn unit just a few hours a week… Money can mean choices. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166/20 "2005-11-22T04:20:15Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > I don’t think I’d really care, except if I asked to borrow a buck for a pop from the machine and he said no. Stingy bastard. I would do the complete opposite. People who suddenly become rich find people trying to mooch off them all the time and it can be extremely frustrating. Better to refuse any act of generosity and preserve the friendship. Of course, if they offer and insist, then I wouldn’t turn them down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-co-worker-hits-huge-lottery-but-doesnt-quit-how-do-you-feel/332166.md?page=2)