Whats your Work Attitude

Walter H Price

I read the below article yesterday and i have to say it really resonated with me

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/millennials-struggling-work-careers-because-their-parents-gave-them-medals-for-coming-last-simon-a7537121.html

In it leading research Simon Sineck suggests that basically the millennial attitude towards works is all wrong and has been caused by over protective parents sheltering kids . while i agree in some sense with his view on many aspects of modern parenting and the nonsense of participation medals etc... i dint' necessarily think it directly relates to work attitude.

From my own point of view i work to live and not vice versa , i don't stay late unless there's extra pay in it , however i am efficient and engaged between 8:30 and 4:30. I'm very content with the idea that i just work for money its a simple transaction in my view i am paid x amount for 8 hours. I don't love my job or feel grateful for it, its functional and my employer didn't do me a favor in giving it to me no more than i do him a favor showing up every day, again i view it as a transaction. I'm here while it suits me if i won the lotto in the morning id be sending in my notice without a second thought , My OH is the bigger earner in our house and as kids come on the scene in the next few years i may look at teaching or staying at home to save on child care, at the end of the day if the cost of child care in order to facilitate me working was significantly eating into my salary the motivation simply wouldn't exist any longer.

My parents were very traditional , there were no participation medals in our house, if you wanted to win something you put the effort in , if you wanted praise you earned it , if you wanted money you worked for it. But it is in my view watching my parent that has shaped my attitude towards work more than my birth year or up bringing. My dad has worked 50-60 hour weeks my entire life, he was rarely home before our bed time when we were kids, he traveled extensively worked between counties and countries missed family holidays , etc.... hes worked for the same company for 40 years and is very senior has a great salary , 2 years ago that loyalty hard work , achievement , awards, years of commitment etc. was repaid by him being shafted into a non role effectively to see out the next few year until early retirement , other then the money he been left question what it was all for.

MY view to sum up is shaped by the idea that you can spend your life selling your time but a some point the realization will hit that no matter how much salary you have attained , it will never be enough compensation for the time you have had to sacrifice to earn it.

Id love to get the view of people on here on this , do you work late ? and if so to what end ? , do you feel grateful to your employer or for your job ? do you think the Millennial attitude sucks or is spot on ?

MODS if you think this is in the wrong forum feel free to move the thread

I'm in it for the money, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in doing a good job, keeping skilled and making sure we get whatever needs doing done.

My work conditions are flexitime, good pension and good holidays so i don't take the p1ss while I'm in and on the job.

WHIP IT!

Very interesting topic. My attitude to work would be pretty much identical to yours (OP). I went to college to get a half decent job so I could earn a half-decent living which would allow me to live a half-decent life. If I won the lotto tomorrow, I'd never work a day again in my life and would be absolutely content to do so.

I don't get people whose identity seems to be defined by what they do. Am I unambitious? Maybe. But I'm fine with that. Work to live, definitely.

EverythingGood

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Very interesting topic. My attitude to work would be pretty much identical to yours (OP). I went to college to get a half decent job so I could earn a half-decent living which would allow me to live a half-decent life. If I won the lotto tomorrow, I'd never work a day again in my life and would be absolutely content to do so.

I don't get people whose identity seems to be defined by what they do. Am I unambitious? Maybe. But I'm fine with that. Work to live, definitely.

Thats me! Decent job, good salary, good pension, healthcare, share options. Don't love it, don't hate it. Get in on time, leave on time, unless I get paid overtime. I do commute 240 km per day roundtrip there and back, so I've long hours, but that is my choice also.

pumpkin4life

I had no illusions about "finding yourself" or "do what you love" or "do what you feel" or "have a big impact on the world" any of that narcissistic crap in relation to work. Work to live, and am currently working on some side projects/mini entrepreneurship I'm hoping blow up in a good way, so I can hand in my notice, fùck off and never see the inside of a 9-5 office ever again.

Having said that, with real wages dropping and with the economy stagnant, and having to pay a 50% tax rate for public sector cùnts, alongside long arse commutes, I've got the feeling/get the feeling that work is more unnatural/unpleasant than it used to be or should be, compared to my parents generation say. There's a few people in an office space I know on the SSRIs and therapy for example. That's a product of a weird environment in my opinion.

There's something unnatural about heading to an office, sitting at a desk with flourescent lighting and having to attend another pointless meeting. The Dilbert comics and The Office have it right a lot of the time. I think I've become slightly more depressed/dark as a result lol.

I'm trying to get out, pipe dream as it may be. But despite all the above, I'm still glad to have a job.

Winterlong

I like work. I like the money and the sense of achievement. And my job, despite my complaining, is a very decent job. I do more than 40 hours a week but paid well enough to compensate.

Having said that - if I won a windfall then I would leave tomorrow. No doubt about it. My job would then be something more altruistic in nature and not 40 hours/week.

topper75

I don't like the generalisations across whole generations of people. Though that clever-sounding video in the article 'went viral' on social media. It is just a big flawed generalisation.

I agree with your philosophy. I found the paragraph on your Dad sad.

My own philosophy is much like yours OP and is derived from seeing older relatives passing on either before or shortly after retirement.

The honest labour rights people of yesteryear got us the five-day week, for which I am grateful. But there is still a distortion in labour markets in that the five-day block is such a standard unit and alternatives are hard to find in most industries. There is a long way to go there regarding flexibility with time/labour selling. I would trade some time for less money (I naturally live frugally and am making savings I don't really need with my salary) but such options are rarely on the table for most.

pumpkin4life

pumpkin4life wrote: »

having to pay a 50% tax rate for public sector cùnts

Hi there x

I presume you're a private sector cúnt?

I wonder, as a public sector cúnt, what I'm paying 50% tax for. Hopefully something somewhere you benefit from.

Have a lovely working day xxx

Samuel T. Cogley

My presence on boards.ie right now sums it up nicely I think...

super_furry

"Many millennials leave work on the dot of 5pm every day and refuse to answer work calls or emails over the weekend. This attitude is one of the reasons we have a reputation for entitlement."

No problem whatsoever with that. Unless it's an exceptional circumstance or you're going to pay someone to be on call, don't call them at the weekend. Likewise if you pay someone until 5pm, don't be surprised that they don't want to work another couple of hours for you for free.

WHIP IT!

super_furry wrote: »

"Many millennials leave work on the dot of 5pm every day and refuse to answer work calls or emails over the weekend. This attitude is one of the reasons we have a reputation for entitlement."

No problem whatsoever with that. Unless it's an exceptional circumstance or you're going to pay someone to be on call, don't call them at the weekend. Likewise if you pay someone until 5pm, don't be surprised that they don't want to work another couple of hours for you for free.

As an offshoot of that, I think we all probably have worked with someone who bangs on about answering emails and "sorting stuff out" during their downtime as if the kip would fall apart without them... I'm waiting on one such eejit to get back from his break (or, "just a quick sandwich", as he calls it. Take your hour, lad - we're not building rocket launchers here!) as we speak

SarahMollie

I work late and put in the extra hours when necessary. I see people all around me who do it as a matter of course, so that they're seen to be doing it. If its just an ordinary day, I leave at 5/5.30. I only take my work home with me when there is a specific reason, and when there is I'm happy to do so.

I find that this approach shows that I'm hard working without being a martyr to my job. To be fair, my employer is also pretty reasonable, so for example if I have a doctors appointment some morning, I just go to it and don't worry about taking leave. They know I put in the hours when it counts so there is give and take.

stooge

Not sure this is particularly relevant or valuable to the OP, but when it comes to work attitude I always remember one piece of advice I received early in my career after being made redundant:

"The single most valuable asset (from your own point of view) you can bring to your employer is not your work attitude, nor your work skills... it is your own time."

We have a limited number of days on this earth and giving up a significant portion of those for work has to be worth it.

eviltwin

I get paid peanuts to do a job I love that makes a difference to people's lives. I would love more money but once I have enough to survive I'm happy. It's not a motivating factor for the most part. Having a job that gives me personal satisfaction and plenty of time to spend with my family is.

Hercule Poirot

My attitude is very similar to yours OP and I fully endorse it.

I work with some people who regularly pull 10 to 12 hour days nearly five days a week and it actually saddens me because I know that if, God forbid, they died tomorrow then the company would survive without them and they would be fondly forgotten over time. I refuse point blank to let my personal life suffer for the sake of a job.

This is what it means to work in the private sector these days; there is no loyalty, in either direction, and I'm totally OK with that.

ScumLord

The whole modern world of capitalism is a nonsense, a complete waste of time and resources that we all have to go along with. There's nothing fulfilling, or worthy, or noble about it. It could burn to the ground for all I care.

The only reason to go along with it is because you have to, you need money to buy things.

carrieb

I'm in Sales, I used to work for a really nice company. It was small. There was give and take, I'd often work a couple of extra hours in the evening but then if I needed to go to an appointment in the morning I could, no big deal. I could work from home occasionally.

If I got a call from a customer who forgot to order I'd do an emergency delivery on a Saturday if needs be. My boss would appreciate this and as I said it was give and take. He'd tell me to go home early on a Fri if nothing was doing or we'd come in late in the morning if there was a customer event the night before.

I was always happy to do it. I felt appreciated. I felt part of the business.

I left that company and am in another very small company. There is only take. My boss would never let me finish early, never make me feel like its ok to ask to come in late. Watches my every move, doesn't trust anyone. Often rings simply to ask where I am and what I am doing. He often texts or emails at night or on the weekend, he knows full well that I've driven to meetings 2 or 3 hours away in the afternoon and have to drive back again and therefore will be late home but he doesn't acknowledge it. Doesn't tell me to take a couple of hours as he knows I've worked late.

I have to go to the meetings etc if I want to get business but I don't have to engage without him outside of working hours so I don't.

I know from my own circle of friends that it's more often then not the company you work for as opposed to your own "rules".

carrieb

DP

fg1406

I've no loyalty to my employer and likewise they have no loyalty to me. I go there for my requisite 39 hours a week and I do my job and I leave at 5:30pm. I take nothing home with me but I gain zero satisfaction from it. That said I do suffer from workplace stress and anxiety due to management issues for which I'm seeing a psychologist.

I do know of younger colleagues however who wouldn't know a hard days work if it came up and slapped them in the face. I know much younger teens and kids who will grow up to be like those mentioned in the article. They are growing up with nobody saying "no" to them. They are handed everything they want. Expensive iPhones replaced at whims. They don't know how to do basic washing up. They look like they are going to vomit if you ask them to use a sweeping brush. I dread to think of how they'll cope in the real world.

Walter H Price

topper75 wrote: »

I don't like the generalisations across whole generations of people. Though that clever-sounding video in the article 'went viral' on social media. It is just a big flawed generalisation.

I agree with your philosophy. I found the paragraph on your Dad sad.

I felt the exact same watching that video , i have no issue in accepting some of the failings of my generation. And i do agree with Schnik that the molly coddling and rewards for nothing are not allowing people develop mentally in a way that prepares them for the "Real" world , i'm a manager and i know all to well how hard it can be to give constructive criticism ect... but i think through his sweeping statements and broad brush approach he added two + two and came up with 5 in my view.

I feel for my Dad i honestly do , in a way he's had his whole world view shattered and I've allot of respect for how he's handled his situation and how stoic hes been in his reflections. But i think watching him as i grew up shaped my attitude far more then everyone getting a meddle on sports day.

Samuel T. Cogley

carrieb wrote: »

DP

I wouldn't be up for that not, inside OR outside working hours!

Richard Hillman

I work my allotted hours. Occasionally I may stay 10 mins late, maybe even 20mins if I am helping somebody else.

I'm terms of work load, it's always good to have a decent work load within your time. The day goes faster and you are better stimulated.

If you find yourself consistently staying late after work, you are a chump. Youve taken on the workload of somebody else, whether it be a new employee needed or not.

I honestly do not understand the logic of people who work over their time in Salary jobs. You are basically giving up your free time to ensure Mr Shareholder gets his extra annual dividend. Unless your bonuses are obscene, then you are just a chump saving senior management employing a new person.

Even if you have great bonuses to get results, what's the point if you cannot enjoy it? Working like a lunatic for the year and having 4-6 weeks holidays a year is not enjoying your life.

Sue Pa Key Pa

I have a very strong work ethic, work well and diligently for my employer. I never take a sick day and am happy with the remuneration I've agreed and offer good value in return. I'm more than capable of taking on more responsibilities in exchange for higher rewards, but I'm burnt out and happy to stay as I am

Johnson_76

Walter H Price wrote: »

I read the below article yesterday and i have to say it really resonated with me

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/millennials-struggling-work-careers-because-their-parents-gave-them-medals-for-coming-last-simon-a7537121.html

In it leading research Simon Sineck suggests that basically the millennial attitude towards works is all wrong and has been caused by over protective parents sheltering kids . while i agree in some sense with his view on many aspects of modern parenting and the nonsense of participation medals etc... i dint' necessarily think it directly relates to work attitude.

From my own point of view i work to live and not vice versa , i don't stay late unless there's extra pay in it , however i am efficient and engaged between 8:30 and 4:30. I'm very content with the idea that i just work for money its a simple transaction in my view i am paid x amount for 8 hours. I don't love my job or feel grateful for it, its functional and my employer didn't do me a favor in giving it to me no more than i do him a favor showing up every day, again i view it as a transaction. I'm here while it suits me if i won the lotto in the morning id be sending in my notice without a second thought , My OH is the bigger earner in our house and as kids come on the scene in the next few years i may look at teaching or staying at home to save on child care, at the end of the day if the cost of child care in order to facilitate me working was significantly eating into my salary the motivation simply wouldn't exist any longer.

My parents were very traditional , there were no participation medals in our house, if you wanted to win something you put the effort in , if you wanted praise you earned it , if you wanted money you worked for it. But it is in my view watching my parent that has shaped my attitude towards work more than my birth year or up bringing. My dad has worked 50-60 hour weeks my entire life, he was rarely home before our bed time when we were kids, he traveled extensively worked between counties and countries missed family holidays , etc.... hes worked for the same company for 40 years and is very senior has a great salary , 2 years ago that loyalty hard work , achievement , awards, years of commitment etc. was repaid by him being shafted into a non role effectively to see out the next few year until early retirement , other then the money he been left question what it was all for.

MY view to sum up is shaped by the idea that you can spend your life selling your time but a some point the realization will hit that no matter how much salary you have attained , it will never be enough compensation for the time you have had to sacrifice to earn it.

Id love to get the view of people on here on this , do you work late ? and if so to what end ? , do you feel grateful to your employer or for your job ? do you think the Millennial attitude sucks or is spot on ?

MODS if you think this is in the wrong forum feel free to move the thread

Yet you have the time to write a sermon on Boards?

Walter H Price

Johnson_76 wrote: »

Yet you have the time to write a sermon on Boards?

On a Train at the minute

osarusan

I think the word 'millenial' means f**k all.

Nermal

Walter H Price wrote: »

My dad has worked 50-60 hour weeks my entire life, he was rarely home before our bed time when we were kids, he traveled extensively worked between counties and countries missed family holidays , etc.... hes worked for the same company for 40 years and is very senior has a great salary , 2 years ago that loyalty hard work , achievement , awards, years of commitment etc. was repaid by him being shafted into a non role effectively to see out the next few year until early retirement , other then the money he been left question what it was all for.

It was for you! Millennials...

Cantona's Collars

Walter H Price wrote: »

On a Train at the minute

Feckin train drivers,probably want to get paid extra for typing too.:):)

I tolerate my job,I'll do what's asked and have helped bring improvements to the place despite the resentment of some of the long timers there.I'm in on time and leave on time,trying to be a hero where I work won't get you a thanks let alone anything else.There's a few of us in our team and there's one if I never worked with them again it'd be too soon.
My attitude is get the job done and done right even if I hate it.

Shenshen

I enjoy what I do, and I like what the company I work for does.
It's flexible - if it's busy, I will stay late to help out. If it's quiet, I get to take the time back. I get paid for the hours I do, but I get satisfaction from getting results. Overall, I think I value job satisfaction higher than salary. I have left a better paying company to work for this one and I honestly do not regret it.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

uch

I Like Getting Paid, that's about where it ends for me