Blame it largely on the pandemic, which weakened the hold the workplace held on people’s psyches
By outward appearances, the labor market today looks much as it did before the pandemic. The unemployment rate is just as low, the share of adults in the labor force is just as high, and wages are growing at roughly the same pace after inflation.
But beneath the surface, the nature of labor has changed profoundly. Career and work aren’t nearly as central to the lives of Americans. They want more time for their families and themselves, and more flexibility about when, where and how they work.
The impact of this change can already be seen in both individual companies and the broader economy. It has led to a persistent shortage of workers, especially in jobs that seem less desirable because, for example, they require in-person work or fixed hours. That, in turn, has altered the bargaining position of employers and employees—forcing employers to adapt, not just by paying more but giving priority to quality of life in job offers.
To be sure, some of these changes arise from an exceptionally tight labor market. If unemployment rises, some of employees’ newfound leverage may evaporate.
Other people in the comments are mentioning incentives, low pay, crappy management, etc. I don’t want to work, but it’s not really about any of this, or it’s about all of this a little, sort of.
I want to do good work.
I want to make software that helps people, that does what it’s supposed to do, that is fast, non-predatory, and doesn’t succumb to endless feature creep or artificially rushed scheduling. Pay me enough to live comfortably, and I’ll do this basically on my own. I don’t even need all of these things.
I’ve found that most businesses prioritize between 0-1 of these things.
This is the real crux. Nowaday, I feel I can only do good through personal and community work. Professional work mostly involves being told to cut corners, mislead people and jack prices to grow the company infinitely.
While, frankly, I think infinite growth is one of the most damaging ideas in human history
Dumb question: how does one get into “community work”? I barely even know my neighbors
Honestly, it took hard work to get out of my comfort zone but there are likely very nice people with welcoming organizations in your area. Donating time to library maker space is my extra activity for now
You have to take the first step and get in touch with people. It’s very likely there are one or more instagram (ugh) profiles of community work around your location. Failing that, the nearest church might be a good place to ask, even if you’re not religious.
I loved 12 oz. Mouse. Thanks
I used to do IT for ‘digital advertising in healthcare’. I helped fix those accursed screens that sell you shit while you wait at the doctor or hospital.
When I did my job well, it made the world worse.
This conflicts with my basic sense of humanity, y’all. It broke me, and it was like the 17th problem on my list of shit to worry about.
Capitalism offers to sell me lame drugs and garbage to fill the hole in my soul it’s created.
People want to meaningful contribute to their community. Work stops most of us from doing that but instead do something that pays
Yep, you said it best. Nowadays in tech your either:
Making something that preys on the little guy
Or
Make tools for already rich and powerful, which they will use to prey on the little guy lol.
That’s why lemmy is so special, it’s like (to me at least) the only place left were people believe software should benefit everyone to be good, especially the user.
I wish I could live comfortably on self-employment instead of that being a big risk. Income isn’t guaranteed but bankruptcy over a single medical event is.
You should work in government or for a university. You’ll feel like you’re contributing to a mission and nobody is backstabbing over their bonus.
I work in IT for the health sector of my local govt (not USA). The pay is decent, but it’s a constant fight against medics’ egos, lack of programmers (there are decent systems, but not enough manpower to really keep them in top shape), political interference in the form of “great ideas”, budget constraints and private contractors wanting to charge more while offering less.
Seriously go look at a university. I manage two teams of students and about to move into a director role where I will also have a team of FTEs and a developer to manage. It never gets old and people are really nice. You will also never be the smartest person in the room since half the people have a doctorate in something.
I’ve been lucky enough to have a great job at the moment, and after being where I am for this long (without doxxing myself), I can say that I will never, for the rest of my life, work anywhere that chases profit. Unless I literally have no choice.
Look into government jobs, or NGOs/non-profits. I’ve found work to be much more fulfilling, less stressful, etc., when everything isn’t about quarterly earnings, and profit margins. That shit ruins EVERYTHING.
I don’t really care how much less my salary may be, as long as I’m making enough to survive (and have enough of a cushion that I don’t need to worry that one or two emergencies will bankrupt me), then I’m good to go.
Perhaps I’m just not an ambitious person, but I just have zero interest in pursuing monetary gain beyond what I need.