Why do so many people seem to lack work ethics these days?

Question

wheresmrcunnunglis · Accepted Answer

Your definition of work ethics may differ from others. I looked at the age on your profile and it shows you're at the cusp of your 40s and about to be in your 50s so you must have a lot of work experience under your belt which is commendable. Im sure you have seen as you have accumulated work experience that the nature of work has changed as the years go by. In terms of political correctness, social dynamics, etc. Hell, even now working from home is now on the continuous rise.

This shows that work ethics change as time changes. So how you view things should, if not change, then allow space to accommodate said a change to keep it sharp and contemporary.

Our current generation will no longer tolerate abusive work dynamics in the workplace. No longer putting our head down and doing our work just to do so and that still never eliminate the chance of being dragged into drama, hearsay, bullying, or sexual harassment simply because the person is different. As well as having to tolerate others' lack of boundaries when it comes to us not wanting to share personal information.

We want to work and are very ambitious. We just refuse to be sold into the blatant toxic notion that we have give our utmost loyalty to a company and love them. When it's impossible for them to provide that loyalty to us back or love us back. This whole, "my coworkers are my family" is something that is dying rapidly and I, and I am sure a lot, if not all of the people in my generation are happy for it.

We don't lack work ethic, we just want the workplace to respect its employees as actual human beings.

CrazyGirl2 · Accepted Answer

This is one of the VERY few times I actually read a few answers before writing mine.
( I usually don’t because I don’t want them to “color” my answer in any way. That said…
I am SHOCKED by some of the answers.
“Only gullible fools believe in capitalist fairy tales”
“I've worked my ass off for the last 2 years… All I've gotten out of it is like 2 raises“
(Yes, and your pay, also exactly how may raises do you believe you deserve per year?)
“Because fuk work. Fuk my boss, his rules, and how he treats me” (So start looking for a new job? Your employment at the company you work for, is completely voluntary”).
I got my first job, all on my own at 14 (granted I needed a work permit because of my age, but both my parents, AND my school okayed it)! I worked all the way through high school and I’m working now that I’m in college. And I have a TRUST FUND, worth more per year than most Americans earn in a lifetime! Yet I still WANT to work! Hard work builds character, and anyone who thinks they deserve more than one raise per year is unbelievably spoiled! I am really sorry for coming off like a mega-bitch, but I’m horribly shocked and sadly amazed at the total lack of work ethic in people (who at least SAY) they are in my generation!

normalice · Accepted Answer

Because work is supposed to provide people with purpose but the job creators have failed to come up with meaningful tasks. Instead, inheriting large sums of money and ownership of the things people must pay for have made the job creators nervois about how they didn't earn any of it and insecure about the idea that they couldnt earn it if they tried. So their focus has shifted to keeping their money instead of earning it and the jobs they do create are usually labor intensive instead of putting the capacity of human thought to use. Mindless physical labor only has a narrow appeal and to the rest of the population it just makes them wonder why they couldn't have been the one that came out of the vagina of the rich lady since that appears to be the sole difference between the owners and the workers.

Or it could just be that too few places pay a living wage. Our welfare system is crap in a particularly alarming way, in that if you make even a single penny above the poverty level you instantly lose thousands of dollars in things like food assistance. So, if you work full time but still make poverty wages there is no incentive to work slightly harder for raises and promotions. Plus there's just no incentive for a person to sacrafice all they could have been to the needs of a business owner who just wants a million burgers flipped or whatever. Well, the pay is supposed to be the incentive but the pay is out of proportion with the sacrafice..

Kiss_Me · Accepted Answer

Work Ethics requires good character. Most people do not have good character. They have settled for the horrible social norm, rationalize their behavior by stating others do the same thing, or blame it on something other than themselves.

ohshee · Answer

Isn't that the truth that just pisses me off in so many different ways there's a couple guys that I work with that I don't even want them on my jobs because you're lazy they don't know how to spell their own name so that means you're not writing the name on that job I told guys that work with me if they do not know how to spell my name then they're not going to work with me because when we get done with the job my name is going to be all over it and right next to my name will be their name that's how much pride I want them to put into it I don't like people that much weight and put it off till tomorrow I don't want them to do a half ass job because then I have to go back there and I have to do it right I always ask these guys do you like titles you don't like supervisor or manager or boss or hey asshole because that's the name I'm going to start calling you if you like those three titles when they get hired how do you say you said you could do this do it don't bother me not unless it's important and then I explained to them what I'm trying to say is that I want l I want people that know how to figure things out do it economically smart with common sense if you can't put one of those in play get a hold of me we'll figure it out but there's so many people nowadays they take shortcuts they're lazy they don't care well I don't have that opportunity to be that person so I can't allow it like I tell guys put in your 8 hours a day and you're going to get paid for 8 hours a day put in more you going to get paid more if you slack off if you fuck around if you do not take your job serious you're going to probably get paid last until you get fired

Hairylegs222 · Answer

From my experience being around people of all ages, an excellent worker is hard to find.

Let's define a good worker: Reliable, smart, helps everyone, never lazy, doesn't pester upper management, doesn't complain, always trying to improve, friendly, good attitude, likes their job (or pretends to at work), good listener, works well with others, good problem solving skills, willing to learn more, asks lots of questions.

It's a rare thing I see when an employee has all these checkboxes. So many people I've noticed have a hard time showing up for work everyday and being on time. This one I don't understand at all. I've never been late nor missed a day of work in my entire life!

Some people take advantage of when a state, country, etc gives you 40hrs of sick time a year. They'll call in "sick" to have a paid day off. I've never done that and it's messed up.

Some people have the type of personalities that ruin their work ethic. Clueless, self awareness issues, selfish, stupid, carelessness, rebellious, lazy, messy, eratic, and so much more.

Lliam · Answer

I'm sure entitlement has a lot to do with it. Kids are raised having everything done for them and taking everything for granted.

I discovered early on that it benefited me to work very efficiently and hard. I'd get the job done as quickly as possible. That gave me opportunities to screw around without being noticed. In those days, for me, that meant going off to have a smoke (of weed). LOL And being high made me happier when I was back at work.

I was good friends with a regional manager at the insurance company I worked for. One time he said something very wise. He said "It doesn't take me all day to do an eight hour job." That's how smart people work.

I also learned to volunteer for things. I found that the jobs I volunteered for were almost always easier that my regular job. Plus it gave me experience and my supervisors loved me. They would select me for cushy jobs because they knew they would count on me. I got promotions, too.

I had guys I was working with tell me to slow down because I was making them look bad. But again, when I worked I worked hard, fast and efficiently so that I would have time to go screw around.

So, I was kind of a goody two shoes. I made friends with my superiors and my work was impeccable. But it's not like I busted my ass for all eight hours a day. You learn how to game the system but also earn your salary by doing what they hired you to do.

NamerOfStars · Answer

The space race. No, seriously- hear me out: there are essentially two ways of reaching moon from Earth. The first way is to use a series of SSTO (single stage to orbit) rockets to move people and equipment up to an orbital assembly yard, then building the actual vehicle to go the moon from there. The second way is what we did: launch everything at once, and go straight to the moon from Earth. The first way is safer, easier (ultimately), and cheaper, since it uses more specialized equipment that doesn't have to do everything itself (it takes a LOT of force to escape Earth, since our gravity is STUPIDLY high; you don't need that kind of oomph to move through microgravity). The second is faster; that's really its only advantage.

The second was chosen because the whole point was to beat the Soviets to the moon. And we went there, seven times (though one didn't work). And since then... squat, pretty much, since it's really no cheaper to send up Saturn V number fourteen than it would be the earlier ones (except that no one knows how to build them anymore; stupid NASA!). That wouldn't be the case if we had a launch platform in place. NASA's SLS rocket is supposed to be both more powerful and cheaper than a Saturn V, but it works the same way. Now ask yourself what three and a quarter generations aspiring to be astronauts when they grow up (my grandfather STILL claims he wants to, and he'll be 90 this year), imitating those values, is going to do to the national will.

When medieval peasants started building a cathedral, they knew they knew they wouldn't live to see it finished- but their children or grandchildren would. When a society shifts its focus to the quick-fix, instant-satisfaction attitude of modern times, that kind of patience becomes impossible.

That, or enough people actually sat down and READ Max Weber that they've started rejecting his ideas.

pixie215 · Answer

because a lot have never hadda really work for anything they have parents/family to bail them out and live home with. look at how relationships are treated and its - the whole i want a loyal, nice girl for a friends with benefits situation? WTF? is that. the world has changed and not for the better. people have more access to material things and everything they want yet are miserable. i work 6 days a week 12 hour days. people just choose to be lazy its a choice you are either motivated or you aren't

sage2021 · Answer

I believe a good work ethic starts when you are a very young age and continues to build as you get older. If you are taught to respect your belongings and treat them right, that's a good start.
Good manners, also taught at a young age. Saying please and thank you to people will take you pretty far in life and we'll in to the workforce.
I remember when I was working at an engineering company and people would walk by me at my desk and say "Don't work too hard". I would respond by saying "What's the use of coming here if I'm not going to work hard?"

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Laziness!! They want everything for nothing!! They think that all they have to do to get paid is show up and talk to their buddies for the entire shift!! I used to work at a bank that handled IRS checks all day, every day. We had 4 peaks per year so, we'd usually hire a bunch of temps during those peaks to come in and help so we could meet our deadlines on time. In the area where I worked, they were told to just get these little file folders, write a set of numbers on the tab and put the stack of vouchers in that folder that had the same number. A dog could do this shit! (Maybe we should've hired some of them, instead!!) And, at least part of the day, there was nothing for them to do so, they were GETTING paid to just hang out!! These lazy fucks were getting at least $8.00 an hour to do this REALLY simple work, and they'd bitch saying shit like, "They aren't paying me enough to do this!!"

humanearth · Answer

They feel entitled

Don't worry soon we all will be replaced with robots and computers.

Like I saw this gas station in Georgia. That had no humans working there. The bathroom was a pay toilet, everything was paid with plastic no cash, not even the vending machines took cash.

That's the way of the future.

TheMVPofGaG · Answer

You know. I really don't know myself, but it's true. My coworkers would all quit without two-week notice, and my mom refuses to rent to tenants under the age of 30 because of lack of responsibility, something I've also noticed with the younger generations

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think people in this world are taught that happiness is free while people in the older generation were taught that happiness was something you had to earn and also our tv and movie shows teach people your value is determined by your body and face while older people were taught their value was their employment and their honesty and kindness.

Massageman · Answer

The hard part of building up the country and world has been done. Unless that ethic comes back, after being in "coasting" mode for too long, the whole shebang is going to go down the tubes (or further down than it already has).
We had the post-WWII "infrastructure boom" for the Boomers. Well, lots of that infrastructure is the (literal) pits now- pitted roads, pitted bridges, etc. and if the states don't start managing their money better and getting people who will actually do "work", the whole place WILL be in the pits.
"The three great essentials to achieve ANYTHING worthwhile are: Hard work, Stick-to-it-tiveness, and Common Sense."
"The reason a lot of people do NOT recognize OPPORTUNITY is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work."

Thomas Edison (both cites- emphasis mine)

MysticDevice · Answer

For real though. But I've figured it out. There is no longer any reward for good work ethic and there's no consequence for poor work ethic. Therefore there is no motivation.

Then there's me: driven by necessity. I've got bills up the wazzoo, car repairs to pay for, and millions on wellfare and unempoyment are depending on the taxes that I have to pay. So here I am on my 19th day of work in a row. Watching half my money get taken and given to these lazy people who don't want to work lol.

Den1971 · Answer

I thought it was just fucking me but you're right about that and I do not understand why there's lack of work ethic people that come to work don't even work I hate lazy people are with them not come to work at all as supposed to them coming to work and not working because I have to look at it sometimes I'm so forced to almost say something but it's not really worth it if management don't care then why should I but I can't stand it

AviatorTom · Answer

Ever since participation trophies became the norm, people today are being taught they don't need to do their best. Hence, questionable work ethic. "If I show up for work, they should pay me, no matter how much work I do."

SecretsofKB · Answer

I've worked my ass off for the last 2 years. Harder than I ever though I would. And before that, I worked my ass of in school to even get the job where I'm working my ass off.

All I've gotten out of it is like 2 raises (and that's only because of COVID... never would have gotten them otherwise), the administration ordered us pizza a few times (instead of more raises), and A LOT of aches and pains.

It seems that anymore, hard work doesn't get you anything you would get from being an average worker. There is no real motivation for some to work hard if it won't help them in return.

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

It’s called the entitlement generation & everyone thinks they are entitled to a paycheck even if they’re late, lazy or don’t even show up or always on their cellphones.

ManHater · Answer

HUH? I work every day! I have a 6 day 10 hour day shut down that starts on the 28th and goes for 3 weeks. So that's 3 weeks of 6 days 10 hour days. 60 hours a week. I know what you mean thought most young peope today should be thrown to the wolves so they know what work is.

DanaeAdam5 · Answer

There are quite a lot of reasons to be honest.

I think that a big problem is this whole "Oh you can become anything you want! " mentality. No. You can't. Different people are good at different things.

Another reason that I have noticed with younger generations is that with all the lovkdowns due to COVID, a lot of people have actually had a lot more difficulty adapting back to using more critical thinking skills and work ethics.

Phoenix-gb · Answer

People are tired of being taken advantage of, without workers you have no business, staff are already spending more time at work than anywhere else during their waking hours, so it's not unfair to expect a decent standard of living as a result. Working 2-3 jobs just to survive should not be normal.

PJH359 · Answer

I’m generation X and began working a job on the books at 14 years old. These days I’m not seeing kids beginning work that young. Now what age to begin encouraging a child to work is debatable, but I believe it’s up to the parents to guide them in that direction.

Tiptoetamm · Answer

Schools are not receiving the funding they need to educate our kids. It's sad my sister doesn't even know how to write cursive. It's not the teachers fault. They only make so much and most of them spend their own money to help the kids learn. I also feel phones devices are also to blame kids always have their faces in some device phone tablet computer game system.

driven159 · Answer

because when i was a kid 55 years ago we didn't have computers or games to sit on are ass all day we went out and play or had to do work around the house or farm and not only lazy now but dumb too if are phone doesn't tell us what to do, we are lost

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

The spongy forehead is an iron woman at work but she needs somebody to appreciate and admire what she's doing...

The work ethics should be from both sides, the boss and the employer...

There's a catch phrase for the late WWE hall of fame wrestler scott hall aka "razor ramon" when he was inducted to the wwe hall of fame in 2014, he said: "hard work pays off, dreams come true, bad times don't last but bad guys do"...

He meant the bad guy in a good way...
What's the use of working hard and be loyal if you're not going to be appreciated and rewarded?

PlayitAgain · Answer

Because they can. Because somebody will look after them whether it's the government or mommy and daddy. So they don't have to take their job seriously. At one time if you didn't work hard you starved. No more. Usually other taxpayers will be forced to support your lazy ass. They don't have to have a strong work ethic so they don't.

TrueConfection · Answer

Because school and society insist that we're all winners.

BaldAvenger · Answer

As reality would have it, I'm sorry, but the work ethic that makes a human being a worthy, trusting, reliable employee no longer exist. Our society has gone from the frying pan into the proverbial fire where work ethic is concerned.

MCheetah · Answer

Social media and instant gratification culture. Millennials and Zoomers are generally pretty lazy.

DaveToo · Answer

I never asked any of my employees to do something that I'd never done. You have to believe in what you're doing, whoever you're doing it for, even if it's just for yourself.

exitseven · Answer

I am not sure that it is any worse than it was when I was a kid. I knew plenty of slackers growing up and I see a lot of my students who are in their 20s show real determination.

douride2 · Answer

Most likely because mommy & daddy did everything for them. Now they feel entitled to do nothing & want to be paid top dollar.

jshm2 · Answer

They don't.

Boomers and jobsworths don't understand that it's a different job market these days.

People aren't content to work a shitty jobs, under power tripping managers for minimum pay, when they can get the same pay (or more) working a better job and with better people instead.

Usually the employers screaming about lack of CV's, interns and contractors are the type with low reviews, and high staff turnover.

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

The tendency to do things later or procrastination is what I think seems the reason for lack of work ethics these days.
And thinking that integrity and honesty will not take you anywhere makes people lack in work ethics by default.

DARKCLOUD1945X · Answer

All the free free free free hand out our government likes to hand out to keep as many people dependent on them why work the government will take care of us

the_sinner · Answer

Nowadays people are rarely interested in what they’re doing and just want to bag their paycheques. They’re also not paying enough respect to their supervisors because most bosses nowadays are also taking undue advantage of their employees and making them work like buffaloes. As there’s a toxic relationship between these two parties hence there’s no work ethics being followed at all.

Adam1978 · Answer

Because it usually so one sided and it's really not rewarded, rather abused. I have been in so many situations where we aren't allowed to do a good job, because that would cost to much right there and then. Doesn't matter if it's a win in the long run.

Mark987 · Answer

The pandemic we went through showed that people rather collect money than work.

MustangSteve · Answer

People invest their time into companies that offer no advancement. And when they find a company that does they forget what work ethic and enthusiasm is and become complacent. Work for a company that you know you can rise through the ranks from the bottom to the top. All you have to do is show up, on time, no excuses, bring enthusiasm, and WORK. You’ll be successful in no time. McDonalds I’m not a valid career choice.

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Sense of entitlement, I hear it all the time from friends and even family members, who think they are all owed something and I often say, society doesn't owe you shit.

Pete671 · Answer

Because most managers don't have one, I'm really lucky to have a great boss, so it's all fine for me,,,

coolbreeze · Answer

a lot of people are lazy and entitled. I think a lot has to do with how their raise and the morals and values the parents put into their kids

annabananna · Answer

Probably a lot of people are addicted to their phones and internet and streaming tv. I think that may be the case for me. If I didn’t spend so much time on my phone I think my work ethic would be a lot higher.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

I'm a workahaulic overacheiver perfectionist with creative projects, but I will minimize work on things I hate doing as much as possible, to the point of automating most of it.

Work ethic requires a career that the person is passionate about, while also being good at it.

TallAnon · Answer

A lot of companies see you as a number, rather than a human. Why care about work ethics if the company doesn't care about you?
A question I read about a minute ago mentioned 800 staff members fired on the spot, replaced by cheaper foreign staff.
If that's how they treat their staff, why would their employees care about their work ethics?

Tl;dr Why care?

krin_m · Answer

Not sure. Things certainly have changed in last decade because people are becoming more self-centered.

jahaims · Answer

Societal and cultural changes make them feel entitled.

Cubus · Answer

Probably because so many people lack overall ethics these days.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Technology has made instant gratification more possible for people, so the easiest path to feeling good is convenience items.

888theGreat · Answer

They want more money and a promotion after one week.

dustybiker · Answer

I blame Dr Spock. 😁 So many human problems created from his published baby-raising ideas.

michael1469 · Answer

Cause they are POS... i have dissmed 6 new hires since jan 2022...

FreyaRed · Answer

Work ethics. lol
Only gullible fools believe in capitalist fairy tales. You're just a resource to generate money, not more like milk cattle on a farm. Without enough money I wouldn't bend small finger for my employer.

noohair · Answer

Because they were educated that the government's job is to fixed problems. The main job of government is security and borders and a stable currency. Today we have none of these things.

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

Because they are lazy. I suppose the blame could be put on shitty parents, but either way it's a good thing. Stand aside worthless fucks so the self motivated winners shine even brighter!

notwoke · Answer

entitled mentality driven by government pandering for votes and by divorced parents competing for their childrens love

Waldoe · Answer

"Safety nets" Now failure is now an option, and if you do fail we will catch you, so don't worry, don't improve, don't change...

Sonorous · Answer

Because, for whatever reason, they don't see it as worth it.

Hellraiser1984 · Answer

Dissatisfied with life and work hours. Two jobs can kill you.

OddBeMe · Answer

Because their employers care only for hours worked instead of results gained. It’s a cyclic thing.

Grond21 · Answer

Emotional education that emphasizes entitlement.

Anonymous · Answer

Because of the toxic rise of mandated liberalism infecting the education COUGH*indoctrination*COUGH system

Why do so many people seem to lack work ethics these days?

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