Why do so many people hate their jobs?

Question

I believe the statics say 8 out 10 people hate their jobs. What do you think is the fundamental problem?

Dennisnky · Accepted Answer

Oh there are probably a million reasons. But for one, people are often terrible managers and don't understand how superficial something is that at first looks like a real problem. Like, these companies that watch to see people working from home are active online. They get mad when people rig up their mouse to move while they are away from their computer, but think about this. If you're in the office, and someone comes to your desk and asks you about your weekend, and you talk about a new car you just bought and 20 minutes goes by, does your boss run up and say "HEY, no talking about non work stuff!" or do they just join the conversation and then everyone gest back to work? I mean you can argue that those conversations are building team cohesiveness but being away from your desk isn't contributing anything, but if you go to the bathroom, or answer the door to run off a salesman, or go get the mail, are you really doing something that is hurting the company, or are you just keeping your sanity, and stretching your legs? This is just one example, but I think there are hundreds of things lower level managers THINK is taking away from the company but are really just things that keep people sane and in good spirits, and when the manager tries to reign that in, instead of eliminating the behavior, they just create a thousand conversations amongst worker about how much BS there is, and those newly created text or online conversations now waste more time than the original superficial thing the manager thought they needed to fix. The other thing is, changing jobs is a big step. If you interview, lease an apartment or buy a house, move your kids to a new school, everyone gets settled, and 6 months later you realize you hate your job or your boss is awful or something like that, what can you do? Quit, move again, start over? There is no really easy transition. A similar thing kind of happens in college. People sign up for classes, try to pick electives based on what sounds interesting. But you're selecting 9 hours per week of work that will last 4 months based on one paragraph and the title of a class. When I toured Columbia university there is like a 2 week phase where you can go to a bunch of different classes, and find teachers and subjects that you like, that you think you will enjoy, and then you pick the rest of the semester after that. I think new jobs should be like that. Spend a month or two there, decide if it seems like a fit, and then commit to 3 years maybe. When I had my first engineering job, I thought I could never make a life out of it. I was miserable. I didn't know how anyone spent their life--decades!-- doing that work. But over time, I got used to it, and after a few jobs found a place where I really love the people, and the work is really interesting too. So some of it is just trying to continually search for the right place, which takes time, especially when you have to make a judgment off of a company brochure and an interview.

rip999 · Accepted Answer

Alright I got this. Listen, you might not believe me but I get paid to sit around and play phone games. Watch YouTube, movies, basically fuck around and do whatever I want. Out of my 12 hours shift I only work 2 hours. I still hate my job. Why? 2 reasons. Ones, watchingovies feels like a chore. A way to pass time to GTFO. Second, SO REPETITIVE. every day it's the SAME DAMN THING! lol luckily for me I will be leaving this play 2 weeks for now... to do the same shit. XD I'll be getting a paid raise tho which is why I'm doing it. I've been here for 2 years now and I'm done with this place. Did you catch that? "This place" I'm at work getting paid to give my opinion to you 😂

BlueScorpio · Accepted Answer

Because most of us just don't like working? I never met anyone who has eve said they enjoy spending most of their time/week working 8 to 16+ hours 5 days a week or more. Unless they're the ambitious, workaholic type. We're not designed to work this much as we do today, most of our day is spent away working with people we barely know. We probably spend more time with our coworkers than our actual families. Then you only get two days off to recoup.. maybe more if you don't have to work federal holidays. Another reason we hate our jobs is cause major burn out, doing samething everyday gets exhausting and boring. Your work environment could be extremely hostile and toxic because management and coworkers.

But truthfully we really just don't like working, most of us want a free life to live, if we didn't give money value we would not care to work. But since we want to keep the bills paid and eat, we have no choice but work. Capitalism has us by the balls, the sad thing about is we could change if every single American came together and just said no more, we have more power than we think. We could all refuse to go into work, not pay taxes, bills etc. Until our demands were met for a better work/life and more pay from the companies and the 1% at the top but people are too scared to change or comfortable with the way things are. Especially if it's already benifiting them.

Whatthefluff · Accepted Answer

No scientist but I think the answer's pretty obvious when you talk to friends, coworkers, or old classmates. Say you went to school with someone who was a natural artist or something. . . Well, most people can't make a living off of their passion.

So many people around my age and slightly older are stuck in temp work, or entry level jobs even with education and a unique skillset. Entry-level job employers simply don't have time or enough space in their mind to worry about worker happiness. 🤑

I have also come to see that even if employers give their workers a living wage, or even a decent one, people are still going to burn out if they aren't being treated right. Look into the railway worker issue.

Again, I don't think it takes an unhappy rocket scientist to figure it out. Sad to say but I can only envision it getting worse.

Cherry234 · Answer

I don't believe people actually hate working. They just hate working jobs they dislike. A variety of factors apply. Stress, pressure, workplace politics, working hours, etc. I thought I wouldn't want a corporate desk job but it's really not that bad. I don't sit at my desk for six hours straight or nine hours straight. I have my lunch breaks, I get up to go to the bathroom, to get coffee/water, or if I have to get something that either I or my manager printed. As long as I'm interested in at least some of the tasks I'm doing and I can handle the workload then I don't mind my job.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

It's because people today are spoiled rotten. They expect everything to be handed to them and don't want to work for it. Then they despise the reality of life that you have to work.

They have been brought up believing that "work" is a bad thing that they "must" do. They have no interests, except maybe video games or hanging out with friends. Work should be enjoyable, but the kind of people who hate work probably won't like any kind of work no matter what it is. They don't want to work at all.

It must suck going through like like that. Work IS life. To hate work is to hate life.

genericname85 · Answer

i think the fundamental problem with jobs these days is that as an employee, you're disconnected from the fullfilling meaning that work originally had. these days it's just a means to an end. do whatever to pay the bills. it's not filled with meaning in many cases anymore. like traditionally, if you wanna eat, you go hunt or you plant a field. if you want shelter, you build a house. today, you fill out spreadsheets for hourse so an imaginary number on your imaginary bank account goes up slightly, so you can use these imaginary coupons to hopefully exchange for whatever it is you need.

it has become a meaningless grind instead of working for the things you want in life directly.

also labour has changed in recent years. the value of money keeps decreasing (inflation) but the ammount of money you earn rises much more slowly, so the value you earn by spednign life time gets less. and if the reward is missing people lose motivation to do shit.

JustAnj · Answer

From an early age people are taught to follow their dreams instead of teaching them to work at what they want. It's like saying a word and not offering the definition.

People lack the value of experience and trying to concentrate on a goal over remaining in a job that is actually meant for teenagers looking to learn work ethics and build up credit and learn to handle Thier own money and set priorities.

If people understood how to better reach goals and take in their skills to use effectively in their lives people would also be more responsible and closer to finding a career or job that they'd like to stabilize.

Anonymous · Answer

Corporations exist for the furthering of that entity. And whatever people or feeling get grinded up along the way just become grease for the wheels of commerce. People (labor) are just resource, same as time or product. And the problem is human beings like feeling important, like they matter. So corporations even try to figure that in to at least pretend like workers matter to them.

I remember a couple years. Back getting my 20th anniversary plaque. It literally was number on the back so as to give it to the right corresponding employees that would recieve it that year. But it also summed up my 20 year career with my company. After 20 years. I was still, and would always be employee #294785. 🤣🤣🤣

Fireguy17 · Answer

I think they are just sick in their jobs.

The business climate has changed over the years.

Now most business tend to be run by people looking to squeeze every penny out of it with no regard for their employees.

Not fun to work at a place like that.

Many need the insurance and the money so they can't risk leaving.

Haha456 · Answer

imagine spending almost every waking moment at your desk from the time that sun comes up to the time sun goes down. you spend life at the cubicle. unless its something that you're obsessed about, you will eventually grow tired of it or burn out. Ever heard of the saying "everything in moderation"? too much of anything isn't good.

melanieeeB · Answer

Having to work for survival and the stress behind that, jobs aren't just a fun thing to do, you're pretty much dependent on it and people fear to lose their job and therefore their income and well food and everything... it's not fun, if you know you have no choice

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Most people are working jobs that they never really wanted to work anyway, which I think sets you off to a bad start. But after that, the problem is that people are working long, underpaid hours in workplaces that constantly overstep boundaries with absolutely no appreciation for the employees.

watercolor_lions · Answer

A lot of jobs don't have it out for the workers' best interest. They are more focused on money than their employees' well-being. Even when working on an employee's well-being might be in the best interest of the company.

An example of that is sleep. A company in our town gave their employees a one hour break before going back to another 12hr shift. True story.

BCRanger10 · Answer

I'm not sure how many people do hate their jobs. But if they do, probably because it doesn't pay enough, it's not what they want to do, or because they have a terrible boss; "terrible" meaning either incompetent, abusive, manipulative, overbearing, or condescending. Then there's also the issue of workloads and stress. And let's be honest, some people just don't want to do the work.

Guy13 · Answer

Work sucks no matter who and hat it is. Let’s just be honest about it. And people, both within the actual workplace, and outside clients confound things even more. And worst are the people that one works with…who will smile at you and do everything in their power to undermine you. The Clients I can manage as they have sincere issues.
im thankful for the JOB but just let us do our jobs well and back off with the childish ass ladder climbing on top of others 💩.
🤷🏻‍♂️

Pinay_ako · Answer

Have to wake up early, look outside is dark af and cold af and have to deal with people you don’t like 😂. Do same shit everyday for 30 years.
that’s why people hate their jobs.

Not me, I LOVE mine 😑.

Anonymous · Answer

probably because of the pay (some people may are living paycheck to paycheck and it's all they can do for right now) or the coworkers that are assholes, their shitty bosses, or if you're in corporate america lots of sexism. i mean the list goes on...

i wouldn't say i hate my job, i just really hate the people i have to work with.

Iron_Man · Answer

Because it’s boring working for the man people have drama at work that work in their little stations he said she said people get promotions and raises and they feel why didn’t they get the raise it’s a never ending soap. They don’t get that much money anyway and they’re not happy that’s why I like working alone

MzAsh · Answer

Most people aren’t performing work in areas they enjoy. And much of it is that they don’t like the people they work with as well. Enjoying my work is extremely important to me, and I am finally making that happen.

Anonymous · Answer

I think you explained the answer in the "update" section. Maybe those people aren't skilled enough to work on anything else, or need the earnings fast and can't afford education so are therefore forced to do so. However, for the rest of us without that urgent necessity, it makes absolutely no sense just selling your life when you could enjoy your own, it is wiser to find profit doing/sharing something you love, invest in what will make you money in the future...

user4477388 · Answer

People hate their jobs for lots of reasons , the company , boss , management is horrible , leaving little to no room to grow or move up in a company unless you sacrifice your family , and ethics. For those who are not happy with their jobs find new jobs and careers there's a belief with government and ruling elite that the population of earth has to be reduced look at the Georgia guide stone. And Bill Gates. Bill Gates is wanted by Pakistan and India as a war criminal , look at agenda 21 the population reduction is way behind as far as governments and the ruling elite are concerned.

Jamesshinobi · Answer

the problem is we have to do these tasks over and over again day in and day out for 75% of the time we are given on this planet or more. whats the meaning of life? it sure as fuck isn't analysing financial information of international corporations ill tell you that, but thats what i have to do to continue to eat, sleep, drive to work amd pay my taxes.

TroyDT · Answer

I think modern people have been hoodwinked into thinking that they should derive happiness from their jobs. Some might, but for most of us jobs are the means to pay our living expenses. Happiness should come from from family, friends, hobbies, etc.

Anonymous · Answer

Because those people have no guts or brain capacity to open their successful business or get educated for position they would actually like.

Not just stay in same burger flipping job since you been 15 and expect for it to get better or that chain restaurant owner who know you as cog in a machine or number in a list to notice you and give you huge promotion to CEO...

Or even worse expect that government will take care of you without you even asking for it and putting no effort in it...

I do not se it as a problem, as then everyone would be in a top 1% job and there would be no burger flippers or road sweepers...

Paul09 · Answer

Sometimes the pay or sometimes it's the entitlement of their bosses. Bosses see us as numbers and nothing else. We need leaders , not bosses. They only think for themselves and have no respect for their employees. They wouldn't be that rich with out their employees. And that is most companies. So sad.

acooke-13 · Answer

They're not doing something they enjoy or are great at. A lot of people settle instead of pushing themselves to do what they actually want to do.

DaisyM23 · Answer

I think it's just stress. A lot of people love their job I guess but the passion goes away after working so many hours of the same thing, it puts a lot of pressure on you and your health. Plus you're expected to work for like 50+ years

BJP21 · Answer

People dont leave jobs they leave bad bosses. Nobody needs to be that burned out because the boss is an !@#$%^&.

sexguru1999 · Answer

Because they are lame ass pussies which are do whatever society tells them to do, and especially their parents, instead of standing up for themselves they prefer to be safe.

I prefer being a Hobo rather than getting ass rimmed by a boss. Ofc for me, I study something that i am really intrested in and really hard abou it, Engineering major EE.

SphynxUK · Answer

People often hate their job because of low morale in the workplace. Being asked to do more than your job role, with no extra pay, not enough time to complete it, and no thanks.

DarkWinterNights · Answer

Because most jobs are unfulfilling, monotonous and draining. People need purpose and if your life revolves around sacrificing 40+ hours of your life a week barely making it by to make someone else money you’re going to be unhappy.

Anonymous · Answer

To the poster I completely agree with you, but this is the capitalist, cut throat world we live in, eventually people will rebel and demand better. For some reason, hardcore pro capitalists will get triggered, the same one's who call people are liberals as "snow flakes" but pro-capitalists are extremely sensitive if others question the validity of this system.

MikeInHawaii · Answer

Jobs can be boring, monotonous, and front line supervisors tend to be dimwits who love power and control. I’ve had jobs where getting “promoted” into management would have meant going on flat salary and losing butt loads of overtime. With tips and overtime, I probably make $30,000 to $40,000 more than my supervisor does.

Sixgunsound · Answer

The fundamental problem is that at least in the US, were in an artificially manufactured recession, and employers are capitalizing on the fact that we can’t really go anywhere else.

ADFSDF1996 · Answer

Overworked Incompetent coworkers  Not paid enough It’s not something you are passionate about

exitseven · Answer

Because most jobs are mind numbing , soul sucking activities and the people in charge are trying to squeeze more and more production. They don't call it work for nothing.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Because the educational system doesn't do a good job of matching people with career paths that would actually be fulfilling for them.

jasco · Answer

Because most people either don't know what job would suit them best or their working their for the money. Sometimes its the people on the job and sometimes its the job itself. Most people don't like working tho so eh

SnoopBean9110 · Answer

People hate their job because of their education.

MiseriaCantareAFI · Answer

how much they're paid, for how many hours they're working, and the type of work. i did a whole bunch of shit the past year and a half, i wasn't originally trained for, and im barley making anything for it

maximumpower · Answer

It's amazing what people will do for money - not bc they want to, but bc they MUST. THAT'S why.

MaxRobespierre · Answer

That's why you start a business or manage real estate or anything.

freewife · Answer

Usually annoying bosses or coworkers but often the soul destroying admin or processes.

Anonymous · Answer

Most of the work that is required for modern life to exist is not work that most people would prefer to do, this has long been the case. You would not be paid to do it if it were desirable.

AmeerX · Answer

It is spiritual absence. They just find it hard. Things can be difficult but we should remember that pain acceptance is normal. Stop running away from your pain

Pete671 · Answer

Because they have bad attitude, I work in retail, bit more than min wage, I try and just get on with things, help people, if anyone is rude to me I just swear at them in Gaelic hahahaha

es20490446e · Answer

When you love your job is when you feel you are doing something somehow better than what is usual.

Lionman95 · Answer

Because they´ve chosen the job out of the wrong motives like looking at the pay-check and looked for jobs that brought enough money to live a decent life but they have no passion for the job.

Anonymous · Answer

This explains everything. And their salary is like under $1000. It would have been more tolerable if it paid more than that.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Because most jobs aren't people's passion and dreams. Its just hours of your day doing something you have no interest actually doing.

Anonymous · Answer

Lack of meaningful purpose. Why do we need so many options? Why do we need so much? The work life balance is usually way off too.

Justneedtokno · Answer

The people the routine no to move up not what they signed up for. The traffic

macjets007 · Answer

Because we're not meant to be stuck in a cubicle starting at screen all day. Human are meant to be outside!!!

msc545 · Answer

The OP makes good points. I will add that Capitalism - the economic system that rewards psychopaths - is at the root of this problem.

Anonymous · Answer

I think most people just take the first job that comes along.

nawtee_me · Answer

I love my job, another year and I will retire...

TallAnon · Answer

I live my job, but the employer could be better. Most people don't hate what they do, but what they do it for.

TonightYouu · Answer

Most people are ungrateful and don’t realize that working is a privilege they are also lazy and don’t want to work

BLP11520 · Answer

Routine, boredom, lack of challenges no competition for extra effort. Bosses who are asshloles

dustybiker · Answer

Jobs you love are harder to come by or don’t pay as much as you need.

BlackElph · Answer

I hated my last job so I quit. I start my new job Monday

Jltakk · Answer

After all these years, I can finally say that I love my job.

MCheetah · Answer

Because they value money over their sanity, mental health, and well being. ... Fools.

Why do so many people hate their jobs?

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