15 Comments
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Carrie's avatar

My spouse works for a completely different type of company. But this article repeats everything I’ve heard about his work experiences almost verbatim.

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Two-Thirds Human's avatar

Oh no ... Once I started talking to people (more), it turned out that it's far more common than one would hope.

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Carrie's avatar

Yeah I think it’s because corporate law and culture rewards the worst parts of human nature, and private equity’s capture of most of our economy rewards the corporate kakistocracy.

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The long neck's avatar

I've recently moved from front line work to corporate and this is eerily similar to what I'm experiencing, even in a completely different industry. I've had a 1:1 for being 'negative' (asking for clarity of purpose on a pointless task) and frequently hear the 'solution over problems' line (a favorite for managers who have no idea what they're doing). It seems about 80% of the people in my 120+ office spend the majority of their day trying to justify their role. Layers upon layers of middle management. It drives me insane with rage thinking about the wasted resources. I work for a government department.

I've been thinking a lot about the Bullshit Jobs essay by David Graeber and how spiritually corrosive it is to spend so much of our lives in these environments. We aren't meant to live like this. I don't know what the solution is, I'm in the same boat regarding quitting. Maybe I can get some satisfaction in being an agitator? Thank you for your writing on this, off to read part 2

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Two-Thirds Human's avatar

Oh, and yes, the "being negative" line is sooo common to bludgeon even vaguely critical employees. Management be like: "Don't we all love each other while you work to earn our salaries?"

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Two-Thirds Human's avatar

The first time I heard about Graeber's bullshit jobs I was reminded of my first temp jobs way back when. People in those offices spent so much time lamenting how overworked they were, yet at the same time they did almost nothing. At the time, I already understood what that was about: the tasks were pointless, recurring, and could be undone by a management decision at any moment.

Yet it took my this long to realize it's often the same for tech work. And, as you allude to, for other sectors as well.

As I tech-sector person, I think I was naturally prone to believing it didn't apply to me. Surely, technology was the real deal, I thought, and could never be a bullshit job. It was a hard lesson to learn, for sure.

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Roy Brander's avatar

Can I suggest the public service? Paving roads, running hospitals, teaching kids, has a way of grounding organizations.

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Peter Jones's avatar

Ahhh.. solutions over problems.. 👌

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Christian Näthler's avatar

I could have written this verbatim based on personal experience.

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Somo's avatar

me: it’s not you it’s me;

VP: how can i help;

me: nothing in the bounds of your role, thx tho;

volunteer day:

(nice to get out of the cubicle and touch earth)

we will wash and stack tables for a non profit.

cool,i’m good at stuff. 1.5 hours of soapy water in perfect weather - fun.

100 tables, we have 20 left - 15 min left on the clock.

me: “nice, looks like we’ll have time to get all these done! “ (i pick up my pace and my sponge)

coworker: “meh, it’s not like we’re getting paid for this - no need to hurry.”

me: “we literally are”

((have you no pride))

it’s really not them, it’s me.

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Black Bees's avatar

Don’t eat animals

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Christopher Meesto Erato's avatar

Humans are the problem based on toxic mass consumption profit driven economic model = Greed disease. And now the oligarchs are taking over the reigns of our government.

https://youtu.be/OVfZw_eqJW8?si=ThezfVzChEeVkm8b

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Peter Jones's avatar

Would like to balance and counter that the driving force behind the opportunities for our employment are also "people"...

Ultimately, yes, we have to show a face... even they... but behind that face is the dirt and sweat of grafting for a living and weighing up the benefit/cost ratio (!) of the job we stay in to do THAT! THEY know that.. and so do we.

I hope employers read this and take it as gentle direction... as I am not entirely sure they can remake the world .. despite the promises of their corporate advertising.

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Kate's avatar

Yesssss!!! And: have y’all started trying to form a union? Bc it seems like you’re well on your way 💪

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