Blog Dis
Is it a privilege to work?
2025-11-06
If you're hurling rotten tomatoes at me with your eyes as you read this title, I won't take it personally. I made this statement with earnest and sincerity because I speak from a position of first-hand experience, having worked since I was 11 years old; the first time I held a bona-fide job that paid me moulah — babysitting.
Yes, I know, I know. The goal of every able-bodied individual is to avoid work, to avoid any degree of discomfort or challenge, and to have enough money at their fingertips that they are not beholden to anyone or to any organization. If wishes were pigs, then we'd all be able to fly off into the sunset with deep pockets, stuffed with enough money to last our lifetime. For some, this is true... well at least where deep pockets are concerned. If, however, I were to actually witness pigs flying in the sky, I'll work on the assumption that my water has been spiked with LSD.
Allow me to continue...
The concept of a short work week is an old one, first proposed by Kellogg in the 1930s. Only history shows that Ford had suggested a shortened workweek back in the 1920s. At his factories, Ford had shortened his work week to 40 hours, in order that his workers could have more leisure time in the evenings, during the week, and on weekends for recreational activities, to spend quality time with their families, and to attend church on Sundays. It's also during this time in history when it was predicted that technological advances would result in our work week becoming shortened. However, the reality of our modern-age speaks of another version, that we are far from a four-day work week. I don't have to delineate the levels of economic barriers that separate the wealthy from the poor because the middle-class in today's technological age, and inflated grocery prices, have resulted in the middle class sometimes having to straddle two or three part-time jobs, and are still be forced to visit food banks in order to make ends meet. When I use this term 'ends meet' it means you need only imagine holding out both pointer fingers, toward each other, to slowly bring them into the centre, or to further stress my meaning, rather than your fingertips touching in the centre, instead they stop at the half-way point; this would signify that with most middle-class and lower, there's way more month at the end of the money, rather than there being more money at the end of the month.
Work smart, not hard. This advice isn't realistic, to my mind, because it means those in power are working less, providing only that they're able to pass off the really hard work onto someone else. Think of postal workers whose breaks are timed, whose need to make an organic visit to the washroom is structured, rather than being able to relieve themselves when the urge arises. Think too of textile industries in developing countries, where workers don't even have a home, and after a long and hard 14-hour shift, they'll sleep underneath their sewing table, which is their only piece of real estate option given their meagre wages. So, to put a finer point on these ramblings, consider that Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs while their CEO is paid over $40M per year; UPS announced 48,000 layoffs and their CEO made $24M last year and, Intel announced 20,000 layoffs while their CEO earned $69M a year. The layoffs spell out an increased workload for those employees who've been retained, which means they'll work harder for the same amount of pay, while these companies ensure their bottom line looks better on paper.
I say, why not lay off the CEOs and hire a new CEO at one quarter the cost, while dividing up the rest of the formerly earned CEO salary to share it amongst the employees, while hiring back the laid-off employees? I can guarantee you that the remaining employees, and the re-hired [laid-off] employees would be grateful to return to their jobs, knowing regardless that they still have to work hard, that they are valued, and that their contribution is valued by the firm.
A monetary bonus is like a shot in the arm that speaks of fairness.
In answer to my own question: Is it a privilege to work? Yes it is! It truly is if the work you're doing is by choice. My perspective has zero ambiguity. I've worked all my life. I've endured being laid-off more than once. In one instance, and after many years with a firm, they announced that all their offices would be closed, owing to the company having declared bankruptcy. And because their Executives knew in advance that they were invoking Chapter 11 (which means in the USA a company is seeking protection from being forced to pay off their massive debt), it meant that these Executives paid themselves first with a generous severance package, while the employees, including myself, were left high and dry.
When outrageous salaries paid out to Executives fall less in the stratospheric range, and are more in line with the real economy, this would demonstrate that industries and businesses are defined by employees, and not by CEOs. Nobody is going to remember the line of CEOs installed by the Board of Directors in any company but clients will remember the quality of the service and/or product that is being sold to them.
You, too, will ultimately notice down the road, as your career evolves, and as you live your life through each decade, that money is merely a means to an end. For some, they prefer to work however long is needed in order to be able to take much-needed time off to pursue other interests, such as those in the arts world who run a side-hustle, while working full-time, in order that they can focus solely on their craft. It all depends on what kind of art you pursue. I've known musicians in my life who take menial jobs, all the time, in order that they can get together with their band-mates to practice, and to pick up paying gigs in local pubs. This is the life of a musician. For some landscape painters and portrait artists, however, they'll work the better part of their lives, until they reach a level where they're financially able to step away from the structured life of a full-time job, to pour themselves wholly into their art. I say 'way to go!!!' You earned it. You deserve it.
We each know our tolerance level. Years back, I ran into a former housemate, back in the days when I rented a house with two guys and one gal, and she had studied art conservation in University. When we stopped to catch up briefly, she explained to me that she was now doing stand-up comedy on the side, and how doing this made her happier, rather than working with other art conservationists in a small room inside a museum. She still understood the value of working, while also being able to pursue a new way to bring happiness to her life. And to a degree, this is the crux of my post. We prefer happiness over sadness. We all would prefer to pursue only that which brings us happiness, but this isn't the reality of life. Sometimes, just sometimes, your unhappiness propels you forward, and inspires you to pursue other interests, and these new interests will require a measure of hard work, some money, and much effort to make them into reality.
Think of authors who work for years on a new novel, without any monetary gain over the long haul.
Sadly, however, our modern age hasn't yet figured out how to function or structure societies where the concept of money is obsolete. For if money was obsolete, we wouldn't have Billionaires who've built their massive fortunes on the backs of others, barely giving them their just desserts, while ensuring that they treat themselves and other Executives in the firm with preferential bonuses and the like.
The other consideration is a simple one for me. When I work, it means my skills are in demand, that my mind is still sharp and capable of handling the pressures of work-demands, and that I'm able to afford the lifestyle that makes my effort seem worthwhile. I no longer care to speak on behalf of the masses. Each person, like water, will find their level, the way water finds its way into the crevices of rocks in a mountainside. Us humans are no different when it comes to our desires. If you feel that your happiness can only be achieved by never having to work, I'd like to hear from you, to know how this sorcery is being pulled off.
I also have the first-hand knowledge of knowing what it means to support Executives. I've been slinging my novels for decades now, writing and working full-time and I can attest to the level of hard work required to do both. Executives work hard, too, to the point of setting unrealistic workaholic standards. My only beef with this philosophy is that this doesn't give high-powered Executives the right or the latitude to expect everyone else to follow their path.
Some live to work, while others work to live. I fall into the second category. It's a good life, good to be alive.
Yes, I know, I know. The goal of every able-bodied individual is to avoid work, to avoid any degree of discomfort or challenge, and to have enough money at their fingertips that they are not beholden to anyone or to any organization. If wishes were pigs, then we'd all be able to fly off into the sunset with deep pockets, stuffed with enough money to last our lifetime. For some, this is true... well at least where deep pockets are concerned. If, however, I were to actually witness pigs flying in the sky, I'll work on the assumption that my water has been spiked with LSD.
Allow me to continue...
The concept of a short work week is an old one, first proposed by Kellogg in the 1930s. Only history shows that Ford had suggested a shortened workweek back in the 1920s. At his factories, Ford had shortened his work week to 40 hours, in order that his workers could have more leisure time in the evenings, during the week, and on weekends for recreational activities, to spend quality time with their families, and to attend church on Sundays. It's also during this time in history when it was predicted that technological advances would result in our work week becoming shortened. However, the reality of our modern-age speaks of another version, that we are far from a four-day work week. I don't have to delineate the levels of economic barriers that separate the wealthy from the poor because the middle-class in today's technological age, and inflated grocery prices, have resulted in the middle class sometimes having to straddle two or three part-time jobs, and are still be forced to visit food banks in order to make ends meet. When I use this term 'ends meet' it means you need only imagine holding out both pointer fingers, toward each other, to slowly bring them into the centre, or to further stress my meaning, rather than your fingertips touching in the centre, instead they stop at the half-way point; this would signify that with most middle-class and lower, there's way more month at the end of the money, rather than there being more money at the end of the month.
Work smart, not hard. This advice isn't realistic, to my mind, because it means those in power are working less, providing only that they're able to pass off the really hard work onto someone else. Think of postal workers whose breaks are timed, whose need to make an organic visit to the washroom is structured, rather than being able to relieve themselves when the urge arises. Think too of textile industries in developing countries, where workers don't even have a home, and after a long and hard 14-hour shift, they'll sleep underneath their sewing table, which is their only piece of real estate option given their meagre wages. So, to put a finer point on these ramblings, consider that Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs while their CEO is paid over $40M per year; UPS announced 48,000 layoffs and their CEO made $24M last year and, Intel announced 20,000 layoffs while their CEO earned $69M a year. The layoffs spell out an increased workload for those employees who've been retained, which means they'll work harder for the same amount of pay, while these companies ensure their bottom line looks better on paper.
I say, why not lay off the CEOs and hire a new CEO at one quarter the cost, while dividing up the rest of the formerly earned CEO salary to share it amongst the employees, while hiring back the laid-off employees? I can guarantee you that the remaining employees, and the re-hired [laid-off] employees would be grateful to return to their jobs, knowing regardless that they still have to work hard, that they are valued, and that their contribution is valued by the firm.
A monetary bonus is like a shot in the arm that speaks of fairness.
In answer to my own question: Is it a privilege to work? Yes it is! It truly is if the work you're doing is by choice. My perspective has zero ambiguity. I've worked all my life. I've endured being laid-off more than once. In one instance, and after many years with a firm, they announced that all their offices would be closed, owing to the company having declared bankruptcy. And because their Executives knew in advance that they were invoking Chapter 11 (which means in the USA a company is seeking protection from being forced to pay off their massive debt), it meant that these Executives paid themselves first with a generous severance package, while the employees, including myself, were left high and dry.
When outrageous salaries paid out to Executives fall less in the stratospheric range, and are more in line with the real economy, this would demonstrate that industries and businesses are defined by employees, and not by CEOs. Nobody is going to remember the line of CEOs installed by the Board of Directors in any company but clients will remember the quality of the service and/or product that is being sold to them.
You, too, will ultimately notice down the road, as your career evolves, and as you live your life through each decade, that money is merely a means to an end. For some, they prefer to work however long is needed in order to be able to take much-needed time off to pursue other interests, such as those in the arts world who run a side-hustle, while working full-time, in order that they can focus solely on their craft. It all depends on what kind of art you pursue. I've known musicians in my life who take menial jobs, all the time, in order that they can get together with their band-mates to practice, and to pick up paying gigs in local pubs. This is the life of a musician. For some landscape painters and portrait artists, however, they'll work the better part of their lives, until they reach a level where they're financially able to step away from the structured life of a full-time job, to pour themselves wholly into their art. I say 'way to go!!!' You earned it. You deserve it.
We each know our tolerance level. Years back, I ran into a former housemate, back in the days when I rented a house with two guys and one gal, and she had studied art conservation in University. When we stopped to catch up briefly, she explained to me that she was now doing stand-up comedy on the side, and how doing this made her happier, rather than working with other art conservationists in a small room inside a museum. She still understood the value of working, while also being able to pursue a new way to bring happiness to her life. And to a degree, this is the crux of my post. We prefer happiness over sadness. We all would prefer to pursue only that which brings us happiness, but this isn't the reality of life. Sometimes, just sometimes, your unhappiness propels you forward, and inspires you to pursue other interests, and these new interests will require a measure of hard work, some money, and much effort to make them into reality.
Think of authors who work for years on a new novel, without any monetary gain over the long haul.
Sadly, however, our modern age hasn't yet figured out how to function or structure societies where the concept of money is obsolete. For if money was obsolete, we wouldn't have Billionaires who've built their massive fortunes on the backs of others, barely giving them their just desserts, while ensuring that they treat themselves and other Executives in the firm with preferential bonuses and the like.
The other consideration is a simple one for me. When I work, it means my skills are in demand, that my mind is still sharp and capable of handling the pressures of work-demands, and that I'm able to afford the lifestyle that makes my effort seem worthwhile. I no longer care to speak on behalf of the masses. Each person, like water, will find their level, the way water finds its way into the crevices of rocks in a mountainside. Us humans are no different when it comes to our desires. If you feel that your happiness can only be achieved by never having to work, I'd like to hear from you, to know how this sorcery is being pulled off.
I also have the first-hand knowledge of knowing what it means to support Executives. I've been slinging my novels for decades now, writing and working full-time and I can attest to the level of hard work required to do both. Executives work hard, too, to the point of setting unrealistic workaholic standards. My only beef with this philosophy is that this doesn't give high-powered Executives the right or the latitude to expect everyone else to follow their path.
Some live to work, while others work to live. I fall into the second category. It's a good life, good to be alive.
