The Real Reason Americans Aren't Returning To Work

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[@paulfay357]

I've been a mobile equipment mechanic, working out of a service truck for years. Back in the 80s all we did was turn wrenches. Over time, our corporate masters decided that it would be more cost effective to issue us smart phones and laptops so that we could take over the responsibilities that office staff used to do. One day, it dawned on me that I was doing literally every single facet of the business by myself. I called the customers, set appointments, ordered the parts, inventoried the parts...and I was also the guy on the road running the calls. Out of thousands of employees in that company, some of them much better paid than me, I finally realized that the only ones that mattered were me and my fellow technicians. If I were going to be forced to do ALL of the stuff that mattered, I may as well be doing it for myself...so a year ago that's exactly what I did. All I needed was my own service truck and the relevant business insurance policies and I was off to the races. Had my calendar completely booked out for weeks before I ever handed out a single business card. Gave myself an instant pay raise from $25/hour to $125/hour...lol. should have done it years ago.

[@Fanta....]

hell yes! now make sure you put half away and blow the other half to make up for lost time!

[@LibertarianRF]

Nice job not being a victim and solving your own problems

[@felinespirits]

Good for you!

[@erikrobles5727]

Not really cause that $125 has to pay for gas insurance tires so it’s not as good as it sounds people

[@imjustanotherguy2007]

@@erikrobles5727 if you don't price those things into your rates and operating costs you are doing something wrong.

[@davidjarman7150]

According to our friends at the World Economic Forum, the average person now has a choice to either work hard and own nothing, or not work and own nothing. Given those options it's not surprising that a lot of people are choosing not to work.

[@vex6559]

And the parasite wants to feed us parasites 😆 ...yeah...f the wef

[@johngalt6838]

Instant acceptance of communism

[@tsw9824]

@@johngalt6838 Actually, under communism we would benefit from our work since we would own the means of production. The benefits of our labor would directly impact us instead of being filtered through several hands and pockets on the way to me. Beats the HELL out of capitalism

[@johngalt6838]

@@tsw9824 Where has it been better?

[@tsw9824]

@@johngalt6838 everywhere the US hasn't worked to destroy it.

[@timdumoulin2576]

We are tax and wage slaves these days. Living in unaffordable homes, rent, groceries. Alot of people working full-time are living in tents and vehicles because they still can't afford rent. Truly shameful.

[@user-gq7ht3hw9y]

That's God true,what you said we been there

[@UrbanDefenseSystems]

All by design.

[@MrRlwillis1977]

Nailed it as usual. I'm 46 and have already had a heart attack. I'm a mechanic and carpenter by trade. I made peanuts while the bossman made a fortune from MY knowledge, MY work, and MY investment in tools. It boiled down to someone else living quite well off what I had invested MY life in.

[@stronginthestorm1781]

Absolutely spot on. Im in the same boat and the same truth has hit me

[@notsure7874]

Mechanic is possibly the worst skilled trade in terms of employee / employer dynamic. The tool expenses are insane. For what y'all get paid, the shop should provide literally everything down to the last socket and screwdriver. I'm not even sure it's legal to deduct tools on your taxes as an employee.

[@shanefowler3504]

@@notsure7874 I'm pretty sure that in my state of New Hampshire anyways if you provide your own tools to do a job then you are considered a subcontractor you could call the Department of Labor in your state

[@shanefowler3504]

@@notsure7874 You can deduct the cost of the tools as an unreimbursed employee expense on Schedule A if both of these apply: You work for an employer, rather than being self-employed. You're required to have the tools for your trade.

[@juswolf22]

Mr R you should probably be looking at what you putting into your body

[@matthewholzner9526]

Exactly right. In 1950, my grandfather walked out of his HS graduation and walked down the street and got a job at a local radio repair shop. The pay after 5 years was enough to buy 2 houses, 2 cars, support a family of 4 and buy a building to start an auto parts business. That story cannot happen today.

[@seroni17]

It can happen if the employer actually pays someone what their work is worth.

[@WhiteDevil-du8ne]

@@seroni17 No it can happen if consumers are willing to pay more for services and products.

[@seroni17]

@@WhiteDevil-du8ne except we have seen time and again that consumers are motivated by price so it isn't reasonable to expect consumers to figure out who they should and shouldn't buy things from for every single product just so people aren't getting screwed over as employees.

[@Sons_of_Thoth]

@@WhiteDevil-du8ne But most consumers working on the same net as everyone else, they got underpaid too, and where they will get more money to pay more for your sevices and products?

[@robertjensen1048]

Suck it up buttercup. Do what practically every generation in history has done: adapt.

[@Valkaneer]

Yep, I'm a machinist with 20 years in the trade and recently laid off. I keep seeing ads for "machinist wanted in a fast paced environment that can hit the ground running, needs to know blue prints, trig, at least 5 years experience, have fantastic work ethic, etc etc." for .... $15 -18 bucks and hour. I was appalled, these guys want a skilled machinist for less than $20??? You got to be kidding me, $20 is the lowest pay I'd accept unless it was being offered in my back yard. Burger flippers are looking at near $15 now and they want to play a experienced machinist the same pay? Wanting top notch workers for nothing is greedy and not worth even a second look.

[@sammartinez4244]

I worked over 50 years as a machinist. I served a apprenticeship in the 70's. Most of the teachers then said we were being ripped off compared to other trades. The last 20 years before retiring I worked as a Aerospace Machinist Supervisor. The machinist trade has changed from JM to just specialty operators. Hardly any machinist left that can take a print and make it, using all machines needed. I would not recommend the machinist trade to anyone.

[@cult_of_odin]

Sounds like every type of maintenance job, especially faculties. I need to know how to do electrical, pumping, HVAC, drywall, tile, carpentry etc but they want to offer $12 to $15.

[@alvaroquiroz3313]

Wow, i just discovered capitalism!

[@bigz5262]

Did you have to bring your own equipment or did they let you use theirs?

[@sammartinez4244]

@@bigz5262 In the machinist trade almost all companies require a JM to have his own tools. Military Contractors will provide tools. Very few small companies provide special tools.

[@jordannorth5310]

I was born in 1996 and i was on the bandwagon of "my generation is lazy" when i was 18. My ideals changed when i reached the age of 25 (last year) and i realized that i had been working 60 plus hours a week beating my body up and having no time for friends and i was in almost the same spot financially even making $33.00/hr as i was when i was 18 making only $8.00/hr. Making $2000 a week but only getting to take home $1300 of it. I realized the rest of my generation wasnt lazy, they just woke up earlier than i did

[@loganMartinPreacher]

Ha, better late than never. I'm 26, and I learned it from the books in my channels About Page.

[@mateaukalua4426]

I am 29 dang near 30 and was working almost 72 hours a week before. Breaking down your body for a few more bucks isn't where it's at.

[@-Swamp_Donkey-]

Get to work! Israel needs more money!!!

[@thomasgardner5872]

It’s been the same way for many decades, don’t feel rained on… men can have plenty if they don’t get married and enter the matrix and family court system, with current laws that crush men for womens infidelity ,. Stay away from women and you can have money , property , low stress , that is the biggest money killer

[@seemeno1]

To be fair, I think some of it really is laziness. But the majority of it is just people realizing wage slavery isn’t the best life course

[@joemurchie]

My grandad worked as a laborer in a foundry for 30+ years. He raised 4 kids and they lived a comfortable middle class life. His wife stayed home, they bought new cars, they went on vacations. I looked up salaries for local foundry laborers recently and that job pays $17/hr in the same city where grandad raised his family. Inflation goes up and salaries do not.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Ask yourself what causes inflation and stop blaming it on inflation. Theres many things that are root causes of the tenticles of death that is increase in cost without adequate reasoning. The snap on parts bin washer sure wasnt cheap but chinas tools rust in the desert my guy. It may have very worthy upgrades to justify the price. A dollar was a lot of money in the past because everyone was poor. Even if you had a dollar you couldnt easily invest it. Now homeless methheads are youtubin on free wifi my guy. The cheapest phone at best buy is 250 and itll last 3 years. With no data plan thats less than 30 cents a day. Thay gives you access to knowledge and a free roof over your head at the taxpayer expense during the daytime. You can sleep in a tent nearly anywhere. You dont even need a tent ask the marines. Inflation isnt always bad, it depends what youre going for. A lot of it is caused by really dumb stuff like biden standing in the way of energy sectors and maybe all that really weird stuff about gender studies in afghanistan might have something to do with it. The good thing is an abe lincoln buys over a gallon of gas and if all you got is a good used sedan itll probably get you a good 27 miles and in my area that gets to to anywhere you would need to go and back. If youvd got a motorcycle if it gets 40+ mpg you can really get around. I saw a honda rebel for sale for 1900 and it was nice. I looked at insurance and for me it was 88 dollars per year. So listen bro thats an extremely low cost and around me that little bike gets you anywhere and it gets like 80 or 90 mpg or something crazy. Even the new rebels are already getting cheaper. So you can live in the wild west where everything costs a buck if you want bro. Buy a bike where if you only pump in a buck its like 35 miles of range and where im at its maybe 16 to the hosptial at the end of the other town and all the good businesses and what not are inbetween. Elon musk doesnt sell any dollar products but at my local grocery store an abe lincoln can snag a number of things. You can get bread. I buy a giant 8 dollar sandwhich thats huge, i wish it was bigger and only 5, i cut it in half and then i eat one half of the half per day. So the cost is 4 per day. So my food costs more than my phone. You can get transportation that costs less than food. I can eat cheaper but i like to have a nice sandwhich with the various well thought out selections of seeds on the quality bread fof carbs with the good quality select cold cut mest protein and sometimes they throw in mustard and mayonaise. So its good eating for a poor fella and you csn ration it oht to one samdwhich per day amd get down to 2 dollars per day. So if you budget like a g you can legit survive on 10 dollars per day easy, with excess savings but only if you have a place to sleep or if you dont you find a spot. Which is easy enough depending where youre at. Where im at there is blm land in a short walks distance, you csn even pick a sweet spot with a view. Hotdogs are cheap bro. You can live cheap. You can camp 24/7. 365. Esspecially with these new inventions. Where if youre wealthy man you buy an ac unit rsn off dolar for your insulated tent. You could pick a new spot to watch the sunset every day and have no job and any extra money you have you can save, you can invest it because a 250 dollar phone for 3 yesrs cost per day less than 30 cents give you access to the information and capabilities. You csn tale photos record video for evidence. Thats a lot of power for a poor man. Harness the power, budget the finances. 100 dollars is a lot of money when your monthly phone bill with no data all free library wifi is 9 bucks. The same as your monthly fuel bill if you ride an old 250 cc around. You can get it all under 10 bucks per month. I wore the same shoes for years i bought for 12 bucks. I walked into payless like a top g and I grabbed the first pair of brand name i saw and they fit perfectly, I bought them, wore them until they were toast and someone gifted me another pair of shoes. So I havent paid for a single pair of shoes in 6 years. So you csn live cheap bro. Its possible. Where i live they dont tax uncooked food so 2 days worth of sandwhich without rationing to 3 or 4 costs about the same as 1 meals worth of chicken nuggets right next door. And i could live cheaper. I coukd buy the cheap sliced bread and the cheaper cold cuts and save even more but to me my diet matters because I have ibs pray for me. You can live cheap cheap bro.

[@crsy3]

The first thing that needs to happen, is there needs to be a major divorce and, separation between the corporate/global elites and the politicians.

[@vincezetti7216]

u are exactly right. real wages havent increased in about 50 years. the value of a dollar hasnt kept up with inflation.

[@Jake-mi3bj]

Inflation is fake propaganda. There is no such thing as inflation what it really is, is the cancer of capitalism that breeds corporate price gouging and scalping your goods.

[@lifted_above]

@@TheAnnoyingBoss It's simple: you print a ton of currency and flood the system, the same system where the total amount of goods and services (due to a hundred varied reasons) is not also increasing. DEVALUATION. Simple economics.

[@criteecgaming]

I worked a factory job for 17 years, lots of 12's, lots of holidays and weekends, and lots of nightshift. I took great pride in my work and was always the most dedicated in every department I worked in. After 16 years of loyal service, I started having major health issues and the doctors couldn't figure out why. I missed 7 days in a rolling calendar year and they walked me out with grins on their faces. When I first started working there it was a great job, but year after year they just kept adding to your responsibilities, but the pay wasn't even keeping up with inflation. It got to the point where every second you were there you were busy. Got to go to the bathroom, well now you're behind and probably have to skip another break. They literally looked at us like robots and the only reason they haven't replaced us with robots is because they break down alot and they cost tens of millions of dollars per robot for some jobs. I watched 3 people have heart attacks while on the job, all of them complaining of pains prior, but too afraid to take time off to go to the doctor because it would cost them an attendance point. I watched guys go down in confined space entries from co and the only difference between life and death was whether or not their lanyard got caught on something. I watched a guy get pinned down by boiling hot caustic water and die hours later trying to keep a boiler from reaching catastrophic failure. You could outrun your production goals everyday for the entire year and wouldn't get an extra penny for it. What's the point? It's all bs.

[@rights_are_god_given]

Wow!

[@thelastgearbender1158]

Sorry that happened to you.

[@jennic2251]

Bless you

[@n2bfw884]

That's tragic all around.

[@akbychoice]

CEO’s and share holders only care about the bottom dollar.

[@moerizk3753]

When the pigs took over the farm, Boxer, the hard working horse, never stopped working for the farm. He worked day and night until one rainy day as he was working he slipped and got himself hurt and was unable to work for the farm anymore. After years of loyalty and hard work and motivating the other farm animals, the pigs decided to turn Boxer in... to the glue factories. George Orwell - Animal Farm

[@1594simonsays]

we have a shitload of boxers in america

[@GeorgeDrippy]

I was going to post the same thing! LOL.

[@bloodybonescomic]

I read that book 40 years ago. Need to read it again.

[@AntiContradiction]

JorJorwell 1932

[@calypsohandjack9278]

@@1594simonsays And every single one of the Boxers are white males.

[@21kjoshua]

I'm a 3rd generation plumber, and a welder. I learned real quick that companies aren't loyal to you. Your time is valuable, do not work for peanuts.

[@pughconsulting]

My dad was the same way. He now is mid-60s and can barely walk, is in pain every day, has had one back surgery, severe arthritis, etc. He's been in a wheelchair prior to the back surgery. He can barely drive. He falls pretty frequently. Hard work ends up destroying you. He's given his body to work. He's even literally given his blood.. well over 20 gallons of it. His dad is still alive, uses a walker, had two experimental back surgeries, can't drive, barely moves around. Same story. Well drilling, building houses, septic tanks, plumbing, etc. To those who received their services, you're welcome. It came at a bigger cost than the check you paid with.

[@lpdoc3369]

Hope you can escape the cycle, I climb under houses for a living and I’m 25. My back is so stiff when I wake up I have to stretch before I do any work and even after stretching a pain free work day isn’t promised.

[@3243_]

To both of you, and to the first poster's father and grandfather, I'm sorry. May all of you be healed and comforted.

[@BashoStrikes]

I've a friend who's 50 and a few years ago he just gave up and purposely went homeless and started living in a cheap RV. He doesn't do drugs - he doesn't even drink. He makes crafts and travels at times to sell them at different shows and flea markets and otherwise just barely scrapes by. He says he's never been happier. If you haven't figured it out yet folks - most of us exist to make someone else wealthy. That's your real job and purpose in life.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Listen man this great nation is a mismanaged. People who should work more. Some people who should work less. Theyre taxing us left and right left and right left and right. You buy a car taxed, food thats cooked taxed. You work like a slave and they take a real good chunk. Its not good.

[@lisabaltzer4190]

I wouldn’t call that homeless. He has a place to live, it just isn’t a house or apartment. Unlike many homeless, he chose living that way and he is not an addict. All the more power to him if it makes him happy.

[@zodglubby]

Many homeless are choosing it. That's something you can't say out loud

[@kimberlychodur3508]

That’s what my son said about the homeless in California. It’s not that the governor and state representatives aren’t trying to help but that some of them prefer it. A lot less stress in trying to afford a place to live and everything else. I asked him how they eat, and he said people in California are quite generous about feeding the homeless.

[@renerangel1635]

Agree

[@thomasrice1180]

I agree 100%. I am 35. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in us. One of my most formative memories was when my dad was fired in a layoff from the company he worked night shift for 20 years. Discarded like he didn’t matter. I saw a change in the way he viewed the world. After the initial depression wore off. He got a job with the local health department. Spent more time at home, more projects with me, umpired baseball games for extra cash. He was happier and retired a few months ago healthy and comfortable. I took that lesson to heart. I work hard when I am on the clock but I have decided to live a simple life. I am not interested In materialism and value my time at home and with my family above all else.

[@LoveLife-oo9cz]

Same with my dad. He never grinds working hard to me again after he got laid off without mercy. I have been living a comfortable life, making money to cover my expenses. If any company takes advantage of me, I'll quit without giving 2 weeks notice. Always have a backup plan.

[@jesusislord3321]

Great father! Happy for you as well. I'm doing the exact same thing.

[@BillClinton228]

I'm a programmer and I'm constantly reminded that I'm really well paid so working long hours or weekends for no extra pay is just expected. Meanwhile the people who profit from my work make 4x my salary and have normal 9 to 5 lives and yet somehow I'm the privilaged one that should not expect anymore than what I'm getting. I don't understand this arrogance and stinginess, especially when you're a millionaire many times over, why does it hurt you so much to give people extra for their time, I absolutely agree with what you're saying.

[@middleagebrotips3454]

Your father was just in time for the neoliberal elites outsourcing everyone in America. Sorry to hear.

[@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26]

No job security anymore. Where did it go? Globalism. My dad groaned about that in the mid 90's. So when was your pop laid off?

[@SoDakSoldier-Arrowhead]

BOOM! I’m 30 now and this video is pretty spot on. I just walked away from a construction company and was paid $26/hr(pretty good for this part of America). I also drove an hour and twenty mins one way five days a week. Put my two weeks in and got a thanks for your hard work and that’s it. No counter offer, nothing. The market for construction workers is bad and they’ve had a “Now hiring” sign up for a few years now, but we’re willing to just let me walk without trying to keep me on. Talk about being farmed! Your spot on!

[@jefferyepstein9210]

Most companies will not counter offer when you put in 2 weeks. Personally I've had a company do this and I was offended at the idea of them offering more money. If I was worth more why wasn't I paid more?

[@LTGDSP]

because they prefer to get a new worker in order to underpay them.

[@skeeveharvey6180]

The “now hiring” signs are for the current staff to make them think help will be coming

[@Antyechrist]

I just walked away from my construction job with the same scenario. Hour and a half drive one way, 5 days a week, asking me to work Saturdays, 26 an hour but paid 2.5 weeks apart. I.A.B.

[@portagepete1]

Keep in mind the guy you work for is taxed to death, might have a wife and kids that refuse to work. If you start your own construction company what would you pay. I just try to keep my bills down.

[@Grombrindal91]

It's not just blue collar. I worked as an engineer for a NASA contractor. One day I was able to piece together a few documents and discovered they charged NASA on the low end, $200/hr per engineer working hour. But it was likely closer to $300/hr plus they fudge the hours a bit. They paid us maybe $45/hr on average and were constantly bitching how they had a tight budget and can't afford decent raises. I stopped caring after that and left shortly later. Even now I find myself not pushing myself all that hard-and seriously considering just starting my own business.

[@jbsimmons54]

Yep, just because we are white collar, degreed, and salaried, mgmnt likes to work us at 60-70 hour weeks while bitching and moaning that there's no money in the budget for raises, yet mgmnt keeps raking in these performance bonuses. The higher they are, the more insane money they get for a lot of stupid decisions they aren't qualified to make! Japan has it right for mgmnt. They don't get paid like US elites do. They pay their employees well. The downside of that is employees are married to the company and work hours are endless.

[@Canthus13]

It's not lazy. A lot of people are realizing that they don't need to buy the latest everything and consume like crazy, so they're happy without climbing that ladder, without a gigantic house, without a brand new car. I dropped everything after a fire where I lost everything but my guitar, laptop, and cat and moved into a van. I work full time doing something I love for less than I'm worth, but it's low stress, I enjoy my job, and I can do it anywhere. I have healthcare, sick time, vacation days, and I work remotely. I don't need ambition to live a happy, full life. It's not that nobody wants to work.. It's that we don't want to kill ourselves for a lazy rich dude's piggy bank.

[@AEB-sy7fu]

That's what I am talking about, choices. 99% of us are sitting where we are, doing what were doing because of our choices and if we don't like it we can make a new choice. I know it can be scary, I am not a risk taker by nature myself but sometimes the choice is to wallow in it or get up and move on.

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

Right on, i adopted a really simple and frugal life, no children, no partner, no loans, no car, i started fishing vintage bikes out of dumpsters and fixing them up for nothing, great way to commute and tour, i hardly need money at this point, i do a few side hustles that generate some income, i even managed to make some good investments for the future.

[@nunyabidness3075]

Yeah, I don’t believe that’s true for most people. Most people now take for granted a lot of the things they get and have. They want to produce very little, and still get very much. They’ve bought a bunch of lies, and are misinterpreting what’s really the problems.

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

@@nunyabidness3075 Actually most people don't have that much. And they won't get that much either.

[@nunyabidness3075]

@@dingfeldersmurfalot4560 Not sure who you mean by most people. If you mean Americans, you are quite mistaken. I know everyone thinks things could be so much better, and there’s a lot of people showing off a lot of wealth these days which breeds a lot of resentment. Still, the way we lived when I was a child is affordable by most anyone willing to accept it. My parents both worked before I was born, and my dad worked his way into management. He was doing quite well. We were in a a fairly desirable neighborhood. The house was about 1400 square feet with window units in some rooms in Houston. It could not maintain what people today find a comfortable temperature. There was one very basic bathroom and a basic kitchen. One TV. No computers or internet. Washer and dryer in the garage. We had insurance. Those who did not mostly depended on charity hospitals for serious care. We, as did many neighbors, grew some of our own food. The cars broke even one year out of the factory often causing loss of half a day to get fixed. Now, we were outwardly well off for the day. Compare that to my friend who was a veterinarian in Mexico until a recession there destroyed his wealth and his practice. He came here with his wife, and worked as a veterinary assistant and raised two great kids. A decade ago, his wife divorced him. He was broke again. He is old, in poor health, has cognitive problems, and had to change jobs. For the past few years, he’s been in what is essentially an entry retail level job where he works as an assistant manager. He has zero money skills, and lives hand to mouth. His standard of living is very close to the way I lived when I was young. He would not be better off back in Mexico. The problem we have in the USA is people wanting what others here have. I’m happy to agree there’s a lot of unnecessary obstacles to a secure financial situation, but I see most of those having been caused by government while all I hear is it’s caused by capitalism and demanding more government. What people need is opportunity and self responsibility, not more hate, greed, resentment, and social justice nonsense.

[@clarekramer411]

At some point I realized I had put my boss's children through college, yet I never went to college.

[@jesusislord3321]

Wow.....never thought about it that way. I will now.

[@NF40375]

You also worked and paid for them to take whole summers and winters off to spend together as a family while you were away from yours

[@raymondlin8728]

And their kids are making more money than you. Living in a better home than you. Thank you for all your hard work

[@user-yy9lg6gs4h]

Rubbish. Any whomean can get into college. Only gotta be a drug addict and hate men!

[@Doc-Holliday1851]

As a person who’s abandoned corporate America along with my wife and brother I’ll tell you. Working for yourself may be stressful but working for someone else is soul crushing. I’ve worked at 3 companies over the course of 10 years, the following is true for each job. - my opinions were never taken seriously regardless of my expertise . I was once hired explicitly for my level of expertise in my given field and 100% of my ideas were then shot down by management despite management telling me they didn’t know how to fix the problem themselves. - I was asked to do menial or odd tasks that lay outside the purview of my job, sometimes to such a degree that the “extra work” took more time and energy than what I was actually being payed for - people did things without concern for how their actions effected others and I would be left cleaning up their mess - the expectations of management were often wild and disconnected from the work that I was actually doing to the point that it was clear they actually had no idea what their employees did - the work environment wasn’t conducive to good productivity. No attempt was made to make the work environment better. In fact steps were often taken seemingly to make it worse on purpose - success was measured against an unknown and impossible standard - management lied constantly and often worked against its employees

[@akven0m]

He just described my life. I'm 59 years old and have done physical labor my whole life. I feel like I'm just about used up, with no hope of retirement. It's most likely that I'll die with my boots on, if I don't end up in a nursing home first.

[@mtc4560]

You are not alone, friend. I've felt like this for 15 years, at only 54.

[@shea5542]

❤

[@rw0037]

Happens even in white collar employment. I was a public accountant at one of the largest firms in the world. We were required to work significant amounts of overtime, but were exempt from additional overtime pay because we were salaried employees. Working 2500 hours a year, my effective pay was about $26/hr, while my employer billed clients $350+/hr for my work. During the pandemic, I was living in a cheap apartment, driving an old, cheap car, struggling to save for my future, while my employer was posting record profits. When billable hours and profits were at an all time high and my morale was at an all time low, they had the gall to turn around and tell me they could only afford to give me a 4% raise. It was an absolute spit in the face, especially to someone who they know understands numbers. That's why I left last year.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

They should have appreciated you more. That's why I never worked the same job for more than 6 months, and I'm glad quitting was never a big decision for me. I learned plenty of trades that way, and now am able to accomplish most of what I want, as well as meet all of my needs. At the same time, I work harder (not always smarter) than most folks I know, often doing the work that illegal immigrants really don't even want any part of, but hey, I eat what I when I want, and nobody ever breaths down my neck, or gripes if I spend an hour on the toilet. Life is good. Hope your efforts pay off for you, friend! 🍻

[@jeffh6960]

What's crazy is most jobs that everyone telworked from saved companies a few $100k annually due to less leasing and utilities costs.

[@jameshill8493]

How are you doing now?

[@13Jrey]

Sounds familiar…3 years at Deloitte here…which one were you at?

[@dougl8248]

I'm salaried and I work exactly the number of hours that I am paid for. Not a second more.

[@dadams1437]

Couldn't agree more. We've all seen and heard the stories of employees that spent 29 years working for a company only to be unceremoniously terminated to avoid paying that employee their upcoming pension. It's dispicable.

[@DustinDonald-cz9ot]

Had that happen to a friend of mines mother.

[@jonboatmorava9115]

In my current experience once a person gets about 10 years in they boot ya out. Has happened twice to me personally. I'm currently restarting for my third time and I can smell it happening again

[@zodglubby]

How do you deny a pension after 29 years? After a certain number you become vested, if you even have a pension. I worked 7.5 years for a town and get one. 401ks also go with you

[@tradeprosper5002]

@@zodglubby Private isn't as generous as the public sector when it comes to pensions.

[@Jake-mi3bj]

That's what you call capitalism and it's cancer. America is anti employee flat out

[@kimayaknight7180]

It should be "people don't want to be slaves anymore! " Instead of "people don't want to work anymore" Many people, particularly the younger generation, use a range of unconventional methods of earning a living these days. I worked in the retail for over 10 years, so l'm quite happy that this is taking place. For too long, retail bullied me and a lot of my employees/colleagues saying things like "if you don't like it,go; another like you is waiting to get into your position " since the COVID, I found a job that helps me grow, pays me more and Values Me Social media cleared the way for a rapidly expanding market, and it taught us a lot. 2020 was my turning point, and investment helped alot!

[@phillawson5785]

You're very right. There's almost nothing interesting or motivating about 9-5 anymore

[@antoniolucas2965]

The majority of this new generation loves working remotely and prefers to be their own boss!

[@kimayaknight7180]

Yeah the 2020 pandemic gave everyone a big rethink! I tried a lot of things I realized I shouldn't just let my savings sit around in the bank, try side hustles. It paid

[@antoniolucas2965]

Speaking about investing, what worthwhile Investments are you making? And how do you do it ? I can learn and put my savings into good use

[@kimayaknight7180]

There's various profitable ways to invest. Starting out you need to work with experienced hands to walk you through. As a rookie I dabbled in and made mistakes till I got a mentor to put me on the right track. You can search one too, read books and do your own research

[@saitekina_og9271]

It’s refreshing to see the realization is hitting people. When I told my father who has worked 7 days a week with no rest for about 30 years has his own business aside from his job and spends his “free time” building and maintaining his home that I was going to get a second job as a contractor for a different company he very firmly told me that if I did that he would be extremely angry and upset with me which stopped me in my tracks and I told him I want to do what you do and he said I would rather you have one job and spend time with us and your family and take care of your health than spend your life away from Your family for these companies that don’t care about you.

[@wobbles7915]

His name was Gregory Starner He was an overworked UPS driver in Wasilla, Alaska. He either had a heart attack or killed himself. They found him in his truck in uniform on the side of the road. Thats your reward for 12-16 hours a day for 20+ years.

[@jesusislord3321]

Dang!

[@endorphinrider1633]

Many more will follow. It appears we're in the middle of an economic and societal collapse.

[@andybrown6981]

We had a bus driver take a bathroom break yet she never came back out from the toilet cubicle. Age was around 53.

[@datguy4104]

In death wage slave has a name. His name was Gregory Starner. His name was Gregory Starner. His name was Gregory Starner. But on a serious note RIP. Always take care of yourself over a corporation brothers.

[@map3384]

And your wife divorcing you because she’s unhappy.

[@LunarDeity]

I"m 51 and when I look back at my 20's, 30's & 40's all I remember was working. I always worked overtime, or worked 2 jobs or worked full time and went to school. It really just paid the bills. I never got ahead. Those years are gone and I can't get them back.

[@AverageAngel]

that's straight up frightening to hear as a twenty something

[@KarlsLabReport]

I hear you there - I am in the same boat.

[@benjaminturner3869]

Your ability to step back from your own bias and understand what the younger generations are experiencing is profound. As a father and uncle to many who are now lost in this sea of uncertainty I applaud you. There is no justification for the CEO of a major corporation to be a multi-millionaire or a billionaire when his employees qualify for federal assistance. We inherited a lie. A lie that kept generations of people under the thumb of the wealthy.

[@redpilledpureblood7585]

General Patton Was Correct When He Said " We Fought The Wrong Enemy"

[@Dominency]

I started a warehouse & factory job right out of high school. The majority of the staff were older folks. Many of them retirement age and barely able to move. Once the pandemic happened our company decided to do a voluntary lay off. And a lot of the retirement age employees decided to take their retirement early. Which meant we had less than half the staff. Being a young fool that I was my boss convinced me to be the line lead. My task was basically running an assembly belt and being the sole person in charge of getting millions of dollars of product out the door. I thought it would be an opportunity to move up the company ladder. That was an absolute mistake. I was doing the super visors job while they sat in the office. I doubled the shipments and cut the process in half by splitting the workload between the belt and the floor. I made that company 50 million dollars in the estimated time I held that position. I never got a day off I was putting in 70-hour work weeks. And got nothing in return for it. No pay raise, no chance at company growth. But you bet your bottom dollar they would get on you if you stayed in the break room to clean up crumbs ten seconds after the bell rang. The companies and banks rule the United States. I will leave this quote here from one of our founding fathers. “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.” - Thomas Jefferson

[@sadhu7191]

Yeah. We have 2 grocerie stores from 2 main companies in sc. 9ne for rich one for poor people. Farm land has been bought up can even start a family farm

[@westernwinchester70]

Abolish the Federal Reserve.

[@guaporeturns9472]

It’s called unregulated capitalism. That’s what happens.

[@DubhghlasMacDubhghlas]

@@guaporeturns9472 except US has ton of regulations on their free market. And it is not the banks keeping the wages low either.

[@attackcatt]

Read The Creature from Jekyll Island. It answers everything.

[@drewmarquez1443]

I was gravedigger/caretaker for about 5 years. Made $32,500 a year. Someone slipped up and mentioned that almost a million dollars had been made by all the work me and my digging partner had done in a year. We did it all, dug, set stones, facility maintenance, equipment repairs, ground maintenance. I loved the job, but I had to eventually leave. I could not justify the amount of work for the pay.

[@alexandru5369]

That's crazy

[@Jason-im3pz]

So you got more than 150k, assuming your partner was paid the same the wages alone takes up a third of that million. Factoring in purchasing materials/equipment, your share of the million actually seems fair enough

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@Jason-im3pz If you cannot make at least $300k from an employee's labor, and that was 30 years ago, you would not remain in business. Business is buried in fees, taxes, regulations (more taxes), from city, county, state, and fed, all with their hands out.

[@LynxStarAuto]

@@Jason-im3pzhm your math is wrong. He got paid 32k *a year* to do the bulk of the work, and the company made *over a million* in income *in the same year.* That's not 1/3, that's less than 4% of the profits split between two minions. That's not how capitalism is supposed to work. As a business owner myself respectfully.

[@questioneverything594]

Without education or an in demand skill this is what happens

[@jcol341]

Divorce rates, taxation rates, wage stagnation, lack of stable families, modern dating realm being what it is. Tell me how the younger guys are merely "lazy". At least one older guy seems to genuinely understand the exponential effort needed to do what was so much easier before.

[@hopperstreams4487]

Personally I've given up. I'm gonna get a job that pays me well enough but at 25 I've never so much as kissed a girl, man -_- so I'm guessing a family isn't in the cards for me

[@woodyfpv5331]

​@@hopperstreams4487first of all, 25 is not old. It is definitely not too old to have a family. In fact, the most successful relationships tend to happen in people's 30s. Second, if you go around defining your worth by the number of kisses you've been a part of, you're gonna have a bad time.

[@jennyray4698]

my first job was at age 11 (yup before child labor laws affected farm work.).I picked berries and beans and hoed weeds in the mint fields all in Oregon. Then in hay fields when I was old enough to run heavy equipment 13 + then waitress, went to school got my hairdressing licence. The owned my own shop and helped hubby with his remodel construction business, then worked in casinos for a few years...I'm 72 and worked my whole life and my body is shot! I now get $878 a month social security because my wages were so low, or contract labor that could not afford to pay self employment tax, or cash under the table to please some farmer...yup...this old lady is bitter and would encourage any young person to find another way because this nation just uses you up and tosses you out like trash!!

[@free_at_last8141]

I overheard this kind of conversation at the Barber once. A Man was blown away that none of the local fast food joints could find employees even when offering "up to $15/hour." He remembered being paid just $3.00/hour as a dish washer in 1971. Plugging that into an inflation calculator returns a modern value of $21.95/hour.

[@robertjensen1048]

Guess what , he was wayyyyy overpaid as a dishwasher in 1971. That wage should have more like $2 per hour for that then.

[@davidpkm]

Minimum wage in 1971 was $1.60. So he was making almost twice the minimum wage.

[@robertjensen1048]

@@davidpkm Thanks for checking. So, he was like the highest paid dishwasher in the state LOL.

[@free_at_last8141]

@@davidpkm $1.60/hour was the minimum wage in 1971. Using the same inflation calculator, that is a modern value of $11.70/hour. The current Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour. The payroll taxes in 1971 were 5.2%, while today they're 7.65%. The point is that earlier generations were payed more and taxed less.

[@jjones503]

I have 3 job postings starting at $25 an hour, haven't gotten one contact in 3 months.

[@ForObviousReason]

I'm a tree climber. work mostly 45 hour weeks. absolutely brutal hard work. Probably the most strenuous trade. I made $20/hr and my boss charges $150/hr for me. The dude has 3 personal trucks that are individually worth more than my entire net. The nature of the relationship between workers and bosses these days is Vampirism.

[@rustyshackleford4801]

There’s a name for it, it’s called capitalism.

[@ForObviousReason]

​@@rustyshackleford4801 The relationship between gen pop and the "central authority" would be characterized by what? puppies and utopia?

[@martinladley]

@@rustyshackleford4801 How ignorant can you be ? Capitalism bad, nah nah nah nah. Capitalism can obviously lead to vampiric greed, but to claim this is inherent to Capitalism is incorrect.

[@stevenhenry5267]

I'm a custodian and I make more than you. You deserve more. And EMT's really deserve more

[@STEVE-lk2ft]

So can’t you understand how you could be making 159$ an hour?

[@FearandBoredomFishing]

Im from the UK and there are parallels to what you are describing its not the same but there are similarities. The fundamental problem is this, in those old days you could JUST WORK HARD and this would get you ahead in life. You could buy a nice home and have a family all the rest. Nowadays just working hard is not enough, indeed frankly it distracts from something better.

[@arnoldpuodenas8221]

Want to open a shop? Good luck competing with Walmart. Want to open a restaurant? Good luck competing with McDonald’s. Coffee shop? Yeah there are 5 Starbucks in the local area. Corporations have totally squeezed a lot of the chances for opening a small business these days.

[@Mr_Mistah]

Plenty of family owned businesses compete perfectly fine with Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc

[@RagingRabbit90]

My father worked about 90 hour work weeks, as a tri-trade ( electrician, machinist, gas fitter with ammonia cert.) He would come home Friday night at 8pm ( started at 4 with an hour commute) and would leave Friday night to drive truck all weekend long. I missed out on having him in life because he wanted to Give me everything he never had. Truth is I would have rather just had my father around. And when I finally was old enough to start building an adult relationship he passed away. It broke me for a long time. And now I just couldn't do that to my kids. Regardless of the money

[@thispersonrighthere9024]

i'm so happy to see someone here who gets this!

[@aloeisthestuff9622]

My father has never held any thing more dear than a Buck. I don't even know if he's still alive.

[@jxk7712]

Celebrate your father, I’m a proud father of five living in southeastern Massachusetts surrounded by one and two children households. Thankfully my area is mostly Catholic and have larger clans. I digress, worked more than ninety for thirty five as a one-upper and consider myself lucky for doing so. God and Country provided me the opportunity to work hard, harder and longer than the guy next to me. That reality coupled with a faithful wife handling the books we all got ahead. I’m in the process of generating generational wealth, no one is going to steal it. This information is counterintuitive and offensive to Sean. God bless

[@rejectionistmanifesto8836]

Sadly too many men just have children when they're not in a financial situation good enough to where they can work enough hours with time for their children. Society has suffered for this while we glorified this lifestyle as hardworking and the Amrrican way while the Globalista took over. People were so busy they didnt pay attention to their society to fight against bad changes, just kept their heads down working hard as if that was all that was required to be part of a functioning society. Young men I say to you, do not start a family if you do not have a job which allows enough time to be a strong influence on your child unless you want the state and media brainwashing them to become the type of zombies rioting and electing senile fools into office.

[@thewatcherofstuff]

This is it. This is the lesson every father struggles to learn in time. Some never do.

[@PleakeCrions]

It’s so refreshing seeing someone of the older generation actually understanding what these younger generations are thinking and why we’re trying to rebel against the corporatocracy that our country has been reduced to

[@bobbyc.1111]

Well I think the jobs are good but the hrs are bad. So weeks should be 30 hrs a week 6 hours a day and instead of money going to Ukraine everyone should have houses but when gov does that they want to stick you in projects instead of just all homes paid for just pick one because how does gov own land or water or air? HOusing and insurance should be covered like it is for politicians people argue about paying for the mases yet they don't about the politicians? and give money to countries if you are going ot give it give it to us since we are the ones working for it anyway. Its a farce, you used to be abole to buy a honme witho ne income no you need two. nope they set it that way. we need to pull back if a woman ends up single give her the a home too and provide food. they set it up to make it look it has to be done a certain way but it doesn't

[@darkopz]

I wrote a huge reply. I realized it would be completely ignored. The moment you are no longer supported by a family member or the government with money, is the moment you’ll change your mind.

[@chrishooge3442]

I've seen far too many posts with the attitude that "people don't want to work." It's horse hockey. During the pandemic lots of folks found out they either couldn't get food service hours or they could work from anywhere. It didn't hurt that 3 million baby boomers decided to move up their retirement. Now employers can't take their workers for granted. In fact, the bigger employers are the ones pushing up wages and luring employees away and pricing out the little guys. Finally the millennials are catch a break.

[@papaix4387]

For thousands of years raising enough of food to stay alive making enough of clothing to be covered and having water to drink consumed 100% of the time and they died young. This idea that we can have all kinds of free time and be pursuing our goals is built on an oil economy. If you start taking that away we’re going to go back to what it has been for thousands of years before modern life started. I’m not saying ancient life was bad or terrible but The Talk here is not balanced in the light of thousands of years.

[@orangemanonsteroids8569]

I'm 57 went to Germany back in the 80s lived there on and off for a total of 18 years. worked in Thier system and ours. I been saying what he's been saying since 1990

[@vince8520]

Even though I'm in IT and make a good living I can relate to your point. I just quit a job because I was tired of dealing with external consultant that make 200$/h not delivering anything. and then you finds out that the so called consultant is actually a friend of your boss and they went skiing the weekend prior. Then when you ask for a raise they tell you they don't have the budget ... There is so much corruption in the corporate culture these days that to me loyalty to employers is completely out the window

[@johngoldsworthy7135]

I’m in IT too and the nepotism is insane. I have absolutely zero loyalty to my employer because they will drop you in a sec for any reason whatsoever

[@TheRedneckGamer1979]

As someone who spent 20 years welding and is now basically crippled in their mid 40s, yea it ain't worth it. The company I worked for made millions, and when the works had ground me down to the point that I just couldn't do it anymore, coupled with the severe hearing loss and a pair of autoimmune diseases (not related to work on the lattermost) they just kicked me to the curb. That's the American work space now. If I had the time back I would have pursued my own passions and been poor and fulfilled rather than making it ok and then being left broken.

[@shea5542]

❤

[@shea5542]

🫂

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

As a 49 yr old GenX, I worked so hard cause I needed to. 35+ years as a carpenter as well as everything else that was needed. I’m broken. Many of us are.

[@Beijingbiden]

20 years oilfield I am broken brother

[@Xirrious]

Broken like, how exactly? Physically?

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

@@Xirrious Yes physically. Severe nerve damage from repetitive stress injuries as well as falls from failing equipment etc. I'm broken.

[@Xirrious]

@@Artisanwoodworks73 man, I'm working as an electrician and I've just started really in the last couple years, worked other trades as well. Am 33 now but my elbow is already giving me problems. Repeated squeezing to cut and strip wires I think...

[@thegeniusofthecrowd354]

@@Artisanwoodworks73 Me too pal, 50, A&E nurse, knees fucked and dislocated shoulder that needs a dangerous operation I refuse to have. Going offgrid and getting on the Hunter S. Thompson retirement plan.

[@HAXMAN]

I wrecked my back working for a concrete company over twenty years ago. When the foreman and the mixer quit I was promoted to foreman/mixer. I doubled the daily production with two fewer men and my reward was $2 more an hour. The foreman I replaced made twice what I made. My gift to my employer was an extra $100k or more in profit. It’s a popular method used by employers.

[@BroosDager]

Take pride you did a good job, and it taught you a lesson to ask for a raise when you deserve one. My company still makes a lot of money off my work, and I hope they keep on making more off my hard work. The same arrangement then when I first started 28 years ago. Work hard, learn your lessons the easy way or the hard way, and keep working hard. Your work is SO MUCH more important than your compensation. Money is nice, but being a good man is so much more important.

[@Chickenlegs41]

@@BroosDager Hmmm. Do you think the owners of these companies, many of whom are millionaires, think that being a good man is more important than money? I believe that is the lie that the "haves" tell the "have nots." All the while they are laughing all the way to the bank.

[@BroosDager]

@@Chickenlegs41 I don't let others define me. I'm not a victim and I don't care. They told me how much they'd pay me before I started for goodness sake. Complaining and blaming others is counter productive. And socialism is for morons.

[@bretrides]

@@BroosDager working hard for someone thats taking advantage of you does not make you a good man. You sound like one of those type of employers that takes advantage of a good employee. people are starting to see thru that bullshit.

[@BroosDager]

@@bretrides The original poster didn't complain, and I didn't say anything bad about him. You guys thought it was your opportunity to be one more poor victim today. We don't need more victims. All you poor babies being taken advantage of. Work all day pissed that someone is doing better then yourself, because they're paying you exactly what they told you they'd pay you when you took the job. You boys gonna have a hard time being so oppressed lol!

[@combatdan77]

I've worked in manufacturing/ production for the last 15 years. I've listened to countless people tell me they won't be back tomorrow because they can't handle the narcissistic, alcoholic, lifer with anger management issues freak out one more time. I've left places for the same reason. Forced to work 2nd/3rd shift, 10-12 hours a day, weekends, holidays, for barely enough to afford housing and basic needs, never seeing your family, eventually your wife leaves you, your social life doesnt exist anymore, and you've made no progress. Your efforts have been rewarded with more responsibility without an increase in pay. Eventually, you just give up. Whats the point? And the younger generation hears and sees what it did to you and they dont want anything to do with it. Id call that good reasoning skills, others call it laziness...

[@FibonacciK]

Stopping ALL immigration would go a long way to raising wages. Unskilled, skilled laborers, and professionals are seeing their wages undercut by immigrants.

[@orangekilla3374]

We should deport every last one that is here to

[@Mr_Mistah]

Raising wages doesn't matter if there's high inflation. The value of the American dollar has been reduced significantly. It's not the fault of immigrants. They work the jobs YOU won't

[@FibonacciK]

You don’t know what you are talking about. You ever wonder who the unskilled laborers were prior to the 60’s? The job still got done; they were just paid more. Unskilled laborers are undercut by illegal immigrants, skilled laborers are undercut by legal immigrants, and professionals are undercut by H1B holders. I have seen this in each stage of my career. This is the perspective of a professional who has worked all types of jobs and has empathy for actual American workers.

[@favoriteswubby]

I was born in 1957. When I grew up, a lot of people dug basements and covered them with the first floor and rolled roofing. Each week, after getting paid, they would purchase however many materials they could afford. Little by little they would build their house. In about 5 years the house would be ready to move into and they would have no debt. Then in the late 60s to early 70s every place started making it illegal to live in a partially finished house. By the late 70s the 30 year mortgage was introduced. Today many people may think that they are home owners, but very few people actually are.

[@lizamali1619]

Too many laws. We should reset them to freedom.

[@tomevans4402]

Well said

[@de14jabs]

Property tax makes it clear you never own it. *Wake up*

[@makeitpay8241]

@@lizamali1619 correct!

[@Cmill0588]

Agreed! You continue to rent your land from the government!

[@mondavou9408]

When you destroy the middle class, you destroy dreams. When you destroy dreams, you destroy hope. When you destroy hope you destroy the human spirt. Whether by design or accident, doesn't matter.

[@DaOldSchoolRapLova96]

Yeah the middle class is key. I miss community like how it was in the mid 2000s and below. Never saw how it was before then. I’m 26 and the future is definitely not looking good. If every job paid 10$ more an hr, things would be better

[@mondavou9408]

@@DaOldSchoolRapLova96 If every job paid $10 more, then everything would just cost more and we would be right back where we are right now. Its about having layers so folks can work up into (if they want to) more skill, more responsibly, more pay.

[@kimpersing318]

It's by design. When you kill hope you get control over a person's life.

[@mondavou9408]

@@kimpersing318 You're not wrong. Some folks have an unending well of hope. I love those people.

[@matthewrobinson6091]

The middle class doesn't exist. You noob it's just the owner class and the working class. There's no middle class and in all honesty, there never has been that's part of their system to manipulate you.

[@friskecrisps8038]

The thing nowadays is that the younger generation is realizing just how little most companies care about their workers and that a “work hard” attitude is basically just the higher ups dangling the the carrot of higher pay and promotions to get more work out of you for free. This is just my opinion but I think there’s so much criticism from older generations on the younger is because they don’t want to admit a lot of them were probably taken advantage of. That them working all those extra hours didn’t amount to squat

[@garthlundquist3623]

Excellent analysis, Wranglestar, and well spoken. It was people like you and me that built these companies and this Country through hard work and sacrifice. Once your body is comprised from overwork everything becomes clear. After 44 years driving a commercial truck I retired at 60. The first thing I did was turn in my Commercial Driver’s License. My co workers thought I was crazy. I never looked back and have been truly blessed to spend the last ten years hiking, building trails, and riding my dirt bike daily. I owe nothing, own little, and worry even less. I gave away 7 houses to my ex wives and their lawyers. Good riddance. Once you lose your health you are done.

[@madmachanicest9955]

Working hard gets you nothing. This lesson as literally been beaten into my generation

[@joy4118]

From experience, a person can work hard for over 30 years making low wages and one day your employer can get rid of you for not wearing a mask.

[@wread1982]

@@joy4118 😂

[@jillsalkin7389]

Wow, that is so sad ---- and scary.

[@erics4768]

@@joy4118 Or you just slowed and aged.

[@daviddickey9832]

Correction: working hard gets you exploited if you're working for someone else

[@deejayimm]

I am so glad someone with a voice spoke this. We are not lazy, we are tired of being cash cows. In 2000, the big factory in my rural area paid 9.80 an hour, OF COURSE as a temp (evil companies that have no right to exist). 14 years later, I moved back to where I grew up and the same job started at 10.70 an hour. The cost of living doubled or quadrupled, and the pay went up 90 cents. They have since increased their wages to near 13, but my god the world has become even MORE expensive. The death of America started with the creation and subsequent worshiping of the term PROFIT MARGIN. Your employees are your greatest asset. If you do not realize this, you deserve to go out of businesses because "people are lazy". It is an unfortunate dichotomy that "nothing is made in America anymore", and the fact that factory workers are considered "unskilled laborers". These elites will sell the whole country out, so that 8 year olds in China will do the work that increases their profit margin.

[@tomkeppler1717]

And your guilty of buying all those child labor made products and not paying attention to what that's doing to our country until it's to late

[@deejayimm]

@@tomkeppler1717 only when I have no choice. You seriously think this is consumer-driven? Companies outsource to increase profits. That's why there were 66 billionaires in the US in 1990, and there are 735-937 in the US today. It's not the fault of the people. People buy what's on the shelf.

[@u2bemark]

I think employers forgot the other meaning of people of who work for them... that is, those people are doing work you cannot do.. they are literally doing work FOR the owners. They are doing work that the owners cannot do for themselves. Secondly, re: buying things made in China and elsewhere by, essentially, slave labor... the polticians let us all down allowing that to happen.. and then you have teh talking heads like the New York Times' Tom Friedman who told us all "The World is Flat".. and that that was a good thing. Globalists.

[@deejayimm]

@@u2bemark I think yt deleted your comment.

[@rogersmith7396]

The only reason that pay has gone up at all is because no one will work for what they are offering. I am in a rural area where minimum wage has been the norm. They have had to go up to $15.00 or more not because they should but because their workplaces are empty. Pay or go broke. There is only upper class housing. The Republican city government is talking of building worker housing to keep their little elite Nirvana from closing down. The gas station has closed all but two pumps because they won't pay workers. The Sonic has closed most of their kiosks because they don't want to pay workers. How stupid is it to cut your income by half rather than pay an extra buck or two an hour for workers. American elites are sick and they are killing this country. As they pay no taxes only the workers pay and there are fewer and fewer of them.

[@Greyshadow_17]

My dad was a welder and he eventually had to get both his knees and shoulders replaced and even suffered breathing and lung issues. What you’re saying is spot on

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

He orobably welded a lot without good ventilation whats nice is when you can weld and all the air around the weld is sucked out and away. When you work in the feild it might not be the case and it may be an enclosed enviorment or stuff lingers in the air etc. I like welding but i perfer PPE and ventilation is part of that to me. Makes welding jobs hard. Why weld for other people if i csm get my own welder and weld for myself you know? I would then be abke to mamage ventilation and thus after 30 years of welding i wont get cancer

[@jdguy23]

As a guy turning 29 soon I came from hard-working class men. Despite me having severe health problems, I did my best, but from what I've dealt with and seen quickly, thanks to my dad's teachings, there's just too many crappy businesses anymore it is now survival of the fittest anymore and I'm considering going off grid and live off the land its bad now

[@kni9ght]

Just turned 30 and same

[@joestone6103]

Our biggest problems in the working world is taxes and inflation which is dictated by politicians and the oligarchy. ( salary / wage earners are victims of the system. Refrain From DEBT also. If you don't have the money to pay for it DONT BUY IT. J.Stone I had to learn the hard way.

[@devonturney4840]

I'm 35 now, and I've worked in construction, trucking, and equipment operation for my entire life and all I have now to show for all that work today is the pain. The way I've been treated by my employers after my injuries is disgusting. Paying people the bare minimum that you can get away with is more than just cheap. It's morally wrong. I'm happy to see so many of these companies hurting for help. I hope they go bankrupt. I'll never lift a finger for any of them again.

[@jesusislord3321]

I understand. Many of them will reap what they have sown (Karma) because of greed, unfair work practices. Many, I believe, are struggling, can't find workers, some businesses have had to close because of how they mistreated people.

[@technicaltreasures7297]

Amen

[@yartsyarts]

This is what BASED looks like. Gone are the days where simply going to work was enough to provide for a family.

[@dongriffith2662]

At 34 i spent 10 years in manufacturing. Made it to managment and various other toles. Always paid under 15/hr. Ff to 2020 i changed jobs to work with the DD. After 3 years of this i have broke ground on a 2.5 acre organic farm. Over the next 3 years im incorperating growing mushrooms, microgreens, and bees. I will survive without the world... Im tired of enriching others. Im making my own path. I will sink many times before i succeed, but i will succeed.

[@andybrown6981]

Our boss drove to work in a new Lamboughini. Us workers gathered around. 'Wow, nice car, Boss'. Boss says 'Look staff, let me tell you .. if you just work really hard this year, put in more effort, I will be able to get another one.'

[@origin2211]

I hear old people complain that something like 7 million men aren't working in this country but theres simply nothing worth working that hard for for a young man anymore. You wont be able to buy a house and having a family is incredibly difficult because the courts are weaponized against you and women have been raised to believe you're an oppressor. There's no real reward for your work anymore

[@trige000]

I was thinking South America because it's cheap.

[@patrickriley507]

Right on the money. My brother

[@BaChewieChewieChomp]

I worked hard for years in healthcare, took pride in my work and saved lives. It destroyed my body, mental and emotional state, and when the day came when I needed help after making absolutely MILLIONS of dollars, a hospital blamed me for something I didn't do and I lost my license. Hard work used to be a guarantee, but employers are squeezing people for everything and giving nothing, property and cost of living is skyrocketing, and all the promises our generation were given are becoming undone. Very well said, anyone who has a problem with this video hasn't listened and learned enough from the people around them.

[@ninatrabona4629]

I trained to do massage. I quickly realized that when I did land a job it would require me to do 8 hours a day and it would be only a matter of a few years before my hands would be shot and and I would be out of business. In our work we treat "repetitive stress injuries." So the therapists we work for are having us injure our hands so we can treat others whose bosses have injured their bodies with repetitive stress work. Our employers know exactly what they are doing to us and the market rewards them for doing it. If these injured people wind up on government benefits they will be called lazy socialist bums wasting taxpayer money.

[@finanzferdinand9874]

I'm touching 50 and wish I had this attitude many years ago. We were brainwashed. I feel the big wake up call has been working from home due to Covid. People are getting a taste of what its like to have more time and energy as a result of WFH and want this to continue. Also a taste for working for themselves as working from home mirrors this.

[@cwilli8937]

The "Anti-work" movement has not been so well described on KZbin in my experience. Proves you learned it first hand. Its not about not doing a job, its not even about not doing a hard or dangerous job. The Anti-work movement is a product of the seeing our parents not get the respect they deserved for the sacrifices they made to an effort that only mattered to a class of people who used those resources generated to abuse our generation, our political system, our environment and our loved ones.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

It starts far earlier than that. The high achievers in school were looked down upon, when it was the slackers that should have been pounded.

[@aethulwulfvonstopphen8013]

Exactly, I saw the turmoil my father endured (which came down the line to me of course) trying to afford a family of 4 kids (which isn’t that many) and keep us out of the failing and crime ridden city that’s being colonized by foreigners without going bankrupt. I saw that as a kid and said I’m never doing that. I’m never taking a slave job and I’m never taking on personal debt.

[@outdoors-fun]

Wow..Nailed it man, well said.

[@tophat2002]

The system will push out nonconformist. Onto food stamps and commods, section 8 housing.

[@andymorgan6644]

Exactly. We working class put our bodies and souls on the line whether you work on an oil rig or work in a supermarket. These companies have no loyalty to you and will happily fire you so they can rehire you on worse pay and conditions just so they can show a 1% profit increase to their shareholders. And then you see that the toil you put in every day rewarded by the profits of others. Others who will happily spend the excess they make from creaming off your wages or cutting corners with safety. Spending it to pay for a helicopter to skip over the traffic that you are stuck in, burning your gas, getting to the job that earns enough to pay for your rent. My father often comments on why I don't do the dangerous things he did when he worked my job even though he now has arthritis at 60 from the cumulative broken bones and used alcohol to numb the pain. Well retiring at 60 is way beyond the means of many of my peers. At 40 I can see at least another 30 years of grind that I have to keep my body working for. Additionally, we are not grinding now to: fight a war, build a nation or aspire to a happy fulfilled retirement. We are now doing it so that the landlords we rent from can accrue more capital to snatch more property from us and of course... To pad the pockets of the new Holy Class, the shareholders. As a philosopher once said, its like slavery but with more steps.

[@drizzt3252]

Taxes are insane. Property taxes mean you never own property, you only rent it. The tax system is out of control.

[@RajaRickin]

property taxes are ruinous.

[@joy4118]

And the money system itself is fraudulent. ALL money is created as interest-bearing debt owed to bankers. Layers and layers of thievery cause most people to be poor and desperate.

[@RajaRickin]

@joy4118 well that is a whole other layer of the onion. in the end fiat systems rob society and enrich those who are closest to the bankers

[@mdfalse]

Wait until you realize that nearly all excess tax dollars just get handed out to the elite/large companies that woefully underpay their employees/laborers in the form of subsidized/contract for research, construction, defense, and anything else they can weakly tie to enrichment in the form of a blank check. Sadly, Wranglerstars idea of seeing where the money goes; it's nearly all to privatized fat cats. The workers need to wake up and realize the leaches are deeply embedded in the skin; much deeper than the government.

[@stephanieestrada6956]

What is the point of property taxes? Is it to cover the pipes that transport water and the electric cables to the house??

[@Dana-bp1hk]

As I listened to you tonight, it occurred to be that your son may someday watch his old man. (as you reminisced about your Dad and Granddad) on KZbin. What a rich legacy of you, your thoughts, dreams, aspirations, you will leave behind. I just thought that was amazing. Just having the technology to do that in itself is quite amazing. Anyway, I enjoyed your topic and it makes a lot of sense to me. As well as many ideas and things you share. I'm rambling, so I'll close. I think someday your son will really appreciate what you are doing. God bless you and your family.

[@farmcat3198]

When my family was shopping for a new HVAC system for our home, it was interesting that all the HVAC contractors mentioned their 2nd house.

[@madscientistmikhail]

I worked as an HVAC technician and eventually in engineer. In Seattle for 7 years. I made it to 75k a year salary. It got to the point where I worked 60+ hours a week and could never make anymore money. While I worked three 8 hour shifts in a row while my boss was in Africa "hunting". We charged 180 and hour and when calculated, I was paid 25 an hour... Both my father and my wifes father are only in their 40's and can't work anymore because they destroyed their bodies. I refuse to give the best of my life to an employer anymore.

[@techserve4453]

As a Bank Manager I was told the reason why Tellers were paid so little. At that time the pay was around $10 - $11 dollars per hour and less than 35 hrs per week. The Bank pays so little in order to keep the employee struggling so they won't leave.

[@marcomoreno6748]

Yet there are libertarians running around saying we should abolish minimum wage. Some business owners would chain you to the workshop if they knew they wouldn't face consequences.

[@techserve4453]

@@marcomoreno6748 yeah! Isn’t that the truth. So focused on greed they loose site of fairness and a livable life.

[@LoveLife-oo9cz]

How can you pay someone so little and expects them not to leave? They can find other jobs at anytime. Maybe the workload is not that hard, and during weekdays, most people go to work so hardly any drive-through.

[@stevenhenry5267]

Libertarians are a blight on humanity.

[@kolerick]

and... it prove my comment: slavery with extra step if you don't make much but your living costs are high... and management is on your back for imaginary faults all the time, your sense of worth is lost, you have no time nor means to improve yourself and move on... you are living your whole life walking the tight rope and everything vital (rent, healthcare, studies) is overpriced to drive you to work to pay for it... why do they want you to make a lot of children? well, there is a cost for them... big costs... America: live to work Europa: work to live

[@annex6]

You're appealing to something I've felt for a while. I'm a worker. I'll work hard at anything I do. I'm 42 and have no issues giving 120%. However, I discovered through working for the manufacturing sector after the military that these companies want more, more, more for less. The last company I worked for was supposed to be 4 ten hour days, lied and even though it wasn't part of the hiring agreement, somehow was able to get away with controlling people's weekend. We never knew if we had it off and they wouldn't tell us until last minute. People worked 50 to 60 hours a week. Marriages took attrition. And it's a cliche but they really do treat people like mere fuses/numbers. Gone are the days of 40 hour a week jobs. They sit you down in orientation and make it like you have to marry the company. It's more like indoctrination. Even at Lowes early in the morning I shop and listen to their ridiculous team meetings where they talk in computation and percentages. And because of the cell phone age, even though most jobs are not on-call, employers think they're entitled to mandating you pick up that phone and come in whenever they call. It IS greed. It IS the elite massaging us into indentured servitude and subjugation. Someone is trying to dissolve the American Dream of going out on your own and making your own way. It's not a life and I don't want it. If I have to put that many hours into work, I'm doing it for myself or doing what I love.

[@kellyjacobs4114]

I am so sick of hearing about how people don’t want to work. My son has applied to 100s of jobs for several months! NO ONE IS HIRING! Want ads are bogus. My son is giving up hope. I do not know what the heck this man is talking about saying companies are begging for workers.

[@AshtonCoolman]

I turned 41 last week. I realized that I've used up a lot of my good years in life working so hard that I neglected friends, family, and myself. I've gotten ahead a bit, but definitely don't have enough to show for it at this point in my life. I'm going to reverse this trend in my 40s and re-focus on myself and my loved ones to live a healthier, happier life.

[@j.l.salayao8055]

I'm rooting for you, Johnny! I'm turning 41 years young this year and about same situation as yours. Thankfully, we caught it earlier and life made more since now to make changes rather than to realize it when we are on our 70's or 80's.

[@johnmitchell2269]

Seems like a good idea. Work life balance is key.

[@pureblood3127]

YES SIR , that's exactly why we are NOT supposed to flip burgers or live with mommy until we are 35 and then realize oh no I have no retirement LOL .

[@jesusislord3321]

You are a wise young man. There's more to life than just money, things. As you get older, you realize you'll need your family and friends, to be there for you, as they will need you to be there for them.

[@bk2no]

I'm 43 and I just assumed that working is a part of life. When I take a two week vacation, I'm ready to go back to work around day 10. I really don't understand all the complaining these days.

[@YouTubestolemyhandlethosemofos]

My father was a teamster. Got lung cancer from all the diesel fumes he breathed (not a smoker). He died a few weeks after I graduated. I will never forget the look of defiance and defeat he had as he realized he wouldn’t get to enjoy any retirement with the family he killed himself to provide for. I now work with heavy equipment breathing those same diesel fumes to support my family. The irony 😢…

[@12345cornbread]

Sorry for your loss. College education would have been much healthier for him to have gotten an office job.

[@MrMcCoy-vs6ss]

Your task was to learn from the mistakes of others. Your situation is not irony. You are doing the same thing and expecting different results. Do you know what they call that?? It's called insanity. Here's you sign.

[@mstyle187]

@@12345cornbread and you’re probably supporting the college debt forgiveness…. Lol

[@12345cornbread]

@@mstyle187 nope, I’m a firm believer of paying your own way.

[@alejandrobarranco9582]

@@mstyle187 college is not bad if you know where to look alot of it is business and people don't think in the big picture the go get these degrees to make mom and dad proud and to keep up with the Jones's only to make like 70k a year at that point its not even worth it. Honestly as long as youve got a great plan you don't even need school. It's the plan that matters not the degree

[@richglaser4566]

Great video, food for thought, I think it’s very important that you do something you love or at-least like

[@justinandkate48]

Started plumbing at 16. Journey man at 18, got my masters at 24. Retired at 38, bought a beautiful farm in the ozark mountains, spending my time with my kids and doing what I enjoy.

[@KarlsLabReport]

I had planned on doing that with HVAC back in the day, but there were injuries and setbacks, … you know what Shakespeare said about the plans of mice and men …

[@hidden-treasures]

Glad you woke up. I'm a Boomer pushing 70, and entered "retirement" through the ICU. I learned what you learned to late, but it could have been worse for me. Now, I have to take a lot of prescriptions to hold myself together, but I am fully functional otherwise, thank God. He spared my vision. My job as an Engineering Manager exposed me to all aspects of the operation, from the grunts in the trenches to the directors at the top. All the work was done by the grunts, but upper management kept squeezing us middle managers to cut salaries at the bottom. Of course, the bonuses only went up, up, and up at the top. Before I left, the Director gave her "why I hate Engineers" talk just before Christmas. I'd had enough, and saved enough to pull out. I thank God for the illness. It forced me to make the move I needed to make before I died in that job.

[@Patrick-ln8qr]

As the sole provider for my family, I feel this video. I'm an office worker, and for almost 2.5 years now I've been working from home. My kids are almost all grown, and I'm seeing them every day now. I cannot help but think about the fact that when I worked in the corporate office and my kids were growing up, I left home at 6 a.m. and wouldn't get home until 6 p.m. at the earliest. I missed their childhoods. So many memories were made that I missed. My employers didn't pay me enough to miss those moments, but I'm just realizing that now. It's sad. If the younger generation has figured this out already, then more power to them, they are leaps and bounds ahead of where I was at their age.

[@tallmanfromcornwall1229]

Ditto. Going back to the office a few days a week now really highlights this issue. I now see very clearly what I have missed the last 20 years. And it's killing me.

[@danielromerosol4158]

Powerful post! 👍

[@longinus58]

They have figured it out and are now rebelling by not participating. Problem is we will lose another generation in this as they will be financially behind by the time anything changes. And these companies and individuals arent going to let go of their power easily.

[@joshuamason1867]

You need to figure in your drive time too. Any time you spend driving to or from are essentially givin to your employer. They are hours you can't really use on your home life or to further yourself outside of listening to a podcast or two. When I was in the office daily, I was giving my employer at minimum, 10 hours every single day. I even used to answer texts and emails after hours. All those after hours given to my employer and not advancing on the ladder or earning higher wages... I will never give them more value than they are paying for again. I did this for years before realizing I was just spinning my tires.

[@Xero_Cars]

this is pretty much on point with how me and my buddies developed our opinions on working. i started working again a month ago and ive barely been able to enjoy my time with my family and its just very disheartening when you dont even get paid much while not getting to enjoy our lives at all. And yes i know thats a part of the way of life, but it isnt a way im gonna let my life go. Because seeing my family and enjoying my moments with them is what matters most to me

[@redshinoutdoors]

A big reason why I got out of the military was that all of my senior ncos were broken physically. Men in their late 30's.

[@greatbooksformen]

I saw this with senior ncos and some officers as well. a lot of these guys were either pill heads or alcoholics in order to cope. I had one LTC who if he didn't get his pills he wouldn't come to work. He had so many airborne jumps that had wrecked his body.

[@orneryoverwatch7031]

It's the increasing realization that for most people, all working affords the you ability to do is keep working. There is no longer a light at the end of the tunnel, no reason for any of it other than to "live someone else's" dream. I now live by the motto "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away". I have everything I need and will not stress over earning another person a few extra bucks.

[@timothyperniciaro8100]

I watched my dad work 12 to 16 hour days 5 to 7 days a week. He owned his own business and was able to provide a nice life for us and the whole family. He always said he would relax and enjoy the his retirement because he was working so hard. Cancer took him a few years ago. He never retired. He never enjoyed the wealth that he built up. If you don't have your health you have nothing. Mental health included. Watching him go through everything changed me. Why should any of us work ourselves to death? For someone else or for some dream that we may never see. It's better to enjoy life when you can. I was born in 1988 and I have arthritis all over my body from working myself to the bone. No more.

[@empirecycleman355]

See a rheumatologist.

[@Bucky1836]

Born in 88 as well dad worked me hard since 13 .....had 14 surgeries in my 20s so i literally know your pain 🤗 tumeric helps with inflammation

[@samuelalley7331]

The same reason Jesus did. Worked Himself to death to save a people that think that sacrifice means nothing.

[@xxdragan]

Carnivore diet will be your best friend

[@scottbarnett3566]

@@empirecycleman355 missing the point i think!

[@jeffwolf8018]

For many years I did termite treatments and repair work. When I went to open my own business I would take 20% off of the termite bills and estimates. And after taking that 20% off I was still making $170 an hour. And both me and the homeowner were happy with the prices. Me making $170 an hour and then saving 20% off of the termite bills

[@LL-ye9zm]

Life's too short to be slaving for someone else. When an employer wants you working all the time, it means he/she wants you stuck in the mud in life, and to pay for his/her luxurious home while you live in a straw hut with no roof.

[@brookekathryn1980]

I left my $43 hr, 70 hrs a week job two years ago. Could not be happier! Started my own company. I and my eight employees work 20 hrs ish a week! Full benefits and matching 401k contribution. I've tripled my income and my employees all make over six figures. Don't tell me billion dollar corporations can't afford to do the same!

[@Vid_Master]

Yep, each person's labor is so much more efficient now than it was back in 1960, so why are we struggling to afford basic needs?

[@brookekathryn1980]

@@Vid_Master Bingo!

[@scottbarnett3566]

Where can I apply? 😅

[@suspicious2delicious]

What kind of business do you run?

[@brookekathryn1980]

@@suspicious2delicious Construction logistics.

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

As my Father said several times, it just does not pay to work anymore. Especially for someone else.. He was one of the hardest working Man I have ever known. Who survived the Great Depression by working in child labour to help the family out. Not a lazy Man by any means. But things have changed oh so much, and MANY eyes are being open to the down right abuse of being maliciously USED...

[@LIVdaBrand]

⚠️‼️

[@snigie1]

You yanks are learning why they're letting illegals in! Otherwise eventually they'd need to pay more!

[@Johnsnow2r7v83f]

People are starting to wake up, employers have no loyalty but expect employees to.

[@polskigirl8547]

Caregiving industry charges anywhere from $325 to $450 per day for services but yet they pay the front line caregivers in the home a wage of $15 per hour…..

[@Mr_Mistah]

You know it costs money to run those services too right?

[@polskigirl8547]

@@Mr_Mistah yes but if you do a private pay you can cut the cost in half

[@jeffburman7832]

In the 50s a milkman had two cars, a wife that stayed home, three or four kids and owned his house. Now a milkman is single and renting an apartment with three roommates.

[@negativesc0pz689]

My high school welding teacher Mr. Bachinski had been welding for over 40 years, and teaching for 30. The one thing he always told us is to never be a slave to a paycheck. Go and do something that actually gives you fulfillment. He was a wise, and very funny man lmao

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

You ever hear that Simple Man song by Skynyrd? Great tune.

[@donniedonnie639]

I understand where you are coming from but, a $30 an hour employee cost the employer more like $45. Supply additional benefits like health insurance, paid time off/vacation time and a company vehicle to drive and this becomes much, much more. Maintain a building, a tool/parts inventory plus various licenses and insurance you will probably decide that employer wasn't charging enough for you. Besides, if you weren't working and had more down time, you are not preserving your vitality for the future but probably being detrimental to your health. It's why the government likes to keep people paid that don't work, they know they won't be around long anyway. I enjoy watching this channel, but I have to disagree. If you are not working to pay your own way you are either scamming the government or your parents or someone else. Of course, there are valid reasons and justified exceptions, but most all do not fall into that category. It's not completely the people's fault, maybe not at all because it seems designed or at least condoned by our leaders.

[@WilliamBrinkley45]

@@donniedonnie639 there is a massive difference between labor overhead and cost per hour and employee exploitation. Charging the customer 20x what your paying the people doing the work is absolute exploitation. They aren’t exactly welding in outer space or at the bottom of the ocean. It does not cost $200-$250 an hour to employee a welder who makes $20 an hour, even if you include workers comp, unemployment, insurance etc,. Even if it cost $120 an hour to employ a welder it does not justify charging $250 an hour for his services and only paying him 10% of that. What defines Greed is that someone demands or wants more than is fair and more than necessary to accomplish something when it could work out better for everyone and yet remain profitable. But what makes Greed so damn dangerous is that there will always be justifications for it and make practical sense on the face of it, that can lure in even most well intentioned and generous person if they don’t start digging into the details.

[@gregjones3660]

@Donnie Donnie- it’s like you don’t comprehend. They ask the work from you of 2-3 people. Please don’t die doing the work of 2-3 people Donnie Donnie. If that happened to you and in the last few moments of your life you’d say. I understand now. They expected so much because they had business expenses… If it’s that bad then they are adhering to a terrible business model. If the business isn’t that bad then what Wranglerstar said was true… don’t be a fool Donnie Donnie…

[@donniedonnie639]

@@WilliamBrinkley45 None of that is accurate. Suppliers, manufacturers and everyone else knows the going rate for every industry/business and cost to be in business is adjusted accordingly. There are companies with thousands of employees that generate high levels of profit, but the benefit is they provide thousands of needed jobs. Not so far in the past man had to struggle against the elements for food, shelter and safety for themselves and their family, life spans were much shorter. With the population we have today, that lifestyle is impossible, so we trade our time for the things we want and need to survive. That time will be spent somewhere anyway and is no more dangerous than the previous. If you are not trading your time to make your way, you are a burden to someone. The government, your family, your spouse or someone is maintaining you. Most of this big company, big money view is jealously and people feeling entitled to what they have. We see it everywhere at even lower levels. If you have a home, car and lousy job you hate... believe me, someone out there wants that and sees you the same way you look at the big companies. Excess money almost always causes more damage than good to most people's lives. They see it as things and not a tool as it should be viewed, these things appear important but there's always a price to pay beyond purchasing. I'm self-employed, work as hard as anyone and know firsthand how things appear, and the heavy cost that everyone seems to overlook. On the bright side if governments around the world (especially here in the US) continue the path they seem hell-bent in pursuing, all of us citizens will be sharing nothing or a minimal amount to keep going, why the government has and controls it all (in the name of fairness for the people of course) and the "not getting my fair share" or "start at the top attitude" is helping them attain their goal. So, will you be happy then?

[@royalboo9554]

I shared a similar story with the welder. I was working 12 hour days for 17 bucks an hour less than 10 years ago. My boss was contracting me out for 125. I was struggling to pay my bills while my boss was building a million dollar lakefront house. I was working in aspestos filled crawl spaces and interstitials for 4 years before I wised up and realized it wasn't worth my future.

[@kaufmanat1]

What did you end up doing?

[@dmo848]

Sounds exactly like me. But this was for almost 10yrs. I learned this out a few years before I left. It ate me away

[@paultennis9414]

Sounds like there might be an opportunity to go out on your own. Take your contacts with you, then undercut the s**t out of your old company.

[@tikitavi7120]

Yep, I worked for a greedy creep just like your boss for thirty years. I finally quit out of the blue, and he had become so reliant on me that in two years his business folded.

[@scruffmcgruffthecrimedawg5661]

That's because you boss took all the financial risk. His company goes under and he takes all the heat and bankruptcy. You just go find a new job.

[@maxlown363]

Ive farmed and worked multiple jobs for decades. I worked like a mule all through my 20s, 30, and 40s. I have been noticing the last few years that, like you said, corporations will consume your body to give executives lifetime paid medical, wealth and retirememnt, while they throw you away once your body is worn out.

[@scoodler]

My father was a carpenter. He passed away at 58 due to complications he got from the laser treatment he received during his battle against lung cancer. He got the cancer from working inside a building that contained dust that got into his lungs. To my memory, he was coughing within a month of doing this job. He couldn't have been the only one to have adverse effects from this environment, but they kept them working in this toxic place till the project was completed. That's how much this company cared about their employees. He was a strong and healthy person up to that point and liked his job. My mother should have sued the company, but she didn't have the mental or emotional strength to handle something like that after he died. If you are out there doing something physically challenging and sense something is threatening your safety or well being in any way, speak up about it. If that's not allowed, quit. It's not worth the risk. I miss him every day and wish he was still here.

[@jesusislord3321]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Dang, so sorry to hear about your dad. I wish your mom would have sued also. That company's owners who knew about the dangers of working in that environment will know what karma is about, for sure.

[@bioliv1]

I too. I quit at 50 y.o. It was a family company though. Luckily my brother was a narcissist and kicked me out, he never worked, while I destroyed my health. The inland climate here is too dry for my lounges. But I try to be careful and hope to recover some day. Just photograph now, as I bought an a7iii in a 50 years anniversary to myself, and got hocked. Photography saved my mental health. I just got 55 y.o., and have two wonderful daughters. It's our national day today, but we don't celebrate, our country is destroyed. I just photograph the remnants.

[@scoodler]

@@jesusislord3321 thanks for your kind reply. I appreciate it.

[@scoodler]

@@bioliv1 Good for you. Keep on photographing. Never let anyone talk you out of it. Your creative work and your daughters will be your legacy.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

He definetly probably was involve din something like an old asbestos building tear down. Which, theres ways to do it wothout getting cancer i think.

[@williamodom2580]

I’m a baby boomer, I’ve worked had all my life, for many years I worked 2 jobs, I was a firefighter/paramedic and worked construction with my dad, your so right it takes a toll on your body. I’m 77 I’ve had a heart attack, cancer,total knee replacement on both knees, rotator cuffs repaired,hernia operation and you what I have finally realized that I just can’t do everything I was able to do when I was younger but I still try to do it, but takes twice as long as it used to. But you know what both my kids have the same work ethic and I’m proud of them, but I have told them many times life is too short to work all the time, my daughter lives in a huge 4 bedroom house by herself and 3 dogs WHY, when she could get by with a place half the size or less. It’s just not worth working yourself to death and crippling yourself

[@angusorvid8840]

I grew up in America but my parents are from Spain. There was never any talk of the nobility of work. It was just a thing you did. We always believed of working to live, not living to work.

[@WanderingHusk]

You have such a great take on this. Why would someone kill themselves at a job nowadays? The family is breaking down, corporations demand more and more from their workers and give less and less in return, the government takes more and more from us each year, and, lets be honest, we get nothing back from them except more rules, more legil;ation, more sticks to beat us with. Why would anyone sacrifice their entire life just for a corporation?

[@travismitchell210]

I feel this... started out digging ditches and shoveling snow for 8 bucks an hour. Kept grinding, kept learning, worked weekends to pay for certifications and liscences, put in overtime every day of my life for over a decade. Didn't matter one little bit. Rent has went from 800 for a house to 2400 for a house. Can't qualify for a mortgage at 70k a year in my area, I have broken bones, scars, bad hands, and I'm only 32 years old. My last company fired me after years of dedication because I dealt with some health issues. And don't get me started on the direction of the country. I'm completely checked out. I have a few side hustles going, I'm gaming the system where i can, and I'm going back to school so I can work remotely, I'm just completely done.

[@Boc3phu5]

Good luck to you brother. Just pass on your message to the next generation.

[@witteegameapps7031]

If you like computers, try IT. Get a Comptia A+ certificate. Then you can work remotely. Heck, double dip if you can.

[@marksommers6089]

Haveing a house is a " Boat Anchor" , It'll Drag you Down - You can NEVER Own your House - Now , MANY , If they have the Means, Buy a Motor home, Or Camper to live in, And Avoid Rent -

[@witteegameapps7031]

@@marksommers6089 Agree. In southern California, to me, the houses are still worth $300k at most, not $1 million. They still are the 30+ year old houses made from cheap drywall and wood. I think the housing prices flating is manufactured by the government and the greedy rich. Higher home values equal higher property taxes to be collected. I actually looked into mobile homes and was shocked that despite the mobile home costing $80j, the land owner charges $2,000+ per month. Now, I'm just saving money and developing games on the side to generate a side income that will lead my family into a better retirement experience.

[@livewithmeterandnomeasureb1679]

As someone in really bad health i get this. My story is similar but ive been sick since i was born. I worked and went to school till i couldnt. Hope one day to go back to school to be a concilor if i can. Even if i cant do it as a job i love the subject of psychology (and ethics anyway.)

[@ronnestman4696]

I’m in my mid fifties and one thing that most people don’t understand is that young people don’t want to work with assholes. They will work and take on any challenges but they don’t want anyone my age constantly telling them that they’re soft and stupid. It’s our responsibility to bring them along and teach them values and the principles for success. Don’t preach to them and don’t dump your frustrations out on them. Give them a break!

[@bendover5001]

This. If I’m working a tough job with hard men, I will put my best foot forward and be respectful. If I’m just going to get called a reject for every single mistake I make while learning, then I’ll quit on the spot if noone respects me enough to tell me what I did wrong.

[@shea5542]

Young people now days have a better sense of intrinsic value, I believe. The internet has allowed people to work through their problems more and see that they should be treated well and not just accept what comes.

[@CF.]

I’m 44 and I remember getting treated badly at work by the older employees 20 years ago. I vowed to never be that way to the new employees when I got older. Getting screamed at for no reason never gets results.

[@chunkafunk81]

Amen

[@coloradogirl9913]

Cody, thank you for your analysis! It is spot on! I appreciate all of your thoughts on things. I feel that nobody is talking about these things. I have done hard work my whole life, farming, construction, working at the hospital 13 hour days. My body is shot. My kidneys are failing and I'm 58 years old. I'm trying to juice and do healthy things, We will see what happens.

[@dickrichard5579]

I’m a lineman apprentice living and working In Colorado Springs, cost of living here is so damn high, after the recent raise I earned, it’s still hard to rent a decent place to live, average cost of a decent apartment with less crime around it and necessities is 1300$ a month for a one bed one bath

[@arentol7]

If minimum wage had tracked from the 1960s to today in the USA in terms of real cost of living, it would be about $24 an hour right now. American workers have been taking a pay cut every year for the last 50 years, and no surprise we have massive income disparity issues, and we have moved from being able to support a small household on one workers wages to the brink of needing more than 2 workers for the same size household.

[@alexpearson8481]

Agree. I’ve always calculated my income into asset prices over the years. It’s the only way to know the value you are getting. I see asset inflation is much worst then the already dismal ‘core’ inflation. (Core inflation term is basically a way of lying to us). With your math, what metric did you use for inflation? Just curious.

[@alexpearson8481]

Hey Andrew. The system has always been bad, the whole system is designed by the elites for the elites at the sacrifice of the middle class. The middle class is the target because they hold the only other wealth that exists outside wealthy people. Poor don’t represent much. This isn’t the worlds first rodeo. There’s been numerous financial empires over thousands of years. The rise and fall of those financial systems are all very similar. Our advantage is that we can research these and learn from history. Rome for example. In terms of the inflation metric; the elites give us various metrics to use which for the most part are BS and lies. Core inflation? Really. BS. The only real way to measure inflation, is to divide your income in the asset price. Calculate how many hours in 1960, at minimum wage, it would’ve taken to earn 1 ounce of gold at 1960’s gold price. Now, measure minimum wage today and divide that into the price per ounce today. Whatever the variance, represents payroll loss for a minimum wage income earner over the decades. That’s how the wealthy steal middle class income. Inflation. Inflation is designed, it’s not some random phenomenon that happens naturally. The best thing anyone can do is cut the wealthy off, keep your taxes as legally low as possible, and for goodness sake‘s whatever people do don’t buy frivolous material items. Sorry if it sounds like a lecture. I’ve had years of critical thinking on the subject and my conclusions aren’t taught by anybody. My two cents Pal.

[@visual7150]

That's completely untrue, the equivalent of 1960 minimum wage ($1) adjusted for inflation would be just over $10 today (10.01) specifically.

[@nunyabizness6662]

If you don’t like the pay, start your own business. You will quickly find out all the ownership of the business will fall on you, and you will be shocked how many shitty employees are out there.

[@thodan467]

What did your unions do ?

[@robertanna9964]

I'm an RN with 30 years experience and worked the covid crisis in NYC, saw more death in those months than in the previous 30 years. The upside is that I made enough to payoff all of my debt, including my mortgage. I live very frugally and only work when I'm offered top rates. 13 weeks and then the rest of the year off. Being debt free has been the most liberating experience of my entire life and I'll never borrow another nickel for the rest of my life.

[@colinchampollion4420]

You are sooo correct you reached a level spiritual awakening of the true meaning of life😂

[@genxx2724]

How did you stay safe during the crisis? Some people claim that the people who died were elderly, obese, or had other health conditions. What did you observe? Thank you.

[@robertanna9964]

@@genxx2724 I stayed safe by very rigorous adherence to wearing an N-95 at all times and constant hand washing. The deaths we're almost always seen with co-morbids-Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, heart disease. Race was also a factor. More melanin=poorer outcome.

[@colinchampollion4420]

@@genxx2724 I have passive income and planned my investments many years before that now are very popular and payout very well and I have Zero Debt. During the Covid crisis I didn't have to work at all and stayed reclusive as I am use to that lifestyle for pretty much my whole life-time. I really do not enjoy being close to people much! I have a large self-contained property which I reside city close but still very country . So I have best of both worlds 🤓😤!

[@dannydaw59]

Thanks for your help during covid.

[@MasterTSayge]

I had 10 different jobs in life. I see a pattern. NEVER NEVER EVER Work with a Boss who works extremely long hours. You will get fired! Now i work for the same job for 9 years now and making 85k a yr only because my boss is a family man . Family is 1st to him. 🎉

[@user-rn9ge8pk5y]

Construction labor has consolidated in the past 20+ years. A foreman now is expected to be a carpenter/ operator/ laborer and be the QC /safety person in the field. Superintendent is expected to do half or more of what was the Project managers job. The PM now oversees three or four jobsites.

[@Marshcreekmini]

Learning about billed rate for employees is a real eye opener. I started on my current career path after the Army and made 15-17 bucks an hour. I was being billed out to our clients at 90 bucks an hour. I totally understand my employer needing to make money in order to keep me in work, but if they are charging 4-5x your salary, you're being screwed. Don't kill yourself for people who will give you a pizza party for your efforts.

[@igitahimsa5871]

@Rich Brungard Yes.

[@greghackney8437]

Employers have huge expenses to provide jobs to the community. Billing vs pay rate is not what the employer is making for the deal.

[@JeepCherokeeful]

Yeah, I’ve ALWAYS found giving employees pizza parties a slap in the face!

[@Rick-the-Swift]

​@@greghackney8437 I always have to roll my eyes when people complain about their employers charging 4-5x the amount they are making per hour. Their employers often spend much of their life learning a trade first hand, scraping by for years while they learn from their mistakes, and building their business from the ground up. Then they teach some lucky dolt their trade in a matter of weeks, what it took them years to learn the hard way. They supply them with tools, and a truck, which their employees often abuse or misuse- meanwhile being the ones who are still ultimately responsible for the job being done correctly and professionally. And all too often they still have to fold their business, because the personnel they hoped they could depend on, become disgruntled that they aren't making the big bucks, and they end up quitting- often stealing customers out from under their employer who taught them their skills.

[@Marshcreekmini]

@@Rick-the-Swift Tell me you don't work for or own a large corporation without telling me. Look, I'm on your side here. Small business owners are the most important part of our economy, but if you have spent any time inside of an organization of 10-30k plus employees, you wouldn't be defending them. If you would, you've been gaslit.

[@whoanelly737-8]

"...being farmed..." is EXACTLY IT! 100%