That was actually in place all the way back when I was in high school. If I got close to 40 hours at the dishwasher/cook/busboy job I had, they'd sub me out. The employees said this was so we wouldn't get any paid vacation, but I suspect maybe there were some other benefits as well. Maybe overtime pay? The boss would never even let us get close to ensure that we didn't accidentally sneak over the hour limit.

In my first job after college, I was at a huge company, and at some point the overseers bumped us up to 50 or 60 hours for about six months to try to meet some important deadline. I got time-and-a-half pay, and if I had smoked cigars I would have been lighting them with hundred-dollar bills. I felt rich whenever I'd see those paychecks.

I'd think simply experience, too... when I got into my current industry, being in the office didn't really connect me to the job, but I was basically an IT vendor and going out to vendor sites is what made it stick.

Working remotely now and even switching jobs doesn't change anything in terms of job connection.

I'd imagine that's similar for a lot of experienced people, too... you'll be connected more to the work regardless of where you work from.

I'd also guess it could be an issue for people who are newer to the work force, never personally meeting the people you work with or work for, etc.

This is well said.

I am pretty lucky to have a pension. Been in a new role in the past year and work life balance is what I make of it but it is a 24\7 operation so it can be tough to disconnect at times.

Pay is just "ok" but freedom and benefits are really good. Someone would have to back up the brinks truck to pull me away from this. I still think a public safety adjacent tech company might be an option but I have so many things going for me in my current spot and could retire here pretty happy.

There is a lot of fulfillment associated with a job well done in my field so times where you have to put in the extra hours it is usually tied to do something worth it and extra money is nice.

At the beginning of the year I was reorganized to a 2 person team with my teammate being from Japan originally. Its been eye opening to see how loyal, committed and eager she is for the company, to the point they try and take advantage

It was recently suggested that she run her daily project while traveling back to Japan to see her aging mom and I was compelled to step in and say that's not happening and we'll find an alt solution

I'm trying to show her the American way of work hard, take pride in what you do, but don't trust these people nor take their shit

Hearing this reminds me of a speaker who was at a team building seminar sponsored by the company I worked for....

He put the above quote on the board and asked how many people believed in that saying. Almost everyone raised their hands....

He said....in today's work environment too many of the people who say that are not your best workers because most of them are really looking for a way to achieve more without putting in any real effort.

He said the real way to state this is...."how can I work smarter but still put in the effort that is necessary to achieve my goals and the company goals".

Employers no longer offering pensions. Employers doing everything they can to not pay employees health insurance. Stagnant wages for decades, despite record profits and CEO pay skyrocketing. The largest corporations like Walmart have the most employees receiving welfare benefits. While bullying themselves into a monopoly status, regardless of laws against it. Now there are no more small town department stores at all.

We allowed corporations to acquire too much power in the name of capitalism. They've done nothing but throw their workers into the grinder. And we're supposed to be shocked that employees don't prioritize their work above the rest of their shitty life?

I stopped doing that the day my company stopped paying for a portion of my cell phone bill...

Or you just budget better and don't go crazy spending on things that don't give long term enjoyment.

My joy came from spending time with my kids when I got home from work...even when I worked OT.

I made my kids a priority.....because it also provided the greatest joy in my life.

It's that simple......I don't get why people see kids as a burden.

Yeah, my parents worked and I know it’s what they had to do but my mom worked second shift at factories for a good portion of my childhood. 12 hour days from 12:00-12:00 six days per week. She missed a lot of time with us and I would never want that cycle repeated in my life with my children. I’ll avoid that lifestyle at any cost.

God bless those bosses who don’t trip about shit like that.

Americans are working less
 

In a lot of places working harder or longer doesn’t produce an intrinsic gratification or impact as so much of that hard work, especially in office settings, seems like pointless busy work that only satisfies keeping your managers from bothering you.

People work harder when they feel personally satisfied, connected, or valued. Being a tiny little cog pressing buttons on a computer just doesn’t do that so things like work life balance become more motivating as they seek satisfaction from how they use their time.

The company I worked for before I retired last year didn't offer retirement health benefits, but I wasn't there looking for that. I planned to handle my own needs because I knew I was the person I could trust most.

Interestingly enough, there were some benefits I was able to take up on my own that were key to me....(legal insurance, hospitalization benefits, etc ) that were reasonable in cost and that I budgeted for.

My employer hired me when I was 60 years old.....I finished my career 8 years later with the same company, so not everyone gets canned 1 year short of retirement or FRA.

I'm a Boomer and in no way do I feel that I was screwed by my company. But, I have told my Millenial daughter that how I lived my life and planned my retirement would be different that she should and that her career would see a different path than mine.

I am retired and live comfortable...nothing wild or extreme, just a nice casual life that I planned for.

Disappearing pension opportunities started long ago.....too many people see this as a recent trend but it isn't.

Employers see health insurance costs skyrocket and some of that is due to fraudulent claims, but the real reason is the greed of the insurance companies.

Funny how people forget the days of when the local mills/companies pretty much owned the towns they were located in. They had the mill houses for rent and the company store where you went to buy all your goods. Right now we are just reliving this era's version of that.

Baristas get pensions now?