>


Literally just put in the effort to do the job correctly.

Exactly the point of my post, thank you.
I disagree when I work harder at my job I make more money because they give me more hours and then I get promoted so I make more money. Or at least this is just my experience with jobs >

I stayed with a company for a year and half always doing projects ahead of schedule and actually got a pay decrease so it’s not always great lmao >

Was the pay decrease during covid? Because many took pay cuts >

It was actually before and it wasn’t a small cut either it was like two dollars less >

Oh damn, that sucks >

I loved the job too I hated to leave but I needed money >

Unless you want to work towards a promotion / salary increase in which case it is helpful to work harder than expected. >

Last time I actually tried to work harder for a raise they gave me 20 cents more an hour. Then I left the goddamn industry and joined a union. FUCK THEM. >

What if the boss isn't on anybody's back about their work rate? >

this only seems to apply to low level hourly jobs.  More meaningful careers are far more complex due to the many ways you can work harder and enrich yourself at the same time.  The compensation for extra efforts is also more complicated.  
That said,  I kinda agree that people really shouldn't work too hard.  but it's a personal choice that can be pretty complicated to judge in some general way. >

The more complicated models include more complicated mechanisms to exploit the help.
Imagine this: As good as you are at your job, the asshole who makes his living exploiting you is that good at his job, and the system has its thumb on the scale in his favor. >

Sure but I was getting at the many careers like mine are actually enjoyable.. i studied many years to get where I am and Im awesome at what i do.  I am greatly rewarded for it.   Both in company compensation and personal enrichment.  It's not like washing dishes...  the better I am at my job, the better, smarter I am at lots of other things and even more and more able to start my own biz.   it's complicated. >

It's not that complicated, but it is rare. Think about continents. Think about the planet. How much of the human race enjoys a position like yours? How many are scraping a living off the ceiling, rather than the floor? >

that was my original point.  this post doesn't apply to the people who were blessed enough to be able to go to college and choose their careers.  
Often working hard has great benefits in those careers. That's what makes all that ridiculously hard in college work so worth it.  Very often it pays back BIG and not just in money.  
I know it's not so black and white but college really wouldn't be such a popular thing if it didn't pay off and make peoples lives worlds better. >

Lots of people studied hard their entire life, applied for financial aid, went to college, and made something of themselves. Me me me Instagram everyone famous TikTok generation is insufferable. >

Don't see why it's unfair to put in more work, especially if you wanna really improve. >

Did you even read my post? I explained why it's unfair to everyone else who now has to work at your speed because you want to show off while only your boss wins. >


because you want to show off

I work harder to improve, I don't care bout showing off plus I like more money so... >

Again, did you even read my post?
If you work harder, you should be compensated for working harder. In an hourly situation like the above, you aren't. >

And Ima still work hard to improve myself, nobody's stopping you from working harder as well. >

That’s the exact point: they shouldn’t have to. 
Know your employer. Some places, working harder means you get more money and recognition. Some places, working harder just sets a new floor for your co-workers to keep up with while you all get 10 cent annual raises. >

This is the mentality of someone whose never been rewarded with promotions for working hard. If you’re busting your ass and not growing your career, you’re wasting your time. >

All of my promotions came from steady work and kissing ass, never working above or beyond. That only got me exploited by managers that had me working extra for free; why would they give that opportunity work? >

Then you’re working for the wrong people at the wrong company. >

Lmao ok I’ve worked for several companies and it’s always the same. >

It's almost comical how people rush to defend all employers just because they personally haven't been exploited like that. While that's the majority of employers.  
"It hasn't happened to me, so therefore it doesn't happen to anyone, ever, period". >

OP’s take is equally unreasonable though.
“It’s happened to me a few times, so therefore it must happen to everyone in all industries and roles, every time.” >

I'm not OP but my experiences align largely with his.
That said, I recognize that two people is hardly a decent sample size for any kind of comparative study. Which is why I said in another post in this thread that there has to be some kind of golden middle ground between going the extra mile while not making yourself a virtual slave, depending on how your employer reciprocates. >

You’re pretty much talking about unionizing without saying it. >

Sorry, my work ethic and ADHD won't let me slack. >

I work in construction.  If I ever thought about it, I figured the progression would be:  Learn, get gud, get faster, run a crew, run a small job, run a big job.  Been pretty much that way.  (Cripes, 20 years this year)  
Most guys that I have working for me either don't have the aptitude to (which is fine, the work they are doing is important at our level) or have no aspirations to take greater responsibility.  They see the stress I am under (it is always stressful) and don't think the amount of extra compensation I receive is worth it.  They just do what the other guys are doing and live their lives.  Fair enough.  
But the guy that isn't exactly lighting the world on fire see the amount of effort put in by the guy who could be better and decides to put in the same amount of effort.  The other guy sees how much that guy gets done and reduces his effort to match it.  This causes an incremental downward spiral that makes my job even MORE stressful.
I am in a union.  I am not a company man as such.  But if the company I work for doesn't make some money on a few jobs, they may stop bidding them.  So I go to another company and the same thing happens.  Pretty soon I have to take a pay cut to do the same job because that is what the market is offering.  
I want to win.  I try to improve.  If you don't want to be the best at what you do, then you ARE just a drone. >

This is a very specific example... >

Careful now! we cant have people working any less hard because that might inconvenience rich assholes, and the one rule in america is we cant do anything that inconveniences rich assholes. >

The amount of people in this thread simping for their bosses is disgusting >

Nobody is simping here, people here just have their own experiences with this topic and many seem to have progressed in their careers exactly due to working harder, not due to politics like you have. >

A few thoughts:
1 if you have a job where you feel your hard work isn't appreciated, you need to find a new job as soon as you can.
2 if my coworkers are threatened by me working hard, I don't want them as coworkers
3 I'm really glad the doctors and other medical staff I work with do not have this attitude toward hard work.
4 don't be surprised if you are chronically unhappy with your career if you aren't willing to work harder than the average worker.   There seems to be a prevailing thought on Reddit, especially places like antiwork, that everyone who succeeds in life it's due to nepotism, kissing ass, bosses picking favorites, etc.  This definitely happens.  But, if you make yourself irreplaceable, someone will notice. The belief that working hard is pointless is toxic and will only hold you back in life >


4 don't be surprised if you are chronically unhappy with your career if you aren't willing to work harder than the average worker.   There seems to be a prevailing thought on Reddit, especially places like antiwork, that everyone who succeeds in life it's due to nepotism, kissing ass, bosses picking favorites, etc.  This definitely happens.  But, if you make yourself irreplaceable, someone will notice. The belief that working hard is pointless is toxic and will only hold you back in life

All of my raises and promotions came from consistent work and kissing ass/playing politics. I don't work harder than I have to, but I'm consistent and good at what I do. 
My colleagues who work overtime constantly end up being exploited with a carrot dangling in front of them for a "promotion, one day!" that only comes once they threaten to quit; and even when it does, they get laid off in the next round of firings because now they have a target on their back for wanting more. >


All of my raises and promotions came from consistent work and kissing ass/playing politics. I don't work harder than I have to, but I'm consistent and good at what I do.

Oof. Really telling on yourself here, buddy.  Just because you have to make use of underhanded means to get ahead doesn’t mean others have to.  It sounds more like you can’t get ahead on your own skills than anything else. >

Sounds like you don’t know shit about me >

And yet I could infer it all from your comment and post. >

Your comment from r/unpopularopinion has been removed because of: 'Rule 4: Be civil'. >

Everything you do is creating the future you. You can train yourself to be slow and half-assed and you will successfully become that half-assed person. Alternatively, you can look at work as a challenge, kick ass, and become better and better. 
You have to be you for the rest of your life. I prefer to be some one that kicks ass. It doesn't always pay off in a direct way, but in the long run its always better not to train yourself to be less than you can be. You can't undo that training overnight any more than you can become obese and then expect to suddenly become fit overnight when it suits you.
Whether you're a wage slave or not, you are always working for yourself. >

I'm pretty sure Ronald Reagan gave this exact speech when he was talking about the importance of the individual (read: Neoliberalism). >

Sure buddy, It is true that Reagan is the disease that has been destroying America since the 80's, but it's not because of his ideas about a work ethic. 
You just keep becoming less than you are and see how it works out for you. Destroying yourself to get back at your boss and an unjust system is going to be worse for you than it is for your boss or our fucked up economic system. >

I’ve gotten several promotions in the last 5 years by working smarter not harder. I’m doing just fine. >

Just out of interest, what do you do for work?
This all sounds good on paper, but this isn't how the real world works (well, at least not in any kind of job that's not very low skill, minimum wage type stuff).
In my experience with skilled work, the people who work harder are the ones who get the promotions and the pay rises, while the people who don't put in much effort but just do their job don't get progressed.
Plus, big companies don't generally have an "owner" and a lot of companies dont operate as simple as "do a project at a fixed price, get paid for it, then do next project" >

I'm in tech currently, have been for over 7 years. I see this shit all the time, especially amongst the developers.
Before that I was in retail, before that in landscaping, before that in foods. I've seen it there, too. >

This is loser talk. If you work hard to distinguish yourself, you deserve to be distinguished and all corresponding opportunity and accolades. If you work hard to distinguish yourself and it goes Un noticed then you should take your skills and hard work elsewhere. Nothing wrong with doing the bare minimum, and certainly nothing wrong with absolutely killing it and using that hard work and tenacity to try to elevate yourself. >

Nah, loser talk is busting your ass to show off your ego to a boss and hope for a shiny reward at the end of the year.
Working hard is a tiny portion of the battle; working smart and sucking up is what leads to promotions.
I work hard for myself because I see all the gains; I work the required amount for a boss because they see the majority of the profit. >

Believe it or not proving yourself reliable and hard working is an excellent way to not get fired. Economic slumps happen all the time, and positions get cut. You know who doesn't get fired in times like that? The people who give the best effort. >

If you’re a more capable person you have to learn to not pick up the slack of your less capable coworkers or they will never improve and you wear yourself out.  This is something I struggle with. I like to be helpful but in the long run it’s not. >

“What did the owner do here to earn the money?”
They put in the capital to start the business, they take the risk if the business fails. That’s how businesses work. >

The risk of falling back into the working class and being at the same level as their employees? Yeah fuck that >

If you hate employers so much, what do you think employees would do without them? >

Homestead >

Lol. >

Seems like you want communism to me >

OP is complaining that some people are working harder than others, yet everyone receives the same pay.  To my knowledge, it would seem he wants the opposite of communism...or something...idk >

I was just kidding dw >

This is a pretty unpopular opinion. I think your breakdown is well written out but does gloss over things, leaves out important benefit and incentive structures, etc. 
For instance I'm salaried and see benefits from working hard through profitability bonuses etc., and the way my company is structured the President still has to do the work we do. Hard, efficient, work means more money for me. 
Your model works when it's the "big man in the office smoking cigars" but I feel like that's not all that common a trope (I haven't run into it much at least). I have found most executives or leaders in my (anecdotal) experience to be somewhat hands on and present, while also making sure they perform the different duties associated with their job position. 
I mean the CEO of Ford isn't out bolting cars together, dude has other stuff to work on to make sure the cars being bolted together are actually going somewhere. 
I think your model is too sterile, leaves out too many factors, and may apply in some places but doesn't apply on the whole. >

This sounds like it’s written by the guy in the group project who does none of the work and still wants credit >

I don't only work for money. I work an essential job to serve my community. If the converse of what you propose is true, and if my working less motivates my coworkers to work less as well, that hurts the people that rely on me for the work I do. Not exactly inspiring stuff.
If you don't like traditional rat-race workspace culture, find another career. >

I see your argument and it makes sense, but I think your dismissing the "get a raise" part a lot.  
​

Well maybe the 1 person will get promoted!

Maybe?  If the company is at all respectable I would change that "maybe" to a "very likely".   At the company I work at, Ive produced more than most of my co-workers for the last 3 years and my salary has been raised almost 200% since then. Just go with a good company and you will see the fruits of your labor. (maybe not as much as your boss, but duhhhh). >

Working harder than you're co-workers will ultimately earn you more trust from you're direct supervisors which will lead to opportunities to do more tasks at work. This leads to gaining more experience and will eventually qualify you for future managements positions and therefore more money. You sound like the type of person who would love working a Government job. Somewhere where everyone is lazy and wants to work just hard enough not to be fired. >

Yes everyone should do as little as possible. This way no one has to work and the business can go overseas >

Tucker Carlson? Is that you? >

I see you weren’t able to address his comment on the merits and resorted to an ad hominem. Not surprised. >

Dumb advice. Work hard. Get rewarded >

OP must be hourly >

I'm a salaried employee at this stage of my career, but I was hourly in my 20's; what's your point? The logic proves the same regardless of salary or hourly. >

I think you need to learn more about the difference between hourly and salary. Or stay wrong, idc >

How? 
If I work for a salary of $52,000 I make $1000 a week.
If I work super hard every week, I still only get $1000.
I understand salary, don't be a condescending jerk. >


If I work super hard every week, I still only get $1000.

Until you get promoted because you work super hard... >


Until you get promoted because you work super hard...

You clearly didn't read my post, and you clearly don't understand how most people get promoted. >

Honestly the only thing you’re proving is that you’ve had pretty shitty managers so far who apparently didn’t take how hard you work into consideration when promoting people. >

Try this in a stack-ranking company (e.g. Amazon) and see how long you survive. >

Yes, Amazon is a shit hole. What's your point? >

There are non-shit hole companies that also do stack-ranking. >

When I work harder at my job it benefits the customers as well. Encouraging retail employees to not give a shit about their job inconveniences the consumers more than it does the boss/corporation imo. >


Encouraging retail employees to not give a shit about their job inconveniences the consumers more than it does the boss/corporation imo.

This sounds like something you learned in a Wal-mart onboarding video. 
If the amount of staff can't help the customers without busting their ass 24/7 then they need to hire more staff. That's on the company/ceo's and not the employees. >

Never worked for Walmart. 
It isn't about the amount of staff. It's that half of the ones in lower positions have an "I don't give a fuck" attitude that prevents them from doing their job correctly. >


It's that half of the ones in lower positions have an "I don't give a fuck" attitude that prevents them from doing their job correctly.

Yes because they realized that working hard doesn't do shit. Why bust your ass for minimum wage when you don't get rewarded half the time? >

Maybe to not make everyone else's life harder...you don't have to work 12+ hours and work until you physically can't anymore. Literally just put in the effort to do the job correctly.
Edit: This benefits both the coworkers and customers because they won't have to go back and fix YOUR mistakes and the customers will be able to find what they need easily/at the correct price.