30 Painfully Real Posts That Illustrate Precisely Why “No One Wants To Work” (New Pics)
During the Great Resignation, when millions of people left the workforce, the phrase "Nobody wants to work anymore" became a common sentiment among HR and business leaders who were having trouble with hiring.
However, as University of Calgary professor and researcher Paul Fairie pointed out referencing newspapers and other publications, these words have been thrown around every decade for at least the past century — going as far back as 1894.
So in an attempt to remind everyone that change starts from within, we went digging through the 'Antiwork' subreddit and put together a list of posts about hypocritical bosses who should take a good look in the mirror before blaming the common folk for being lazy.
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F*ck You Boss
Company owner decided to stop paying his drivers so one of them parked their semi on the owners Ferrari and just left it there.
I’m Still In Shock
People do want to work. The problem, according to sociologist Dr. Tracy Brower, is that many think of working conditions as primary drivers of wellbeing and engagement, but the work itself also matters.
In her opinion, employers should design positions so that the responsibilities would include more elements than the ones which detract from satisfaction.
"If working with customers or repetitive tasks are hallmarks of the work, consider how the responsibilities could be rotated with other employees so no job is overwhelmed by these characteristics," Brower explained. "In addition, ensure workloads are realistic, and ensure safety processes are followed without exception."
Who’s The Boss Now?
Never Told A Boss Off Like This. And It Felt Amazing
Note to management: Employees never merely threaten they'll quit in these situations. Before you ignore a threat or make a threat yourself, be prepared for that employee to separate.
Quit My Job Last Night, It Was Nice To Be Home To Make The Kids Breakfast And Take Them To School Today! Off To Hunt For A New Opportunity, Wish Me Luck
In addition to the content of the work and what gets done, Brower highlighted that how work gets done is critical to wellbeing too.
"For decades, work-life research has demonstrated when people have more control over when and how they work, their satisfaction, engagement, retention, and effort are positively impacted."
"While it's not possible to provide flexibility or choices in work hours for many jobs, wise employers will provide as much control as possible for as many jobs as possible," the sociologist said.
Owner Of Three Restaurants In The Suburbs Of Chicago Asks His Customers To Pay His Wait Staff A Better Wage
Is It Normal To Not Want To Discuss The Base Pay?
This Boss Who Loves A Double Standard
It Would Have Taken Everything For Me To Not Hit My Boss If This Was Me
Indeed, a recent study from McKinsey & Company demonstrates that people value having more breaks (56%), the ability to take time off (88%), the choice to work specific days or hours (78% and 79% respectively), and the option to work remotely (51%).
Offering these kinds of choices may offer the greatest returns in employees' satisfaction and retention.
You're Still Coming In Right?
Not me. On my way home and saw this truck in the ditch. I pulled over to see if he needed help but he was already gone.
But there was another guy in the parking lot talking to his boss on the phone. He had sent him the same picture telling his boss he didn't feel safe. We talked a bit after he got off the phone. His boss was pissed that he asked to go back home.
Young kid probably 19-20. I told him minimum wage wasn't worth it. Go home look for something better.
These supervisors, managers, companies don't understand or don't give a f**k. Ridiculous.
My Boss Sent Me This Text After Asking To Be Paid
i (21M) work in a very small bakery in upstate NY. my boss (52F) is the owner of the bakery. i get paid under the table in cash. we work alone together a lot of the time, and so we have opened up to each other about a lot of things. when i opened up to her about my family’s financial situation, it was because i trusted her. i did not do so for pity, nor did i expect to have it used against me. lately she has been paying me late, and so occasionally i’ll ask if she’s done payroll bc i need to get food. yesterday she replied with this. i’m speechless.
If you don't have enough money saved up to cover your employees working during slow times how is your business going to survive? I pay people no matter what. If I had to make a choice to pay my employees or the bank I know who I would pick and I run my own small business with employees.
This Boss Who Expected Their Employee To Change Their Pre-Approved Holiday Plans At The Drop Of A Hat
Yeahhhh, we're going to be Short staffed so if you could come in in Thanksgiving that would be greaaaat.
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Bosses really do think that their employees are literally slaves with no rights, don't they?
I Like My Boundaries. F*ck'em
Of course, solid pay and meaningful benefits also matter.
"It should go without saying, but especially with high inflation and increasing healthcare costs, [these two things] are high priorities for people, and they are associated with a sense of wellbeing with their work," Brower said.
A study from MyPerfectResume discovered the following would detract from employees’ satisfaction: lack of health insurance (21%), lack of paid time off, and lack of retirement plans (16% each).
In addition, the study found low earnings would detract from satisfaction for 42% of respondents, and in the McKinsey study, compensation ranked eighth as a reason people would leave their position.
My Friend's Daughter Helped Out A Restaurant For Six Hours, At £10 Per Hour. This Was The Conversation When She Noticed She Was Only Paid £40
Avoided paying tax and National Insurance? Report! Was that minimum wage? Report!
At Work - Where Water Isn’t Free Yo
"Entitled Young Generation" She's The Entitled One
So My Best Friend Just Got This Email… What The Actual F*ck!?
The Fact This Was Even A Thought Makes Me Sick
I Was 7 Minutes Late To The Friday Morning Meeting
This is a sales meeting we have every single where we literally talk about nothing except “let’s go get some sales today”. I’m a top performer btw
I would be submitting every single second of OT after that. What? You want that to go into comp time? GFY :)
Shout Out The Worst Place I Ever Worked (Minimum Wage, Of Course)
Line Cook Quit
This Is The Thermostat In The Office. I Told My Boss That If I’m Going To Work In A Sauna I Do It In The Nude
This Motivational Quote When I Walked In This Morning
Text I Received From My Boss While Sick In Bed
"I had told her the day before that I was attempting to look but of course nobody wants to cover. She didn't respond, so I sent a follow-up text and that was the reply I got. What is this joke about making employees find their own coverage while sick? Literally passed out on the floor being told I need to find coverage? Wtf"
Boss Makes A Dollar, You Make A Dime, So We Regulate Your Poops On Company Time!
I Was Admitted To The Hospital With Sepsis And My Boss Expected Me To Roll Out Of The Hospital Straight To Work. "Audrey" Is Hr. This Was After 3 Days Of Her Harassing Me Non-Stop About Work
Please Note The Timestamps. Any Suggestions On How To Deal With This Outrageous Unfairness?
When I was at university, I got a part time job in a convenience store. On my first day, my start time was 8am; I rocked up at 7:50am to my boss telling me I’m late. I look up at the clock on the wall and it says 7:50. Before I can say that I’m not late, she tells me that I should turn up half an hour before my shift to count my float and relieve whoever is working before me. Not only did she fail to mention this to me when she gave me the job, but I argued that if I had to work an extra half I should be paid for it. I walked out in the middle of the shift after she shouted that I was “fücking useless” in front of a shop full of customers after I’d messed up on the cash register that I was learning to use.
My Girlfriend's Boss "Fixed" Everyone's Schedules After They Were Complaining About Not Getting A Lunch Break On Sunday By Making Them Work 10 Minutes Short Of Being Legally Entitled To One
No problem, just update my schedule to 12:00-5:30 because i won't be in until after lunch
This Was My Boss's Response To Me Calling In Sick. What Should I Do I Can’t Find A Cover?
First Day Back After The New Year And These Are Everywhere Haha
Someone should tell whoever made that sign to clean the toilets. After all, it would be arrogant of them to refuse!
This Sub Gave Me The Motivation To Finally Quit My Abusive Job. I May Not Have Health Insurance, But I Feel So Free!
God, reading through these shows that the 'American Dream' I heard so much about growing up in the UK was all just a massive joke lmao. Imagine living somewhere where your access to healthcare is put on the line because a restaurant is short-staffed. Using it as a threat just makes it worse. I know it might be struggling at the moment, but god bless the NHS.
My Boss Is A Monster
I work in Environmental Services at a hospital. My boss is a monster. He got mad at me for leaving my coffee cup on the supply shelf and pushed my cleaning cart out the front door and by the flag pole outside. In 18 dehree weather with snow falling.. He then handed me my cup where he wrote- in sharpie- this. He absolutely humiliated me.
I dont get paid enough for this shit. $22 an hour and we bust our asses in the hospital. I started job searching today. Ugh.
I'd go to HR and show them that he damaged and defaced your personal property.
Boss Wants Me To Risk My Life To Go To A Work Dinner
Dangerous snow squall, extraordinary threat to life and property and rapidly failing visibility. Guess I better turn on the fog lights…
Driving is part of my job, but if there's a severe weather alert in the area I cover, they can expect me to stay home...
Message From The Boss In The Company Group Chat (Where All Employees Can See)
Saw This Email Come In From My Boss
"Recently at work we have gotten 3 new hires, and have had several people leave as well. Most of the people in my department are making 16-17 an hour. Well one of the new hires came and told one of the other employees (who has been with this department for about two years, we’ll call her Hannah) that she was making $19 and the other two new hires were making more than her. (Hannah also has her two weeks in at this point, last day is set to be April 7th.) Hannah then went and told everyone else in the department that they were making several dollars more than the rest of us, who have all been with this company for over a year, never seeing any raises. Word finally got around to our manager, so she pulled Hannah into her office and fired her for talking to everyone else about others wages. The next day we come in to this email from my manager"
Boss Left This For Us To Find This Morning
I think you may need to examine your business model, mate. And you priorities and life in general, possibly.
Fact: Shi**y Managers Is Why No One Wants To Work
I Got Fired For The First Time
My boss added extra work on my schedule at 2 o’clock on a Friday for this weekend because SHE decided she didn’t want to work.
She took on last minute clients, but took the day off because even when she doesn’t work she gets 50% of what I make.
I was a DANG good employee. I didn’t even miss when I had the flu. I took my kids when I didn’t have a sitter. The “few weekends” I had off was ONE weekend. which was LAST weekend for my daughters birthday! I worked thanksgiving, the day after, that Saturday, AND my birthday. I’ve worked almost every weekend since September.
Boss Wouldn’t Pay Two Months After She Fired Me. I Had The Audacity Of Asking For The Money I Earned
Micromanaging Boss Want To Weaponize Cc'ing Hr, So I'm Weaponizing State Labor Laws
In reply to an email where she (unnecessarily) CC'd HR and demanded a doctor's note.
Boss Brought In Drumsticks For Employee Appreciation
I was so confused, I was thinking of the pink and white drumstick sweets, haha
Boss Wants On Call Without Paying For On Call
Boss Threatened To Sick Hr On Me For Not Starting Work Before My Start Time
"Here's a screenshot of our exchange in Teams where he tries to threaten me with HR intervention for not being in my call queue exactly at 9AM.
Spoiler alert: I never heard a peep from HR lol
Edited to note: my clocking in past 9 is usually somewhere around 9:03 to 9:05 and I'm in the queue 30-60 seconds after I punch in. We're not talking about excessive tardiness here. And they never seem to notice how many times we get stuck past the end of shift on calls or catching up on tickets. And that's almost always more than 3-5 minutes.
Of all the managers I've had at this place this guy is the douchiest, by far"
I worked call centers before and they all try to do thus, which is why I have gotten checks from two separate class action lawsuits for unpaid overtime. You'd think they'd learn but in truth the settlement was likely cheaper than actually paying us smh
Told My Boss I Quit And He’s Not Going To Pay Me
This one's iffy, sure you can't withhold wages but it reads like he didn't show up to work but left things out after his last shift. Things got damaged or stolen.
Boss Had Me Pick Her Up From Hospital Ama
I worked last night and had to be up in the morning to pick up my boss from the health center she was at. It was AMA. I asked the hospital is she was being discharged. They said no. I had to sign paperwork about responsibility. That made me extremely uncomfortable. I was tired and got there 16 minutes after she signed to go home. She began to yell at me in my car. Telling me how she was my boss and we had an agreement to be there at a certain time. That I shouldn’t have called the hospital or asked any questions. To do what she said. I had to sign a paper and wasn’t aware until I got there. She is a control freak who had to be home to see family who arrived. Family who could have picked her old ass up from the hospital but no she asked me. I’m extremely upset.
From this point on I will refuse to do any favors or run any errands. Old bitch…on Christmas Eve. I also packed my car with her packages and gifts to unload and put in her house. I’m disgusted by this persons behavior.
Just wanted to vent. I’m going to clock in soon.
Girlfriend In Hospital=mad Boss
"At my job it’s the managers responsibility to manage hours and shifts as per the union. In the past I’ve gotten in trouble for giving a shift away without going through him"
A Generous Act By My Boss: Free Very Expired Hershey’s Bars
Boss Called My Dr When I Was 17 When I Tested Positive For Covid
Navigating Workplace Insensitivity
It's really sad, so many of these lower management/supervisor roles pay just as poorly as the bottom rung relative to expectations. And they DO manage the more shallow ends of the talent pool, let's be honest. I hate it, but conservatives are evil genius for making the poor and poorer eat each other alive.
Boss Is Tired Of All The Complaining
Lmao, imagine being so fragile you threaten to fire people who speak negatively about you.
Small Business Owners Are Some Of The Most Entitled People On The Planet. This One Wanted A An Office Manager, Event Organizer/Laborer (12 Hour Shifts) And Social Media Expert All In One
No Phones
I don't mind this. If using your personal phone isn't part of your work, of course it's use can be limited to breaks and such. Also some facilities, like car factories, ban phones because of industrial espionage and unintentional leaks.
My Supervisor Says I Have To Answer My Phone To Come Into Work On My Days Off. (We Aren’t On Call)
What is with this mentality of, "because I suffered, you should expect to suffer too"? What about leaving things better for the next generation than what we had to endure? Maybe you had to miss family functions but imagine if we found a way so that no one has to miss family functions in the future. Imagine creating a better work environment so no one has to deal with "the nature of the beast."
Girlfriend Works 40 Hours A Week, Boss Is Forcing Everyone To Come In On A Sunday To "Deep Clean"
Had A Stroke At Work - Me Almost Dying Inconvenienced My Boss
Effective The Day After We Drove In The Middle Of Snowstorm
I Left A Bad Job In 2021 With A Resignation Letter. Last Week They Sent Me This
I've Got No Complaints About My Job Except For This Poster:
The Fact My Boss Found This Post “Insightful”
So he is one of those guys who thinks about the Roman Empire...any way, I just ignore the opinions of guys who have had an easy ride in life (starting with "public" school education).
Boss Tries To Make Me Pay For My Mistake Which Is Illegal In NY, When I Express I Won't Pay For A One Time Mistake, He Doubles Down And Says This
Ebenezer Scrooge Wasn't Even As Mean As This Boss
Well. If christmas eve is not bank holiday were you live... I often worked on christmas eve. Sometimes half day, sometimes complete day. I don´t find it nearly as offensive as the other posts
Put In My 2 Weeks Becuase Of Poor Working Conditions And Was Fired
The Christmas Bag My Boss Gave Us Had Halloween Candy In It
Dunkin’ Donuts Boss After Some Weekend Call Outs
It's never the employee's responsibility to cover their shifts. That's what the manager is for!
My Boss Says It's My Responsibility To "Walk The Office" When She Steals My Sh**
I’m with the boss on this one… boss immediately apologized. Things like this can happen, chill out. It’s not stealing. That would be taking it and then lie that they didn’t take it…
Posted On Local Fb Group. Bad Boss Thinks He Can Make Demands Dangling $18/Hour. No Benefits, No Workers Comp, Bonus Of Tax Evasion? It's Becoming An Employers Market In My Area. Lots Of Lay Offs And Job Postings Seem To Be Fake. Nobody Is Actually Hiring. Just Sucks
Cash money and no 1099? And you're willing to advertise that? I'm sure the IRS would love to know about that.
Boss' Opinion On Why He's Having Trouble Hiring Gen Zs
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I can guess this is mostly USA based (from previous reddit posts about managers in USA) and i can only ask WTF?? Are those people for real??
I have run companies and have turned companies around who were in trouble and in almost every case, it has been poor management practices that caused the problems in the first place. I retired years ago and don't miss any of this stuff. It did remind me why I quit helping people though.
By definition aren't they all management problems? If the objective is as simple as digging a hole, and management hasn't explored the most effective and efficient way for someone to do it and trained them that way, they can hardly blame the worker. Similarly, if digging a hole is the wrong goal that's also on management. And if disrespecting workers destroys productivity that's on management. The reason they get paid more is because they're supposed to be a productivity multiplier. But like you say they're far to often a dead weight.
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then there was that time that Moses went to the Pharaoh and said "let my people go'...and Pharaoh turned to his aide and said "no one wants to work anymore"...what makes you people think that not wanting to work is something new? I owned a biz 40 yrs ago; when supposedly people worked even tho they didnt want to, but suffered and had no life and worked anyway...not exactly true...no one wanted to work; thats why it is called work, not play...but if you think no one complained, no one groused, no one walked out of jobs they didnt like...you are wrong...i have quit numerous jobs, i had employees quit...its human nature, its they way it has always been...if you dont like a job you work at; find another job...if you cant find a job you like, then you work to pay your bills until you do find a job you like...
Zero idea why you're getting downvoted here.
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Why TF are people answering texts off the clock? If it's not to inform me that work is cancelled because of a power outage or something, don't contact me.
I teach ESL in an Asian country. A few years ago, I left a job and moved to another city. I was interviewed and hired, prepped the paperwork for a work visa at the new school. This was six weeks before starting. I'm experienced (10+ years) so I know what to ask for and problems to avoid. One thing I do is learn the curriculum, textbooks, etc. I asked the new employer, and was told, "yes, we will", but they never did. That's not a red flag, but is a bad sign. I'm experienced enough that I can improvise, so I could live with it. What I could NOT live with is getting a 1000 word email at TWO IN THE MORNING before the first day, full of "duties" never mentioned. The school starts at 9am, I was up at 7:30. She expected me to be UP at 2am reading emails, less than six hours of sleep? Are you kidding me? Continued in the reply....
I immediately called her and said, "What is this? I asked about this weeks ago." Her response? "You didn't need to know." I answered, "I ~DID~ need to know, that's why I asked. I'm not working for you." I hung up and ignored her calls and calls from the recruiting company that she paid. I didn't screw them, they screwed themselves by not being honest and answering questions I asked weeks in advance. Now they had a bunch of pre-paid classes with students, and no teacher, all because of their own incompetence. Because I hadn't started working for them and cancelled the contract (and work visa), it had no effect on my ability to get a work visa elsewhere. I may have been unpaid for a few weeks, but I had savings, and better that than a year in a crappy job. The job I took instead of hers, I'm on my fifth year.
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Isn’t it weird that small companies with managers who can’t manage have a high turnover of staff and remain small companies? I’ve had good, bad and indifferent managers, the good ones had my respect, I did extra shifts at short notice for them, I enjoyed working with them and I’d ’go the extra mile’ to help fellow members of staff out, cover half an hour so they could eat a meal before their shift or pick them up when their car broke down, they’d do the same for me, give and take y’know? The bad managers got work to rule, I’d do my job, clock in and out on time and that would be that, they’d only get one chance if they treated me poorly, I’d satisfy the contract we had and represent the company positively but that was it, no quarter asked or given. Why would you do extra or help out a poor manager? PS get a union, know your rights and read the handbook, it’s invaluable.
I am always sad when I read stories like these. I have been in retail management (over 20 years ago now) back in England and here in Australia. I started at the bottom as a junior salesperson so I was able to see all levels as I worked my way up. I worked under good managers (what to do) and bad managers (what not to do) and learned from both types. You get better work from people who respect you and you only get their respect if you respect them. It's a win-win. Anything less and makes your job harder. Well, it worked for me anyway. I've been self employed now for over 20 years and love it.
I once worked in France for a restaurant/camping (long story) and my colleagues didn't do anything and we're just smoking all day
I can guess this is mostly USA based (from previous reddit posts about managers in USA) and i can only ask WTF?? Are those people for real??
I have run companies and have turned companies around who were in trouble and in almost every case, it has been poor management practices that caused the problems in the first place. I retired years ago and don't miss any of this stuff. It did remind me why I quit helping people though.
By definition aren't they all management problems? If the objective is as simple as digging a hole, and management hasn't explored the most effective and efficient way for someone to do it and trained them that way, they can hardly blame the worker. Similarly, if digging a hole is the wrong goal that's also on management. And if disrespecting workers destroys productivity that's on management. The reason they get paid more is because they're supposed to be a productivity multiplier. But like you say they're far to often a dead weight.
Load More Replies... then there was that time that Moses went to the Pharaoh and said "let my people go'...and Pharaoh turned to his aide and said "no one wants to work anymore"...what makes you people think that not wanting to work is something new? I owned a biz 40 yrs ago; when supposedly people worked even tho they didnt want to, but suffered and had no life and worked anyway...not exactly true...no one wanted to work; thats why it is called work, not play...but if you think no one complained, no one groused, no one walked out of jobs they didnt like...you are wrong...i have quit numerous jobs, i had employees quit...its human nature, its they way it has always been...if you dont like a job you work at; find another job...if you cant find a job you like, then you work to pay your bills until you do find a job you like...
Zero idea why you're getting downvoted here.
Load More Replies... Why TF are people answering texts off the clock? If it's not to inform me that work is cancelled because of a power outage or something, don't contact me.
I teach ESL in an Asian country. A few years ago, I left a job and moved to another city. I was interviewed and hired, prepped the paperwork for a work visa at the new school. This was six weeks before starting. I'm experienced (10+ years) so I know what to ask for and problems to avoid. One thing I do is learn the curriculum, textbooks, etc. I asked the new employer, and was told, "yes, we will", but they never did. That's not a red flag, but is a bad sign. I'm experienced enough that I can improvise, so I could live with it. What I could NOT live with is getting a 1000 word email at TWO IN THE MORNING before the first day, full of "duties" never mentioned. The school starts at 9am, I was up at 7:30. She expected me to be UP at 2am reading emails, less than six hours of sleep? Are you kidding me? Continued in the reply....
I immediately called her and said, "What is this? I asked about this weeks ago." Her response? "You didn't need to know." I answered, "I ~DID~ need to know, that's why I asked. I'm not working for you." I hung up and ignored her calls and calls from the recruiting company that she paid. I didn't screw them, they screwed themselves by not being honest and answering questions I asked weeks in advance. Now they had a bunch of pre-paid classes with students, and no teacher, all because of their own incompetence. Because I hadn't started working for them and cancelled the contract (and work visa), it had no effect on my ability to get a work visa elsewhere. I may have been unpaid for a few weeks, but I had savings, and better that than a year in a crappy job. The job I took instead of hers, I'm on my fifth year.
Load More Replies... Isn’t it weird that small companies with managers who can’t manage have a high turnover of staff and remain small companies? I’ve had good, bad and indifferent managers, the good ones had my respect, I did extra shifts at short notice for them, I enjoyed working with them and I’d ’go the extra mile’ to help fellow members of staff out, cover half an hour so they could eat a meal before their shift or pick them up when their car broke down, they’d do the same for me, give and take y’know? The bad managers got work to rule, I’d do my job, clock in and out on time and that would be that, they’d only get one chance if they treated me poorly, I’d satisfy the contract we had and represent the company positively but that was it, no quarter asked or given. Why would you do extra or help out a poor manager? PS get a union, know your rights and read the handbook, it’s invaluable.
I am always sad when I read stories like these. I have been in retail management (over 20 years ago now) back in England and here in Australia. I started at the bottom as a junior salesperson so I was able to see all levels as I worked my way up. I worked under good managers (what to do) and bad managers (what not to do) and learned from both types. You get better work from people who respect you and you only get their respect if you respect them. It's a win-win. Anything less and makes your job harder. Well, it worked for me anyway. I've been self employed now for over 20 years and love it.
I once worked in France for a restaurant/camping (long story) and my colleagues didn't do anything and we're just smoking all day
