Office Gone Wrong: Workplace Disasters That Escalated Quickly

Mildly infuriating doesn’t even begin to describe some of what certain people go through on a daily basis at work. So it should come as no surprise that many are dreaming of throwing in the proverbial pen altogether, in search of a more peaceful life, and greener pastures.

A recent Kickresume survey reveals that more than half of all office workers polled would leave their jobs in a heartbeat, and take up a trade instead. The only thing holding them back is money. 

52% have considered swapping to manual labor, with 18% thinking about it regularly. According to the survey, among those open to it, 96% of office workers would switch if retraining and lost income were covered.

“We found that the reason behind office-based workers wanting to ditch their desks for a trade is the idea of more rewarding work," Peter Duris CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume told Bored Panda when we reached out to him.

"This was the top answer in our survey, as 23% of office workers open to switching said they wanted more meaningful work," he added. "Jobs that require crafting, building, or cultivating offer a sense of concrete achievement that may be missing in some office jobs." 

What's more, Duris says a Forbes report recently revealed that almost 90% of tradespeople who work as electricians, plumbers or construction workers, are very satisfied with their jobs, citing meaning in their work and flexible schedules as some of the main reasons.

According to Kickresume's survey, those in business and consulting were most likely to want to leave their roles for something more hands-on, with 59% saying they’ve considered it. 52% of those in tech and IT are contemplating work that doesn’t involve an office, or people constantly complaining about forgetting their password.

Ironically, noted the survey, the pull toward manual work is “strongest among those whose jobs are furthest removed from anything you can actually touch.”

It appears many workers feel the grass is quite literally greener on the other side. “Given a free pass with no pay cut, 31% of office workers would pick farming or agriculture—more than any trade,” notes the Kickresume survey.

Construction/building trades came in second, followed by landscaping and horticulture work.10% of respondents said they’d consider switching to a job in manufacturing or factory work. The same percentage opted for mechanics or automotive careers.

So how did these respondents end up in office jobs they hate? “Nobody told them trades were an option. Around half of office workers say school never presented trades as a serious path,” the survey notes.

Rather interestingly, students were asked which path felt most appealing, 84% chose an office-based professional career. Many put this down to the fact that trades were never seriously discussed at their school, while academic careers were clearly the favored path. 

This, Duris tells us, surprised him the most. “Blue-collar jobs make the world tick, and there are many advantages to working one, so it was surprising to hear that so many respondents weren’t encouraged to pursue these jobs," he said.

“Current office workers are looking for the door. The students behind them are walking in—not because they've judged the trades and found them wanting, but because, for most, the trades were never really put on the table,” explains the Kickresume site.

And while many office workers are dreaming of greener pastures, it would appear that those in the pastures are dreaming of a regular desk job. 

Among the tradespeople polled, 79% said they’d thought about switching to an office job—36% of them regularly. That's a higher rate of "considering the other side" than the office workers showed.

According to Stanley Black & Decker’s Makers Index, those in trade don't earn too badly. 50% of skilled trade workers with less than 10 years of experience rake in a starting salary of at least $50,000 to start.

"After five years, trade school graduates can be $140,000 ahead of their peers who pursued four-year degrees, thanks to lower education costs and faster workforce entry," reveals job marketplace Unmudl, adding that an HVAC technician can quickly climb to six-figure earnings with experience and certifications. 

Duris agrees. “The main concern for office-based respondents who are open to switching to a trade is the financial barrier," he told us. "However, it’s absolutely possible to earn more money in a trade. Tradespeople often go self-employed and can set their own rates, and some can get paid extra for taking on emergency jobs or weekend work."

He says there are lots of trades that pay well and have high job satisfaction.

"An example would be a wind turbine technician, as this is one of the fastest-growing trades in the U.S. at the moment. The average salary for this job is between $58,000 – $85,000," reveals Duris. "Other classic examples would be an electrician or plumber, as both of these roles are in-demand, offer excellent job security and lucrative salaries."

Another benefit of being a tradesman is that you're not too likely to be replaced by a robot. While many office workers worry about AI stealing their bread and butter, a 2024 TechTarget study lists skilled trades as one of eight jobs that AI and automation cannot replace.

"That is because tradesmen like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians require problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to unpredictable situations," explains the Unmudl site. "AI simply cannot match this level of physical agility, critical thinking, and human ingenuity."

So what advice does the Kickresume CEO have for anyone who is strongly considering swapping their office job for a trade?

“Do your research before making any big decisions," Duris responded. "A career pivot is a fantastic way to learn new skills and discover what kind of job suits you best, but it’s best to prepare before making the leap."

The expert adds that you should make sure you have the right qualifications before applying.

"You could begin to upskill in your chosen field by learning the necessary skills in your own time, and building a client base before leaving your office job," he told us. "Before handing your notice in, make sure you have a job lined up first. You can always go back to office-based work, but you won’t know if you don’t try!"

You might also like: 33 people share just how annoying their coworkers really are