There is something so satisfying about a job well done. Whether your motivation comes from within, a potential pay raise, or the desire for your family to be proud of you, working hard feels good. Having your accomplishments acknowledged and rewarded and knowing that you made someone else’s life easier can be great motivators to keep going the extra mile at work.
However, not everyone feels so enlightened from working hard. Whether it comes from pure laziness or exhaustion from slaving away with no rewards or incentives, sometimes workers just give up. This list will show you how “over it” some employees are, as they have given up on any efforts to hide how little they care. From letting products that are clearly not ready to be on shelves leave the warehouse to refusing to move anything out of the way when painting a wall, the “Not My Job” subreddit finds and roasts the employees who have a very narrow idea of what their job descriptions are. After all, they said they would do their jobs. They didn't necessarily say they would do them well.
The “Not My Job” subreddit features photos from a variety of different fields, but especially for those working in minimum wage jobs, I can understand the desire to put in less effort. The stakes are not super high. If they end up getting fired from one low-wage job, they can easily find another one. If they were getting paid $100k a year, they might be a bit more motivated to hold onto that position.
But at the same time, I can’t help but wonder how many of these photos came to be. Did it not bother these people how poorly they finished these tasks? Did they even notice? Perhaps some of these were intentional acts out of spite or vengeance? The reason may even be as simple as employees hating their jobs, as, according to a 2016 Gallup poll, 71% of millennials say they are not engaged at work.
In reference to millennials in the workforce, Gallup’s researchers said, “They aren’t putting energy or passion into their jobs. They’re indifferent about work and simply show up just to put in the hours.” But we should not just jump to conclusions about why millennials aren’t engaged at work; it’s not necessarily laziness causing their apathy. Millennial therapist Tess Brigham wrote for CNBC, “As a Gen X’er, I’ve heard just about every millennial stereotype imaginable. But as a therapist who has been working with millennials (they make up 90% of my patients) for more than five years, I’ve actually found them to be a highly intelligent, idealistic, diverse and ambitious bunch.” When it comes to their careers, however, Brigham agreed that many of them are struggling. “Each and every one of my millennial patients has at one point said to me: ‘I hate my job’.”
Brigham stresses that once someone identifies what is in their control and what they can change about their position, they can take action to make their job less painful. She also recommends unhappy employees lower their expectations and raise their standards. High expectations often lead to disappointment, while high standards “create a framework for making decisions that are consistent with one’s values”. Having high standards for your own work gives you a reason to do your best, and having high standards for how you are treated by others ensures that you are not being taken advantage of or mistreated.
If your job feels meaningless sometimes, just know that it does not have to be. It is completely normal to be doing a job just to earn money to pay your bills and enjoy your life. Your job does not have to also be your passion project. But there are valid reasons to find motivation in your work as well, even if you have to search hard to find it. Hatice Necla Keleş, a professor in the Department of Organizational Management at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul, told Harvard Business Review that having a professional purpose and identity “gives your life meaning and motivation”. “Nothing gives you more energy than a clear purpose. [Without one], even just getting out of bed every morning becomes a challenge.”
Karen Dillon, coauthor of the book How Will You Measure Your Life?, also gave Harvard Business Review some tips on how to find purpose in a seemingly meaningless job. First things first, she notes how important it is to offset negativity. “Just as micro-stresses eat away at you, micro-moments of pleasure can help you find your way back,” she says. “Look for ways to feel good and uplifted: Read about real-life heroes; take a nature walk; attend a religious service via Zoom; page through an art book; or scroll through photographs of faraway places.” Your job should not run your entire life. By finding outlets to destress outside of work, you can remind yourself that you don't have to love your job, but it should not have the power to suck the life out of you. You have plenty of other things to look forward to; get through the work day, so you can enjoy what's next.
