Do some people just hate work?

[newjobnewproblems]

Except for maternity leave, I've worked full time or part time (when studying) since I was 16. I'm now 34.

I can honestly say I have hated all the jobs I've done.

First the temp jobs/call centres/supermarket jobs (mostly because they all involved customers getting annoyed with me). And then when I left uni I joined a large organisation on a grad scheme. And I have hated that too. I've tried moving around to different roles and specialisms which I feel are more suited to me but I usually just end up feeling like the grass isn't greener.

Is this just who I am? Do some people just hate work? It's my day off today as I've managed to go down to 4 days a week but I can't enjoy the time, I'm just depressed and miserable worrying about work.

I guess my question is do I just accept I'm the kind of person who will never enjoy work and try and make the best of it. Or is it worth leaving and trying to find something I will enjoy more. In the past my excuse was I was staying for the maternity pay but Idon't think I'm having any more children so no excuses left now...

I always moan about work but now my family have had covid (luckily mildly) and we have been trapped in the house with each other now for 9 days and counting the only thing keeping me sane is work!

@TheMoth

No, I don't really believe I'm controlled by advertisers. I control my own impulses.

Phew!

Oh wow! Seems I'm not alone.

So the question is...what do we do about it? Other than playing the lottery obviously.

People always say life is too short, find another job etc. But feel like I've tried a fair few different roles and not enjoyed any of them yet so maybe I need to try a different approach of how to make my current situation work for me. Rather than thinking it's always better elsewhere...

I come from a trade background and I acknowledge that managing people properly is challenging, but I honestly think workers - especially low paid workers - have too few rights nowadays; the pendulum has swung too far towards the employer.

Owing to a few lazy people who swing the led; the rest of the work force has to put up with draconian measures and have very little influence over, or proper contribution to, the way they do their jobs. And pay seems to be paltry for very long hours in some cases and pretty grim conditions.

If you read job advertisements nowadays they want the world: good qualifications plus extras like languages, full commitment, ability to be "flexible" around working hours, a "can do" approach, the ability to prioritize, excellent people skills and presentation and then you look at the salary and think "you want all that for what?"

And I'm always alarmed by the posts from shop workers on here who don't have access to a loo for three hours on their shift, or who can't take a break to take medication. It seems inhuman!

@jessycake

I think work has become so much more difficult , it's never enough to just turn up and do your job , even on minimum wage they seem to move the goal posts .

Thats literally what i do, rock up, do my 8 hours and go home

I work nights in a petrol station/mini supermarket, cant really take work home and any training we allowed to do it on our shifts
I enjoy it mostly
Yeah some days shit, rude customers, everything breaks down at once but the regulars are good fun, we all have banter, they openly tell us they come to our servo over the other 2 as we just more friendly

Before this, i was essentially a carnie, now that was great fun, hard work but i got to travel, see so many events, bands, raves

I find retail gives me the interaction i need but with no pressure to maintain a friendship IYKWIM

But if i won lotto tomorrow, no way id work lol Im way to lazy to work if i didnt need too

I've liked and hated various jobs. I now have a job I like and I love my team. I haven't been this happy at work for 12 long years. But I think the price I've paid is work has knocked me so much I'm no longer ambitious.

I hate working and never enjoyed any of my jobs and I’m in a not bad paid job but I struggle with getting on with other people (probably my fault not theirs ) and get bored easily . My ideal job would be working in the archives of some stately home or somewhere I was dealing with a lot of interesting historical documents . I don’t live anywhere near these types of places though .

I don’t know, I am an A&E nurse and I kind of love my job, although I have horrible stressful days sometimes. I’m constantly learning and as cheesy as it sounds, have grown as a person from doing my job. I would carry on even if I won the lottery.

I would struggle with a job where I was bored, or had to carry out tasks I saw as pointless.

I hear you OP. It's quite depressing really - sometimes wish I had a rich hubby. I do think that at the moment all of things that 'off set' work I.e fun/ sun/meals out/ weekends away etc are missing so there's no balance or perspective. Xx

I don't HATE work. I hate some aspects and I love others and it varies a lot.

But would I continue working if I won millions on the lottery? No

I usually enjoy my job, although it will always have plenty of down sides. But if I could just quit and not work, I would do!

Are you generally a glass half empty / grass is greener person? I think it's hard to change your personality. But you could shift your outlook. If you like a challenge you could set work goals, if you like interpersonal communication you could work on building good relationships at work, if you like free time you could find the least demanding job that gives you the lifestyle you want and focus on your hobbies. Think about what rewards you. What motivates and drives you.

I work for myself now doing something I love. When I was in a salaried job, I loved the actual work (creative field) but loathed the office politics and just wanted to do my job and go home without any drama happening. I don't mind work. I disliked some of the people and the shit things that happen in a big organisation.

If you asked me year ago I'd have told you I loved my job. I changed careers about 5 years ago and was very happy. I'm not so happy with my job now now, not just because of working from home which I don't like, but also because of the changes to my team. Sometimes I feel really sad that I had it so good and I don't anymore.

I only know one person who is in the same job they said they would do when they were 13 and still loving it. It's a very creative job, he works alone, he is self employed, very limited contact with the customers. But lots of contact with competitors,which seems to consist of talking about their hobby for hours on end. Because if they were not doing this for money,they'd be doing it for fun. Right bunch of oddbods.
For me, I work for the money. Accepting that I'm in it for the money makes it easier. I've also condensed my hours so that my working week is very short and takes place over only 48 hours of the 168 hours in a week. This has helped enormously, to have that large block of time away from it. I'm very good at my job, that's acknowledged by all, my management would like me to be there more, but I've taken a firm work/life balance decision and nowadays I won't be swayed from it.

We used to have a cleaner at our office who became quite miserable if she couldn’t come into work for any reason. It wasn’t just the money. She just really enjoyed the two cleaning jobs she had. She is the only person I’ve known at all well who loved their job, and I do think it was a personality thing - she was probably the most cheerful and optimistic person I’ve ever known. Have met people on holiday or through friends who clearly love their jobs too, and it always strikes me because I do think it’s unusual. One was a sign language interpreter, which did indeed sound very interesting, but others seemed like fairly standard jobs so I think we’re back to the personality thing. I also know someone who seems obsessed with their job, but I don’t know how much there is love and how much status.

As for me, I like the fact I have a job where I’m treated well, get to use my mind and have autonomy over how I organise my work. But I don’t have any clear career goals and that is extremely demotivating. Before, I was spurred on by getting a better job (from having a bad one) and then getting qualifications. Now... I think about retirement too much.

I also dislike offices, but don’t know what other sort of work I’d do.

I know someone who is always looking for something new in terms of their career. I think what's help them is doing two or three different types of jobs. What they call a portfolio career. The variety makes it bearable. Might be worth trying OP.

I have enjoyed most of my jobs, but I definitely feel that sense of oh god why do I have to go in again. Or the relief when it's a bank holiday or day off.

Weird really. I think it's just because it's something you have to do!

I seem to either love or hate my job on different days, there is no in between!

I think that it is a mix. Some people will just hate working. But other times it's the nature of the job that makes it awful. I've had jobs where I like the job but had an awful manager making me unbelievably miserable. It was when I was 21 and newly graduated. If somone was like this now I would report them for bullying. Equally I've had awful job where I have had a lovely team and various things in between.

I'm lucking on o do love what I do. But I don't live every day at work. Especially not Wfh constantly with none of the normal activities of my job (cultural sector). However its low paid depute having post grad qualification and I worked my ass off to get here. I do still wonder would I be better off with a high paid job that I disliked a bit more? But probably think overall no.

I also agree with pp's who have said that the idea of doing what you live was really sold to our generation. So we are looking for more form work. I think often on the trade off of work life balance.

I think a lot of the time a tolerable job is made awful but the organisation or people. Could you pin point what you dislike op?

@Igglepigglepeppaandgeorge

Yes I think so. That's why it's called work and not fun surely. Enjoying your job is a capitalist myth.

I'm a myth breaker

I love my job. I find it challenging, interesting, absorbing and satisfying. I am not well paid, but I feel valued and appreciated by my boss and my workmates. I really like the people I work for and with. My team all get on well and we often enjoy banter on Teams.

Since lockdown everyone has really pulled their weight, and our bosses trust us to get on with our work, so we aren't micromanaged at all. I never get the Sunday evening dread, and look forward to Mondays. The people I work with also enjoy their jobs.

I know it all sounds too good to be true, but it really is like this. I'm 62 and nowhere near ready to retire. Oh, and I work part time, so I have the best of both worlds.

I detest working, I can't think of one job I've had that I've actually liked, rather than disliked or tolerated. The day I left my last job to start my maternity leave ranks as one of my most happiest memories. I literally skipped down the street after leaving.

I've been a SAHM for the past 8 years but youngest is due to start school in September so will probably have to find some gainful employment once that happens. Not looking forward to that.

I'm lucky enough (and old enough) not to have to work any more - but there were only a couple of jobs I enjoyed throughout my working life - and those were the ones where it mattered that it was me doing them - they weren't roles where I felt I could be instantly replaced with someone else - and that made all the difference.

@Ginfordinner you can't say that and not tell us what you do!

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