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...

Oh my word, its as if I've written this post.

I have worked in an office environment across 4 jobs since leaving uni 20 years a go and I've hated every single one.

I would love to change careers but to be honest I'm not totally sure of what would make me happy.

I think there is sometimes an expectation that we should want to climb the ladder but this isn't always the case. I'm hardworking and take pride in doing a good job bit I'm just not ambitious. I would rather look after my little boy or do something meaningful like volunteering. Say finances won't allow but I can dream!

I only enjoy about 20% of my job. I wear several hats in my role (work for OHs small company) & a chunk of the job is an endless pile of emails, spreadsheets & admin along with answering the phone. It's all a bit stressful & dull at the same time.

I've a 5 year exit plan from working full time & look forward to getting off the train for a less stressful life.

I don’t hate working. I worked very hard when I worked for myself but if I find jobs boring or monotonous or I can’t take a break on my terms then I get stressed and I switch off. I hate having restricted hours. I would much rather be told, this is the work, do it and then you can go home.
Having an hour for lunch meant I couldn’t relax if I left the building and had to factor in getting back at a certain time. It might sound ridiculous but the pressure adhering to someone else’s time was enormous for me.

@TheAirbender

I've accidentally fallen into something I really enjoy, but I recognise that the role's massive flexibility really, really helps how I feel about it. Would probably do a couple of days a week on it even if I won the lottery. Never, ever working in an office again though and I think many people feel the same. The fact that the pandemic has created many more homeworking opportunities is one good that will come from it, I think.

I never had a career plan, and accidentally fell into what I do. I work part time, and my boss is flexible and understanding. The only negative is that the pay isn't great, but we are financially secure.

I think the fact that I am not under pressure financially to work makes such a lot of difference.

TBH working is what is keeping me going through this pandemic. It is good for my mental health.

I am the same as you OP, especially the ‘grass isn’t greener’. I think back to jobs I have been in that, whilst I didn’t like them, I miss them because they were easier/better pay/better colleagues or whatever reason. But in all of these jobs, I am the common denominator, so I know the problem is mainly me!

But if I am honest I don’t think there is a job I would genuinely enjoy full time - maybe full time cat lady and pottering around the house and garden?

I am finally (hopefully) relieving myself of some financial pressures this year, so have finally started to look for part time work. I want to have time to actually enjoy the house and garden I’m paying through the nose for, see my family (covid aside before anyone jumps on me), and just relax and enjoy life.

I love my job (dog walker) but I would still quit tomorrow if I could afford to never work again.

I will say, that the job I mostly enjoyed and genuinely miss the most, was one where I was given free reign on how to do things, even though I was ‘just’ admin. It was a small business, and apart from the owner there was just me dealing with the day to day running. The owner happily left a lot of it to me as, even though I hate working, I still like to do things properly and do good job. He would go off on holiday for weeks, pop in maybe once a week when he was in the country.

The downside was the NMW, no opportunity to increase pay and little security - if one customer went bust we would all be waiting to find out if we would be too.

So I think it’s more to do with being restricted to rules without logic, inefficient processes that cause me to work late for no reason, and a culture of colleagues who prefer to moan about these things than put in the work to improve things. Seems to be present in many organisations!

I love my job! I work in a busy pub/restaurant.

Furlough has made it very clear to me that even if I won the lottery I would still want to work. I miss my colleagues, customers, the general buzz. I obviously don’t love every second of every day but overall I get a lot out of it.

So much negativity on this thread. If you have an "I hate work" attitude you are never going to enjoy any job.

This thread is making me laugh. Not at the people who love their jobs, but at the people who insist that us work haters could also love our jobs if we only found the right one. Nope. The issue is me not the job I am the common denominator in all jobs I have hated. I currently have a role that hundreds, possibly thousands of people would volunteer to do for free. Still resent it. I feel somehow freed by being able to admit it here, I cannot say this in real life .

@Ginfordinner

So much negativity on this thread. If you have an "I hate work" attitude you are never going to enjoy any job.

How do you change it? I’m sure lots of people go into jobs wanting it to be good.

I trained for a job I absolutely loved, something I would rather do than anything else in the world.

However, I couldn't make enough of a living from it, I didn't 'make it' so I had to diversify into using the same skills but in a different industry.

I enjoyed my actual job, using my skills, but I absolutely hated the politics, the management, the few bullies I had to work with and the travel. So I have jacked it in and started my own business owning and running holiday lets.

Now, I dislike the actual job I do - basically washing, ironing and cleaning- but love earning money from something I have created.

I loved all my jobs except one but that was because the head of dept was an absolute arse. It turned out she was an alcoholic which explained her massive mood swings. A temp caught her drinking whisky neat from a bottle early one morning. She was universally loathed on campus.

I agree , it can take just one person to ruin it for you. I had a boss who was a horrible bully, and made me feel utterly miserable. I was on a really good wage plus a company car and struggled to find another job that paid as well, so I stuck it out.

Unbelievably, the bully manager started to change, and after I left I was told that he admired me because I was good at my job. I bumped into him many years later, and he was so nice to me. I always thought that leopards never change their spots, but he did.

I've loved my job since I became a nurse aged 23. Only ever worked part time 0.8 now 0.6 FTE.
I honestly couldn't go to work every day if I hated it, and I hope my kids never feel like that! What a waste of life 😰

Thinking about it my hatred for work hasn't really caused problems. I think it's because when management have forced a fucking stupid difficult new way of doing something on us I just smile and go along with it because I don't care that much. Colleagues that do care tend to argue so managers quite like me

I didn't hate work but hated the restrictions it placed on me. The guilty feeling if I or a child was ill and I needed time off or the fear a bad night would make me less efficient at work. Also disliked the hidden agendas and office politics too.
The actual job was rewarding.
Retired now and every morning when I choose whether to get up or read in bed and am thankful.

I have been exactly the same my whole working life. I have mainly worked in offices and have hated every single job, they have bored me to death. I’m also an introvert so prefer to work on my own. I was a SAHM for years and loved it but returned to work 3 years ago and although my job looks like a piece of piss on paper, it bores me to death and I hate it. I dream of a day when I am no longer a slave to employment. I am not lazy just have hated every job I have had. My elderly neighbour tells me that she retired at 47 and spent her days pottering in her garden and having lunch out. That’s my goal lol!

The biggest difference for me is a manager who I enjoy working with.

and although my job looks like a piece of piss on paper,

Does that mean you don't find it challenging enough?

I'm self employed now, but before that I enjoyed the job I had, but the travelling made me feel sick and anxious (bus or tube). It was so unpleasant that I started to dread it and then had actual panic attacks about it. If I hadn't been leaving anyway, I would have had to quit.

"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."

Is he a market gardener @LionLily ?

I love my job and can't imagine retiring until I physically have to, I'd say the same is true of most organic farmers & growers (actually you could probably lose the organic bit, they're just the ones I know). Everyone moans about the long hours and low pay, but they never actually give up, just take on other bits of work to pay the bills!

I've also enjoyed other jobs I've done (shop & bar work when young, research type interviewing work) but can't imagine doing a 100% office job, I do my accounts & admin work & its fine for some indoor work when it's raining but that's enough for me (though I was once a civil servant for 4 months before quitting )

Until there's a high paying puppy cuddling job I don't expect total fulfilment

I always hated work. I dont like being on the clock and i dont take instruction very well. Plus i worked in retail and generally dislike interacting with people so wasnt a good fit. Fortunately when i hit 45 i was in the position to give up work and now i spend my days doing whatever i want and nearly four years on i can honestly say i never get bored. I realise i am lucky but to answer your question, yes i really hate work it sucks!

@Ginfordinner

and although my job looks like a piece of piss on paper,

Does that mean you don't find it challenging enough?

Yep