Page 3 | Peoples views on lower paid jobs

UrbanMan27 · 2023-03-21T17:30:29+00:00

Evening all, I just wanted to bring up this thread because I have noticed in the last decade or so that people seem to frown upon jobs for example; (Cleaners, Carers, Bus drivers etc) also people without Degrees get frowned upon too. What can't some people accept that a Job is a Job and not having a Degree makes you a failure. What's your take on this?

RuddyLaura · 21/03/2023 22:48

albapunk · 21/03/2023 21:51

I've been in my role for 10 years, in various care settings. There are many idiots in the role, because it's easy to get in to....but comments like this do not help us to fight our corner for being recognised as an integral, skilled and serious part of health and social care. Most of us ARE skilled professionals. We want training and progression within our role. We don't want to be nurses. We just want recognition for the work we do that allows nurses to do theirs.

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I've worked with many carers and volunteers who have greater, unrecognised skills than many of the professionals above them.

Rebel2 · 21/03/2023 22:51

Chilloutsnow · 21/03/2023 20:32

I’ve worked with carers and a lot of them are just in the job because they’re too thick to be accepted for any other job. Hate to say it, but it’s true. You get the odd one who’s in it for vocational purposes, but if they have a brain they then go into nursing.

I worked as a carer. I have a degree in business management. Went to private school on a scholarship. Not thick

greenspaces4peace · 21/03/2023 22:56

i honestly don't think about it very often at all.
lots of people have second jobs, return to uni as mature adults and pick up a little side gig.
some have lots of family support (paid for homes/inheritances) and are able to get by on much less.
and some people help a family business when other members are off ill or holidays.
last fall the shuttle bus driver (pick up at our home like cab, but then picked up several others along the way to the airport) was helping his brother out and he himself, the fellow driving, was an accountant by day.
a young woman (who i've known since she was 14) still works at the nearby pharmacy BUT has been poking away at her uni degree.
everyone's life journey is unique and it's not for me to judge.
the postie's here,as well as those who work at some liquor stores, are actually government employees with darn good pension schemes....

louderthan · 21/03/2023 23:10

I'm currently in the highest paid job I've ever had and there was no requirement to have a degree.

albapunk · 21/03/2023 23:18

@RuddyLaura Thank you for recognising this. There has been times in my past where medical professionals have failed to spot or follow up on a person, and they've been saved purely due to the skill and knowledge of the care assistant. We may not have the medical/clinical knowledge but we know our people inside out, we know when something isn't right.

WalkingThroughTreacle · 21/03/2023 23:26

I have a higher paying job, well not by MN standards but in the real world at least. I don't work in a vacuum. I couldn't do my job without the support and contribution of a whole army of other people from the cleaners, cafeteria staff, assistants, admins etc right up to the senior executives.

If I go to the doctor, it may be the highly paid GP who diagnoses me and writes a prescription but they can only do their job because the surgery cleaners, receptionists and practice nurses are doing theirs.

I think our system is a bit broken to be honest. There is far too great a difference in earnings and lifestyle between those at the bottom of the ladder and those at the top.

I also think it is extremely shallow to judge people on their earnings or job. Being a high earner does not make you a good person or an asset to society and being a low earner is not remotely indicative of your value as a human being.

Spangasspikeywig · 21/03/2023 23:27

LadyClaude · 21/03/2023 20:03

I wfh doing telephone market research, working on the phones. It's zero hours and as you'd expect, not highly paid. Plenty of work available for those who are good at it though, and the hours are incredibly flexible. I enjoy it, and tend to work 9-5 Mon to Fri. Finish work at 5, and then get on with what I really love - making art. If I want extra cash, I work an extra hour or two into the evening.

I have no kids, still rent rather than own my own place, don't drive, happy to live frugally and find joy walking in nature, the odd meal out, cooking, reading, the local swim baths, the odd movie at the cinema. The part of the UK where I live is one of the cheapest places to rent.

Life is simple, and care-free for me. Once my shift is done, I do not think about work. I wouldn't want it any other way. I've done jobs that have more responsibility, and I'm just not interested. Being mentally exhausted by 5pm is not for me, the corporate world is hideous (for me), and I want to have the energy to be creative until 1am! The mid 40's is on the horizon, and although my lifestyle isn't what many people would want, especially at this age, I wouldn't want it any other way.

There's many ways to live life, and I made peace with myself a long time ago about choosing a job that gives me very little stress, albeit less money, than a job where I was anxious and too busy to enjoy anything else. Whilst all my friends were busy climbing the career ladders, and I'm happy for them, it's not the path that's a right fit for all of us. This all ties into really loving my freedom and it's the same reason I chose not to have kids.

I don't feel like a failure. I feel happy.

I just love this!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 21/03/2023 23:30

louderthan · 21/03/2023 23:10

I'm currently in the highest paid job I've ever had and there was no requirement to have a degree.

Oohhhhh….. do tell!

WandaWonder · 21/03/2023 23:37

Someone has to do all jobs so why does it matter?

If people work and earn money legitimately then I don't see any job as different to another

Yes people can pick each job and compare it to another but people still have to do them

lechatnoir · 21/03/2023 23:47

I'm degree educated/private school and work in a relatively low paid job. I think some of my friends think I'm doing it for a hobby (err no, I have bills to pay!) others are envious that I've chosen a career I love (charity in a field in I'm passionate about, fully flexible and quite relaxed pace) over money but I think some do look down on me. Honestly I don't give a fuck - my last job was well paid but nearly killed me and I swore I'd never go back to the corporate world.

SinnerBoy · 21/03/2023 23:50

LucyLeave · Today 17:41

My take is that lower paid jobs are just as important and valid as higher paid jobs. Anyone looking down on them is a bit of a dick and needs to get over themselves.

I agree 100% Society wouldn't function if the bins weren't emptied. Who does the cleaning? Who washes mum / grandad in the care home? Who stacks the shelves in the shops? Packs the food and delivers it to shops? Delivers your Amazon parcel?

Ponderingwindow · 21/03/2023 23:54

both of the following statements are true

i respect the people working in low paid jobs who actually make the world function.

I want my child to become a professional in a decent paying job so that my child has an easier life.

Avarua2 · 21/03/2023 23:57

I have highly educated friends who have both chosen very low paid professions (midwife, union rep) and who endlessly complain about society today and how they can't afford to buy a home. In his case, being a union guy, he also loves to complain about "the economic system keeping him down". In my mind I think, well, that's in your control innit, get higher paid jobs. So in their case it's martyrdom. They could earn more but choose not to. I think there are a lot of people like that.

Avarua2 · 22/03/2023 00:00

I want my kids to learn the secrets of the financial world (leverage, cumulative interest, scarcity) so they control their own financial narrative. Not give that control to an employer.

Rebel2 · 22/03/2023 00:14

Care can be a really tricky job
You have to be able to spot when things are wrong. It's the tiny stuff too
Wearing the same scent so someone visually impaired recognises you
Dealing with people who have dementia
Remembering that Dave likes his vest inside out so the seams don't rub, Sue likes talc under her arms, Bill loves really warm water to wash with and Pam is terrified of being hoisted so you need to hold her hand
Persuading someone who hasn't showered in a year to have one
Walking into a strangers house for the first time and being able to gain someone's trust
Caring for someone who is end of life

Being able to give medication, make a brew, prepare food, and write notes while chatting all in 15/20 mins

CurlyhairedAssassin · 22/03/2023 00:31

Avarua2 · 21/03/2023 23:57

I have highly educated friends who have both chosen very low paid professions (midwife, union rep) and who endlessly complain about society today and how they can't afford to buy a home. In his case, being a union guy, he also loves to complain about "the economic system keeping him down". In my mind I think, well, that's in your control innit, get higher paid jobs. So in their case it's martyrdom. They could earn more but choose not to. I think there are a lot of people like that.

That’s unfair. For many years you COULD have a nice life on those salaries. Housing costs and food etc have got so out of hand that normal average jobs don’t cover day to day basic living costs anymore. They are right, they aren’t paid enough. But someone needs to do those jobs. So what is the answer???we can’t tell them ALL to get a higher paying job, can we? We need midwives and trade unionists

i wouldn’t class a midwife as very low paid by the way. You can’t be very aware of what a low salary is.

MrsMikeDrop · 22/03/2023 00:32

I would never frown on those jobs, any job is worthy and I'm.sure many of these people work harder than others who have been lucky enough to get a cushy office job. I wouldn't want a low paid job for myself or my family, because money doesn't buy you happiness but it does give you more options and I also like buying things and being able to go out and not worry about bills etc

OMGitsnotgood · 22/03/2023 01:15

I have a degree and a relatively high paid job. My life would be much less pleasant without the people who clean the office & toilets at work, stock the supermarket shelves, care for my elderly relative etc. I know what you mean about some people looking down on them but in my workplace that would be the minority and I have no evidence of my friendship group thinking anything different than I do. So I think your generalisation may not be accurate. Moreover, they work really hard for little money, why wouldn't you respect them?

snitzelvoncrumb · 22/03/2023 01:19

Absolutely not. Unfortunately the lower paid jobs are often ones that are the most important. But I also respect people that don’t want to work their arses off for minimum wage. I am thinking of going back to work, I used to work in early childhood, but can’t bring myself to work myself to the bone to be paid such a terrible wage.

snitzelvoncrumb · 22/03/2023 01:29

Rebel2 · 21/03/2023 22:51

I worked as a carer. I have a degree in business management. Went to private school on a scholarship. Not thick

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In Australia it’s often immigrants that work in care. They haven’t had to opportunity to study for a degree they can use in Australia. The courses are cheap and can be done quickly getting them in a position to work. The courses in child/aged care are free at the moment as no one wants to work in those areas. I hate that we exploit people like this. You can’t earn a living wage.

Tourmalines · 22/03/2023 01:34

I’ve never discriminated people based on their occupation. We are all different , entrepreneurs, tea ladies , garbage collectors, lawyers , doctors , toilet cleaners, etc . Who cares , some are more academic, some more hands on . It don't matter , we need every single one of these different people and thanks to those that work . Dole bludgers are a different story .

blebbleb · 22/03/2023 02:21

LoraPiano · 21/03/2023 17:37

Well with generative AI, a lot of jobs that people have gone to university to qualify for will be replaced by machines anyway so the above manual jobs will have a lot more degree educated applicants.

This will apply to all jobs, including manual ones.

LadyJ2023 · 22/03/2023 03:06

I dont care what job anyone has its just great to hear someone is working and looking after themselves

ISpyCobraKai · 22/03/2023 03:13

I used to be a cleaner, now I have a cleaner.
I didn't get rich, I got disabled.

Liorae · 22/03/2023 03:14

Tarantellah · 21/03/2023 19:44

It has nothing to do with degrees. Graduates work as shop assistants and cleaners and dog washers and all sorts, because there aren’t enough graduate jobs.

Graduate jobs used to be called entry-level - the sort of job that you took after leaving school at 16. The description has changed, the jobs have not.