To think those who take low paid job are looked down on _or thought to be thick !

[Blossum123]

Said on another thread how I was thinking of taking a supermarket Job rather than use my qualification . Reason being stress and the supermarket job fits round my family .
Have taken the job .saw sister as Father's Day . She said she was shocked i was waisting my education and that I should want more status !
Surely finding something that fits well with our young children is reason enough ?! Since saying I'm taking a supermarket job people are presuming I'm stupid ! Is this just my family or have others in simular jobs had this - ?

kindofgreen what a twonk!

Slightly off tangent, but what would you all class as a 'low' wage?

'Low' is relative to your circumstances and earning potential really.

'Low' for dh is under £30k. Low for me would be under £20k.

When I did security I was on a zero hour contract and minimum wage, which I think was fairly low paid ;) I'm on 18K just now and have to admit I struggle sometimes on that.

Some cleaners have degrees. You can never tell, unless you know a person.

Not sure I'd agree with that Wedded - I think of min wage up to about 15/16K as low, but what I earn now is quite a lot more as I now work in a high paid area (IT). If I was looking for another role in what I do now, I wouldn't consider jobs below your DP's "low" - but that's because of current outgoings (mortgage) & an overly low rate for the role would indicate they didn't understand what it involved (recipe for unhappiness all round). But realistically, I know that many many people earn a lot less than 30k - none of my siblings earn more than 20k, for example.

I once worked with a chap who thought he was slumming it to be on a mere 40k, and another who described his income as "middle" - not sure exactly what it was but wouldn't be surprised at 80k.

I once worked with a chap who thought he was slumming it to be on a mere 40k, and another who described his income as "middle" - not sure exactly what it was but wouldn't be surprised at 80k

That's kind of my point. It's all relative. If I found a job to pay me £29k, i'd be thrilled. DH would be gutted (and so would I seeing as he's the main wage earner).

Low for me would be a minimum wage employment.

This thread has been a bit of an eye opener tbh-£20k as a low earner... ?

Whatever works for you is fine but don't pass judgement on others.

Jobs work for many and varied reasons, not always just financial. If it works for you and yours, ignore what others think (easier said than done, I realise)

Low would also be minimum wage for me. I pull in circa £22k and with my OH the household income is over £50k. I class that that as a good amount though im in the NW where I appreciate that money goes a lot further.

My friend has a PHD and works in a bog standard customer service job selling uniforms. He's so clever, but has no ambition for a high flying career. I used to think it was a waste, but I'm almost ashamed for thinking that way now as he's happy, content and has enough to live on.

No, I wouldn't look down on anybody because of their job. What sort of person does that

WTAF Pink?

How vile.

Magical - people like Pink do.

green my current wage.

For all my university education and having a job people seem to be impressed by. I'm not being bonkers about it, it's not dramatically more than minimum wage. I felt more fairly paid when I did work in a supermarket.

Good point mswibble, I think if someone said they were in London I would expect them to struggle on a wage that might be quite comfortable elsewhere in the country.

Didn't remember it at the time but think personally would set anything below living wage as "low" www.livingwage.org.uk/calculation - London living wage is 8.80 compared to 7.65 elsewhere in the UK.

I don't assume it because people can find themselves in all sort of situations that have nothing to do with their innate intelligence - maybe it's a family business, maybe they didn't have good opportunities due to poverty etc. I think the people who make assumptions about the intelligence of someone in a low-status job are usually a bit thick and generally feel 'entitled' IME. It's not about whether the worker is actually thick or not, it's about making themselves (the smirker) feel a cut above at someone else's expense.

I've seen a lot of judgement in the past, that's why now I'm returning to work in it prepared to start from the bottom and am training to have a profession, rather than job.

I'm a cleaner, and though I hate my job.. The people are actually really nice and have helped me take my buckets up and down the stairs, always saying morning etc I woke in a building of professionals. Think solicitors, police..etc

So I don't think every one thinks it but you will always get some who want to box you.

Just remember though.
With out people doing those 'dumb' jobs people wouldn't get their shopping the little people are just as important

I now work in retail simply because I could get part time
Work and hours to suit me.

People do treat you like crap for it though. But luckily us lowly retail workers seem to be very good at being the bigger person when dealing with wanker customers who think they are hugely better than you and talk to you like dog poo!

I laugh more at those on benefits that some how think they are better than me and "would never work in a supermarket" a job is a job.

I don't have any more respect for a doctor that I do for someone working on the checkouts or teaching my children at school... that makes me a better person than most (with their judgy views)

I think mumsnet is extremely judgemental about what people do fir a living.

Sod status. If you are earning enough to fulfil your obligations, that's fine. I did a low-paid part-time job when my DCs were little. I did it v well (she says modestly) because I was spectacularly overqualified: I sometimes had to deal with some prat who assumed that I would be an idiot and easily browbeaten and got a nasty shock as I politely shot them down in flames.

OP, you know you're not stupid so, as I said at the start, sod em.

Yep. It's amazing how little we value jobs which actually do something (supermarket - providing people with food), and how much we value jobs which do sweet FA (pushing paper round from one person to another).

I work in retail. I have no idea what any of my customers do for a living. I don't which of them have 'high status' or 'low status' jobs.

I treat them all the same.