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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if you judge people who work in "crap" jobs, and if so why?

354 replies

ReallyThough100 · 16/03/2018 15:17

So, cleaners, dishwashers, fast food workers. Jobs seen as "dead end" and a bit shit. I have a job people think this about, and it often shows unfortunately (outside of work more than in it).
Aibu to ask, do you judge people who do this and what's the reasoning behind it?

OP posts:
Damnthatonestaken · 17/03/2018 14:09

No, i did crap jobs when i was a student. In the end all jobs are means for the same end, to earn money, aren't they?

BeetlebumShesAGun · 17/03/2018 14:11

Not at all. My grandpa always says “if every bugger’s somebody, no bugger’s anybody” and I have never forgotten it!

VioletCharlotte · 17/03/2018 14:20

No, not at all. All these are jobs that need doing. The type of people I judge are those think these kind of jobs are beneath them, and choose to claim benefits instead.

TheSultanofPingu · 17/03/2018 14:48

I have two jobs that would be considered 'crap' by some. A midday supervisor and a cleaner at the same school. I can only think of a couple of times I've felt judged, and that's from comments that parents have made, which doesn't bother me in the slightest. I would be upset if I thought I was judged by the teachers etc, but they are all lovely.

If people judge, that's their problem not mine.

Ylvamoon · 17/03/2018 14:49

OP you have just judged yourself...

QuiteLikely5 · 17/03/2018 14:55

Op

Who on earth is going to come on here and answer yes to your question!

People aren’t that stupid!

PeppersTheCat · 17/03/2018 15:22

I'm going to get flamed to hell.

I don't normally judge, but I have one friend that baffles me. He's 37, single, no kids, but desperately wants a family. He opens post for the government for a living. That's it. Literally open's post. No skills or qualification required. Crap pay. He says he loves it because he gets to sit and chill with his mates, laughing at unusual names. All day, every day, for years.

In the near future, there will be no snail mail to open, or it will be opened by robots. Yet he doesn't seem interested in gaining some skills. I find his job apathy worrying, confusing and frustrating. I've never said this to him obviously, as he's actually a sweetheart. I've gently suggested he try for a manager's position but he shrugged it off.

YetAnotherUser · 17/03/2018 15:27

The only time I judge a person's employment is when they bitch and moan about it, but don't take any steps to get a better job despite having ample opportunity to do so.

PeppersTheCat · 17/03/2018 15:30

Who on earth is going to come on here and answer yes to your question!

People aren’t that stupid!

I guess I am Grin

Crowd · 17/03/2018 15:51

No way, my husband has a degree and was head of planning at the local council.

After 25 years was burnt out and stressed so took voluntary redundancy. (Enough to pay off the mortgage and have some great holidays)

He now delivers shopping for one of the major supermarkets part time and loves it.

blackheartsgirl · 17/03/2018 19:34

'I love working for McDonalds; I think they’re a great company that really looks after their staff. I definitely feel valued'

My son and his pregnant girlfriend would tell you different.

Awful place to work, they've put so much pressure on him to give up his college place and work extra shifts all the time giving him a hard time, refusing to provide maternity clothing even though they are available and thier health and safety record is appalling.

I could go on..

They also don't recognise or let thier employees join a union

LucheroTena · 17/03/2018 20:16

I don’t judge anyone who holds down a job.

Am cross that a couple of people listed nursing- a profession- as a low status job though.

BlurryFace · 17/03/2018 20:43

No, I feel solidarity because those are the only jobs I've ever worked.

I was pottering round an empty shop recently and two workers didn't realise I was there and started bitching loudly about arsehole customers and looked Shock when I popped round the corner. I told them it was fine and joined in the goss.Grin

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 17/03/2018 23:44

blackheartsgirl A lot of McDonalds now are franchises, so if the franchise owner is awful (which thankfully the majority aren’t) then that will go down the chain.

Unless they work at a non-franchised McDonalds (most are franchises), it won’t be the actual McDonalds company that is the reason for those issues they are experiencing; it may not even be the franchise owner. Most likely it’s the business and/or scheduling managers.

As for health and safety, McDonalds is extremely strict there. All audits are over 95% in all our franchise owners restaurants (and he owns a lot), as well as neighbouring regions.

It sounds to me like they’re just unlucky in the store they’re in, because the company as a whole is excellent. You can’t claim an entire company to be awful because of a poor business manager.

Oh and in regards to the union, that is false too. There are unions we can join if we want to and there would be no issues with us doing so.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 17/03/2018 23:46

blackheartsgirl Forgot to add, particularly this comment:

refusing to provide maternity clothing even though they are available

That is absolutely a business manager issue and not a company one. We have had four pregnant crew members in the last year and they’ve all been supplied with maternity clothing without question.

blackheartsgirl · 18/03/2018 01:41

The mcdonalds where they work is not a franchise I'm afraid bit it is run by absolutely piss poor management.

My son at 16 was expected to break the rules even though he was underage, he was put under pressure to do something and as a result ended up with painful burns on his arms,

They are told they are not allowed to join a union and even if they did it's not recognised. The other local store has been told this too.

I've seen enough to be honest, no way on earth would I recommend working in maccies. Awful place.

blackheartsgirl · 18/03/2018 01:52

I have just read that they are allowed to join a union so fair enough but why would they be told that it could make things very awkward for them if they did..I presume it's because it's zero hours contracts for the majority of them. My son was define ty told this about the union though and that's why he hasn't tried.

What's really really pissed me off about mcdonalds is that he set his availability to work a few evenings a week and at the weekend so he can concentrate on college, they knew this and pestered and guilt tripped him into working above and beyond what he was supposed too. He's now at 18 dropping out of college because he's exhausted and so behind. They phoned him in the middle of the night to go in once during the week because someone hadn't turned in, bloody ridiculous.

Nope maybe it's just that one store but it's certainly an eye opener

Arealhumanbeing · 18/03/2018 01:57

Is it to do with doing things directly for others being seen as being like a servant and this is some kind of weird victorian hangover that we all want to aspire out of the servant class into the new middle class!

Maybe.

I wouldn’t/don’t judge. I’ve said for years that cleaning of any type is one of the most important jobs there is. Also that there should be an industry standard of a starting wage of £30,000 per year plus benefits.

They are told they are not allowed to join a union and even if they did it's not recognised. The other local store has been told this too.

Well that’s fucked up then isn’t it?! Total bollocks also. A quick Google will confirm that and inform your son and his partner of their rights at work.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 18/03/2018 05:49

blackheartsgirl Even with it not being a franchise, every single thing you’ve mentioned is a business manager issue, not a company wide one.

As I said, you can’t claim the entire company is awful because one business manager is poor.

WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 18/03/2018 05:54

I presume it's because it's zero hours contracts for the majority of them.

blackheartsgirl Guaranteed hours contracts are available for anyone who wants them.

From what you’re saying and how you’re talking I don’t think you actually know anything about McDonalds; you’re just going off what your son is telling you and what you’ve read on the internet.

While what your son is experiencing is awful, it is certainly in no way standard and is down to the business manager of that particular store.

I’ve worked there for quite a while, in four different stores, and been to many company and franchised events. The sort of thing you describe is not commonplace.

Catinthebath · 18/03/2018 06:03

Sometimes insecure people look down on others to make themselves feel better.

100% this, and not just in the context of OP’s scenario either

cushioncovers · 18/03/2018 06:13

I don't think I judge. I've cleaned toilets, worked in a pub kitchen, worked in a nursing home, however I do judge people who moan about their 'shitty' job but make no effort to change their situation.

fullofhope04 · 18/03/2018 06:18

I never judge.

Mummadeeze · 18/03/2018 07:01

Honestly the opposite for me. I am in awe at how clean and organised our local McDonalds is, the lady who cleans there is lovely and brilliant at her job and I always say hello when I go there. I bumped into someone I had met at a friend's funeral recently and he was cleaning our street, picking up rubbish etc. I had no idea what he did before then but I just thought, how dedicated to his family he was to get out of bed early every day and pick rubbish up to support them. I was also grateful as he is the reason I walk out of my flat and feel like I live in a nice, attractive street everyday. I have also tried being a bar person / waitress and had to quit very quickly because it was so hard and I was useless (am very clumsy!). I can see the value in all jobs but the harder or less attractive they are, the more impressed I am that people do them and do them well.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 18/03/2018 07:06

I only judge people like my ex friend, who has a crap job, and moana daily about it, but refuses to do anything about it. That pisses me off.