Why do you work?

[Reallyneedsaholiday]

I work for low pay, I start early, miss breaks and stay late, so I’m trying to work out why I do it? I KNOW I can leave on time, and I KNOW I can take my unpaid breaks, so ideas on WHY I do it would be very much appreciated.
YABU - you need help 😂
YANBU - everyone does it

Errrm, for money.

Is it a vocational job?

like most other people I have no choice but to work 🤷🏻‍♀️ we need two incomes to pay our mortgage and support DD.

Your job sounds hard though. Any chance you can look for something else with better hours? Or is it a bit of a rod you’ve made for your own back?

I clock in on time, leave on time and take my full lunch. A lot of people in my team work through theirs and/or leave/start early, but I get paid the same regardless and there’s not a lot of room for progression so I’m not breaking my back for it. I get the job done and do it well, but that’s it.

Not vocational. Don’t really want to say what it is in case my boss is on here (that could be awkward) and won’t stay long enough to really build a career - too old now tbh.

I used to work in an office where a small group of staff would moan about others leaving at 5 on the dot, more fool them for staying late as none of us were well paid. Sometimes there’s pressure to do more.

Well, money for a start although we could survive on DH's salary.

I mainly work though for the intellectual stimulation and to give me a sense of purpose. I think my work is important and has given me some very cool opportunities.

There just always seems too much to do in the hours in the day, and I don’t like to leave things undone, or it gets worse the next day.

Why do I work? For money to pay bills and enjoy life.

Why do I work a bit more than my hours occasionally? Now I'm in a management position with more responsibility the occasional half hour extra to finish something time critical can free my mind up to fully enjoy my time off instead of worrying about squeezing it in the next day / Monday.

I wouldn't work extra just to try and prove anything to anyone. I've worked for my company for long enough to know it's not necessary or beneficial.

I mean like most people I work to be able to pay bills and hopefully a little left over for a holiday

I went back to work after a long time at home raising my family (10+ years). I went back for the money but didn’t have the confidence to go back into my old area. After a few false starts I did a post grad qualification and now work for the money AND for my mental health. Doing something meaningful is good for the soul. I used to get all tied up in the intricacies of friendships and fucking committees. People with too much time on their hands are often assholes and the amount of backstabbing that goes on in voluntary committees our think people’s careers were in the balance.

You have answered your question, to an extent.

But why if you are low-paid and not interested in this as a career do you choose this route? The work is not your personal responsibility and you are entitled to end the day when your working hours end.

‘Nickel and Dimed’ by Barbara Ehrenreich is quite good on the psychology of
low pay. Especially how women perceive their roles.

Purely for the money. Although I do balance this against travel costs. So whilst I could earn more, if it costs (travel) more than the extra I would earn, I don’t take the job.