Are jobs getting more difficult?

[WJ99mobile]

I've never seen so many mental health days, flexible working, paternity and other positives steps towards a better work environment.

However, I work in construction I have never heard so many people saying that their job is the toughest it's ever been? Same with nurses and healthcare and pretty much most occupations I've spoken too

[UNDERHILL1927]

I've never seen so many mental health days, flexible working, paternity and other positives steps towards a better work environment.

However, I work in construction I have never heard so many people saying that their job is the toughest it's ever been? Same with nurses and healthcare and pretty much most occupations I've spoken too

Certain jobs are evolving for sure, my job is the busiest it’s ever been. We’ve fallen into a pandemic induced state of being constantly in crisis mode.

That’s partly to do with it being an office (home or work) based role, as they are immeasurably different to how they were before Covid.

I see lots of my colleagues feeling like they have to work longer hours and putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.

I think we underestimate the impact of Covid at our peril. We’ll be living with the negative impact of lockdowns and Covid for years to come.

[ferrari_andretti]

Certain jobs are evolving for sure, my job is the busiest it’s ever been. We’ve fallen into a pandemic induced state of being constantly in crisis mode.

That’s partly to do with it being an office (home or work) based role, as they are immeasurably different to how they were before Covid.

I see lots of my colleagues feeling like they have to work longer hours and putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.

I think we underestimate the impact of Covid at our peril. We’ll be living with the negative impact of lockdowns and Covid for years to come.

I agree. I think part of the problem is never being able to switch off when your colleagues can contact you at any hour. 30 years ago this wasn’t the case

[UNDERHILL1927]

I agree. I think part of the problem is never being able to switch off when your colleagues can contact you at any hour. 30 years ago this wasn’t the case

That’s a massive issue, emails and Teams availability on phones, no longer a clear divide between work and home.

I’ve had to get rid of all my social media because my brain needed some time to switch off, we’re not meant to be constantly stimulated.

[Doucas]

I feel like 40 years ago most office workers were on the piss 2 days a week. A place I used to work used to have a bar in the office in the 90s.

Where I work we've just gone to 4.5 days a week. It is quite a forward thinking organisation to be fair.

[Whisperer]

Nah, mines much more easier than digging coal.

[J R Hartley]

Certain jobs are evolving for sure, my job is the busiest it’s ever been. We’ve fallen into a pandemic induced state of being constantly in crisis mode.

That’s partly to do with it being an office (home or work) based role, as they are immeasurably different to how they were before Covid.

I see lots of my colleagues feeling like they have to work longer hours and putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.

I think we underestimate the impact of Covid at our peril. We’ll be living with the negative impact of lockdowns and Covid for years to come.

Ive gone the opposite way after Covid. I am salary and would regularly put in 50-60 hour weeks when contracted for 40. Start early, work through lunch, work late. Through covid, to keep others on furlough, I was regularly putting 60 hour weeks in and when I asked for a bonus, as in reality myself and others working extra hours meant they could keep more people on furlough, it become pretty evident that our efforts were not appreciated but taken for granted.

I have now become more militant and started working to rule. I might work the odd extra hour, or through my lunch, mainly if we have people on holiday, but the days of me putting in an extra 10-20 hours a week are long gone.

[UNDERHILL1927]

Ive gone the opposite way after Covid. I am salary and would regularly put in 50-60 hour weeks when contracted for 40. Start early, work through lunch, work late. Through covid, to keep others on furlough, I was regularly putting 60 hour weeks in and when I asked for a bonus, as in reality myself and others working extra hours meant they could keep more people on furlough, it become pretty evident that our efforts were not appreciated but taken for granted.

I have now become more militant and started working to rule. I might work the odd extra hour, or through my lunch, mainly if we have people on holiday, but the days of me putting in an extra 10-20 hours a week are long gone.

Good for you mate, I’m the same to be honest. I don’t know how many times I tell my teams,”it’s just a job”. Not the line that some more senior people want to hear but it’s true.

[OurManFlint II]

Ive gone the opposite way after Covid. I am salary and would regularly put in 50-60 hour weeks when contracted for 40. Start early, work through lunch, work late. Through covid, to keep others on furlough, I was regularly putting 60 hour weeks in and when I asked for a bonus, as in reality myself and others working extra hours meant they could keep more people on furlough, it become pretty evident that our efforts were not appreciated but taken for granted.

I have now become more militant and started working to rule. I might work the odd extra hour, or through my lunch, mainly if we have people on holiday, but the days of me putting in an extra 10-20 hours a week are long gone.

Hardly militant!

I do believe people have a sense of their own worth more now than before covid. The fact that most bullshit jobs carried on regardless, the possibility of death at an unexpected time and a loss of certain freedoms people took for granted being removed.
Technology has not done what it was supposed to do and automation should have been in place 20 years ago. Design or not, who knows ;-)

4 day week and universal basic income is probably something I'll not see but hope my kids have a chance to enjoy life rather than busting their balls under the content threat of violence (through legal and police enforcement of rules and debt).

Up the workers!

[Rjk]

I think the biggest change over time with jobs is how easy it is to live off one.

Growing up my dad had a pretty average civil servant job, and my mum didn't work until all the kids were in secondary school.
on my dad's wage alone we had a nice big 4 bedroom house, a family holiday every year etc.
that would be impossible these days, probably even with both parents working full time in a similar level job.

as a society we have allowed businesses to pay poverty wages and let the tax payer pick up the slack in working age benefits, while those at the top take more and more for themselves.
it cannot continue like this forever.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I feel like 40 years ago most office workers were on the piss 2 days a week. A place I used to work used to have a bar in the office in the 90s.

Where I work we've just gone to 4.5 days a week. It is quite a forward thinking organisation to be fair.

It was definitely easier with less time and motion bollox, it's stretching it a bit to say on the piss for two days, but Friday afternoons were great after two-hour lunches down the pub.

I seem to remember my Dad having it much easier than that again and working from home and actually doing about 10 hours a week of actual work.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I agree. I think part of the problem is never being able to switch off when your colleagues can contact you at any hour. 30 years ago this wasn’t the case

You shouldn't allow that, don't let them use your personal phone for work issues, and switch your laptop and works phone off at a sensible hour when you've completed your designated hours.

I agree with a lot of the above because phones and emails can be sent so easily, if you allow it you will become overwhelmed with messages and information you don't really need, turn them off after 10, and only look again lunch time and near the end of the day, they eat all your time up if you are not careful.

[UNDERHILL1927]

You shouldn't allow that, don't let them use your personal phone for work issues, and switch your laptop and works phone off at a sensible hour when you've completed your designated hours.

It’s hard to police though mate, especially when they are in the house.

[North Cardiff Blue]

It’s hard to police though mate, especially when they are in the house.

I know, but try if you can, it's this that's causing so many people to stress, I always pick fights early if they take liberties and tell them after work is my time don't bother me, work-life balance is really important.

Modern companies are starting to realise this, Outlook now has a scheduling feature, that can delay an email after six to be sent at eight the next morning, that's a great idea, so hopefully, the culture will change back a bit.

[UNDERHILL1927]

I know, but try if you can, it's this that's causing so many people to stress, I always pick fights early if they take liberties and tell them after work is my time don't bother me, work-life balance is really important.

Modern companies are starting to realise this, Outlook now has a scheduling feature, that can delay an email after six to be sent at eight the next morning, that's a great idea, so hopefully, the culture will change back a bit.

Yeah it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed. Working longer hours and being stressed seems to be a badge of honour.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I've never seen so many mental health days, flexible working, paternity and other positives steps towards a better work environment.

However, I work in construction I have never heard so many people saying that their job is the toughest it's ever been? Same with nurses and healthcare and pretty much most occupations I've spoken too

It’s harder because the systems that hold everything together are broken thanks to incompetence/bad intentions from government

[blue matt]

I speak to a few of my customers, some will invite me in for a brew, most say the same thing, working from home is lonely, if you worked in a office, you used to be part of a small community, now these WFH'er aren't, they work 5 days a week and often only speak to the mrs or kids

cant be healthy


Of course we have the awkward loner types who dont really like people, they are of course happy to WFH

[valleys caveman]

I've been out of work for a few months after injuring my back. I had to give up my job too, as it wasn't doing my back any favours when I returned. I've started looking for a new job, but at fifty five I'm not holding out much hope. I've applied for a few driving jobs, but nothing has come of them so far.
I quite enjoyed the time off if I'm being honest, but my savings and kettle didn't

[PhyllisStant]

It depends which industry you work in. I have a specialist job where it's very much an employees market so my job conditions are an absolute stroll in the park.

However, my wife works within the social care industry and it is crazy - 80 hour weeks, terrible working conditions, terrible pay, high levels of staff turn over stress and illness.

[Heathblue]

Not sure but may soon find out, I had hoped I wouldn't have to do this again but will be starting a New Job on Monday.

[Tuerto]

I make my work as easy as i possibly can. I don't do emails, Whatsapp groups or teams meetings, in fact, no meetings, unless it's to do with re structure, change in working conditions etc, i'm not interested, refuse to listen to bullshit middle managers who would be hard pressed to stack a shelf in Tesco. I get in and get out, pay and conditions is all i'm interested in. **** the rest.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I make my work as easy as i possibly can. I don't do emails, Whatsapp groups or teams meetings, in fact, no meetings, unless it's to do with re structure, change in working conditions etc, i'm not interested, refuse to listen to bullshit middle managers who would be hard pressed to stack a shelf in Tesco. I get in and get out, pay and conditions is all i'm interested in. **** the rest.

But surely you love a meeting about a meeting? I was in a meeting the other day when someone remarked “this was really productive” as if it was a shock. Although that person works in customer service so shouldn’t really be a surprise

[Tuerto]

But surely you love a meeting about a meeting? I was in a meeting the other day when someone remarked “this was really productive” as if it was a shock. Although that person works in customer service so shouldn’t really be a surprise

Not interested in any of it, it twists my brain and they're all two bob morons who can't believe their luck I bully middle management as well, sounds nasty, but they are so weasel like that they just **** off and leave you alone. As you can see, i hate work

[UNDERHILL1927]

Not sure but may soon find out, I had hoped I wouldn't have to do this again but will be starting a New Job on Monday.

Best of luck mate