> Instead we need to examine actual reality to find out how businesses can help their workers meet reasonable expectations. Blaming it on the millennials or work-from-home advocates or whomever is not the answer.
I am an armchair layman with no empirical data, but I think there are two truths.
For one, western capitalist societies are in a race to the bottom. Many “leaders”, out of ignorance or being outright sociopaths, care about nothing else except endless, unsustainable growth and optimizing financial metrics.
And second, the Information Age worker is realizing that working hard is not enough, getting a degree is not enough, that their labor is being exploited to make someone else rich, while workers can hardly afford housing. White collar? Doesn’t matter either. The “game” has changed.
And I think for the longest time, many were convinced that this exploitation was a thing of the past, and this generation has it far better. Suddenly, it’s as if people are realizing 1+1 isn’t 2 unless you’re born rich, incredibly lucky, etc., which for most people is a tough pill to slow.
Agreed. Feels like we are experiencing a "wealth dilation" effect; I have been able to greatly exceed the earnings potential of my parents, and yet the gulf between me and the executives I work for is unimaginably larger than it was for earlier generations - and still widening.
I spend a lot of time thinking about how this might be solved - getting rid of complex financial instruments and derivatives, making employee ownership mandatory or at least highly incentivized, banning digital advertising... I have to stop myself because of course none of it can happen; the people in power would never allow a change which dilutes their advantage. So, instead of trying to better my situation, I am stuck looking for ways to decouple myself from the world of work as much as possible. Quiet quitting and early retirement is about the best I can hope for right now.
I am an armchair layman with no empirical data, but I think there are two truths.
For one, western capitalist societies are in a race to the bottom. Many “leaders”, out of ignorance or being outright sociopaths, care about nothing else except endless, unsustainable growth and optimizing financial metrics.
And second, the Information Age worker is realizing that working hard is not enough, getting a degree is not enough, that their labor is being exploited to make someone else rich, while workers can hardly afford housing. White collar? Doesn’t matter either. The “game” has changed.
And I think for the longest time, many were convinced that this exploitation was a thing of the past, and this generation has it far better. Suddenly, it’s as if people are realizing 1+1 isn’t 2 unless you’re born rich, incredibly lucky, etc., which for most people is a tough pill to slow.