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Ever wished you knew something sooner? Something that would've made your life a tad easier, perhaps? 

We toil away at our jobs for the bulk of our lives, and it's no big news what kind of effect it has on our well-being. A discussion recently arose online – that garnered a whopping 115K upvotes – about the biggest lessons folks ever learned throughout their careers. And although the observations listed below will not make your retirement age come faster, taking a thing or two into consideration could definitely help you feel a little more in control!

More info: Reddit

#1

“Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them The reward for good work is more work.

colem5000 , cottonbro studio Report

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BlueEyesWhiteDragon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only time it makes sense to go above and beyond is if you own your own business.

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    #2

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them I saw this over and over again. A productive employee gets buried and burnt out while the slackers enjoyed a work-life balance and smokes with the Boss.

    TheRedGoatAR15 , Helena Lopes Report

    #3

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Do 1,000 tasks, and 999 of them are done perfectly, but guarantee the 1 that wasn’t perfect is the only task that will be talked about.

    Upbeat_Shock_6807 , SHVETS production Report

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    von Funnyname
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we had a very different, and vulgar, way of saying that where I used to work... but 100% true at any rate

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    #4

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Loyalty is expected but not reciprocated.

    Kyster77 , Samson Katt Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was accused of stealing by the owner. Then I was expected to buy her a birthday gift,a week later. Nope

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    #5

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Toxic work environments do not change. Get out quickly.

    Same_Difficulty6727 , energepic.com Report

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    Doyle Alan
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I work in a very toxic environment that is thanks to just one person. When they were reported by numerous employees was told by the boss that they're retiring soon and it's cheaper to just wait it out. 19 more weeks. I hope I make it.

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    #6

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Always get the promotion or raise in writing. Never trust a manager's hand shake.

    gringoloco01 , Sora Shimazaki Report

    #7

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Nobody at work gives a s**t about your well-being. You have to be the one that looks out for yourself. Take the damn sick day and don’t feel bad about it. You got one life and trust once you die they’ll replace you before you’re even cold. Be happy.

    EvolvedCactus19 , Adrian Swancar Report

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    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That really isn't true. I've had a couple of bosses who were extremely thoughtful and considerate of me and my well-being - one to the extent of getting the company to pay for some counselling to help me understand why I got stressed in certain situations (which I now understand, and how to cope with them). Sadly, it's quite a low percentage of bosses, but I'd like to think as a manager that I took a significant interest in my staff as people.

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    #8

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them One of the earliest lessons imparted to me by an older co-worker in one of my first jobs was: "Never get good at something you hate doing. Once you're good at it, they'll never let you do anything else."

    Alexm920 , Antoni Shkraba Report

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    #9

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Lazy coworkers (probably) get paid as much as you.

    Sinistrahaha , Pixabay Report

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    #10

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them 80% of work is done by 20% of employees

    HSP-GMM , https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-giving-a-presentation-2977547/ Report

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    Leo Domitrix
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And 80% of the employees are sure they're in the 20% doing the work.

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    #11

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Being a convincing bullshi***r is more important than being a competently talented.

    See Elon Musk.

    Zumokoto77 , LinkedIn Sales Navigator Report

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    Kate Jones
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The biggest regret of my work life was assuming we were all playing by the same rules. I've been on my own since I was 17 and didn't get a lot of advice. Even at school, I would ask about internships and they never had an answer for me. So when I got my degree figured I'd start at the bottom and work my way up because that sounds logical. But that's not how it works. Silly me believed I couldn't apply for those higher paying jobs because I was going by what the ad asked for. Now I know- the higher ups at my company have never done the job I do and wouldn't know how if they tried. They started in the middle or higher. They just lied. Which is why they're always so happy- they've never had to be in the gutter like the rest of us and call us negative when we point out problems. My direct supervisor does not know how to do my job. How ridiculous is that? How can you be in charge of me if you don't know how to do the job I do? How can you improve systems if you don't know what they're for?

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    #12

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them We had a deadline to turn in our month's worth of work. My wife had previously worked there, and advised me to get my work done ahead of the deadlines, but be secretive about it, and turn it in at the end of the month. Worked like a charm.

    jefuchs , Sora Shimazaki Report

    #13

    I am 78 years old and I learned decades ago that every one can be replaced, even the higher-ups.

    Many_Ad6867 Report

    #14

    The dumbest people are usually managers

    BastardCrows Report

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    Alexia
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they try to make up for their lack of leadership skills - by micromanaging people, for example.

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    #15

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them if you leave earlier than the slow workers then you will be considered a lazy employee-regardless of output/efficiency/quality of work

    Michelada , Pixabay Report

    #16

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them The second they find out you know anything about computers, you are now IT for the entire department.

    foonati , https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-coding-on-computer-3861958/ Report

    #17

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Most employers would engage in slavery in an instant if it became acceptable again. They want soooooo badly to have your work for free (most minimum wage/entry level jobs)

    Deutchpleuw , Emil Kalibradov Report

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    Sonja
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I often read that German employers are better than other because they treat their employees better. I always reply it's not the employers themselves that are better, it's German labour laws forcing them to be better. Put them on the US market and they will be just as bad as anyone else

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    #18

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them You cannot get promoted if your performance is too good.

    FalseFrosting9 , Tiger Lily Report

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    Strings
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had this happen at a previous job. Had the opportunity to jump to a different division making FAR more money, got blocked by my district manager as "too essential"

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    #19

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Work taught me that even if you report harassment by a coworker nothing will get done about it. I'm dealing with it right now and the guy keeps calling me a rat and threatening me.

    Dashing_Host , Keira Burton Report

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    Scrolling Panda
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Document harassment. Document reporting. And when nothing is done, take both sets of documentation to the labor board and state attorney general's office.

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    #20

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them This year I asked for time off (no pay) and it was denied because it was too hard to replace me. So I gave my notice and said I’m willing to stay 2 months if I can get those two days off.

    Took the time off, stayed two months. And they replaced me with 2 people lol. Two others left after I did.

    DigNitty , cottonbro studio Report

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    kitten levels tokyo
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “Sorry, you are too good of an employee for us to be kind to you.” The boss.

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    #21

    I've been working since I was 14. Now I'm Corporate America in various roles for over 2 decades. No one EVER says they regret not working harder, not doing more OT, or spending more time with their family. Do not give your personal time to your place of employment. I live by the "8 and skate" motto and LOVE detaching from this world. We literally spend more time with coworkers than our own fam.

    Live to work or work to live?

    General_Payment7227 Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Work to pay your bills. If you're expected to do more work, they need to pay for the time. Time and half on weekends and holidays! No exceptions, no excuses.!!

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    #22

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them When starting any new job. Make sure you do the same amount of work as your coworkers. There’s nothing like a new over achieving employees to p**s off all their coworkers by showing them up. And the boss will expect more from you forever. Slow down and don’t blow the curve.

    mancusjo1 , Redd F Report

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    Alyssa Phillips
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of my "old timers" at my last job told me not to "work (my)self out of work." Best advice ever. I now perform at 80% capacity, still do slightly better than average and don't burn myself out if there's a crunch and I have to put in extra effort.

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    #23

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Once you have the job you no longer need to impress anyone so just do enough to not get fired

    BickusDickus6969 , Buro Millennial Report

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    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That depends on whether it's just a job, or there's a career path. If you want to get promoted, you have to stand out among your peers - primarily by doing what your boss wants.

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    #24

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them when you're new, you notice the "highschool cliques". pretty embarrassing.

    MothInsideJar , Sora Shimazaki Report

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    Thot Waffle
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wise Grandmother taught me that "high school never ends." Once you accept that, then you can deal with it like an adult. Thankful to her!

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    #25

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Lazy workers are the most efficient, they want to do as little as possible to get the same result.

    sjaakarie , Vojtech Okenka Report

    #26

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them You could fall over dead at work and the opening for your position will be posted the next day. If they decide to wait that long.

    I work for a great company, I love working for this company. But even they won’t drag their feet in replacing me if something happens. In fact, I applied for my position before the person I replaced was officially fired.

    CrayonDelicacies , mohd hasan Report

    #27

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Standard technique is to do work quickly then play games for the rest of the day

    AsshollishAsshole , JESHOOTS.com Report

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    smolspeedycats
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or to do most of the work, then decide to go take a lunch break, then get seduced by the elegant exterior of a lunch place where the bread basket alone costs more than your car and order a six-course meal and tell yourself "It's fine, I'll have leftovers" but every portion is asparagus foam and barely feels like food so you go order Mcdonalds and break down in the parking lot wondering why you're stuck in a soulless corporate job before going back to the workplace and eating soggy chicken nuggets while you complete the rest of the work until you head home, another piece taken out of your soul.

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    #28

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Confidence, and even over confidence, gets you further than hard work does. Perception is everything, the work matters the least. At least in corporate jobs.

    LetsHaveARedo , krakenimages Report

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    Jeremy James
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also, being tall and masculine. I recently had a customer refuse to believe that I was the manager and insist that my trainee help him instead because he, "looks like he's the manager."

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    #29

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Closed mouths don’t get fed. Putting in the work? Don’t wait to be noticed. Bring that up every single chance you can and if it’s not getting you anywhere, jump ship.

    BluePeriod_ , Sigmund Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Before you jump that ship, be sure you have another ship ,to jump into...just saying.

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    #30

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them People who add value to a business are given the opportunity to add more value. Any business worth running is on the lookout for more people able to add more value.

    Now if you’re working your a*s off without ever reaching for opportunities, it’s like revving a chainsaw without ever setting it to wood. Of course you’re not going to get ahead.

    If you’re working your a*s off and that business is run by s**tbags eager to exploit you, that’s like reviving a chainsaw and setting it to a rock or a car or a chain link fence. You’re in the wrong place. Go find a place where your tools are recognized for their worth. And for the love of money don’t rage quit, having a job is the best way to get a job.

    But if the desire is to complain to comfort yourself to make it through the day, you can do that too. But you’re gonna have a lot more s****y days and a lot more s**t to talk about the unfair reasons other people get ahead while you don’t.

    stillventures17 , fauxels Report

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    kitten levels tokyo
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would say having the right skills at the right job at the right pay is like running a chainsaw through a pallet of butter. Satisfying. (Or jello.)

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    #31

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them Never respond to emails too quickly. More often than not, this is the key to staying efficient while not being overloaded.

    leastlyharmful , Torsten Dettlaff Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Let them wait, they don't like it ,too bad. If it's a boss that's using you., and your efforts for self promotion, let them come to you. Make them work for it. In my opinion....

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    #32

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them This is probably going to get downvoted to oblivion, but:

    You are your best advocate.

    In non-Reddit-caricature workplaces, efficiency and additional responsibility are the only path to recognition and promotion - IF you advocate for yourself and ensure your current supervisor knows that you expect to be rewarded for the extra work you're taking on. It's only a punishment if you stay passive and eat it.

    This only applies to exempt salaried positions. I don't know how things work in hourly or non-exempt.

    shnu , fauxels Report

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    sofacushionfort
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every culture of self-promotion has an element of peer-denunciation. This is always phrased as “he’s a really great guy, but…” followed by a suggestion that advances your ambition cloaked in “what’s best for the organization.”

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    #33

    Race plays a factor and don’t anybody nobody tell you different.

    Relaxedtiger330 Report

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    Erik Ivan
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly true. Also, your accent matter. I have gotten lots of jobs just because I have an accent that is - for some reason - seen as "trustworthy and steady".

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    #34

    the less you work,the more you get paid

    KrappaFrappa Report

    #35

    “Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them When a project closes:
    The non performers get rewarded.
    The performers get punished.
    The unassociated get raises.
    The squeakiest wheel gets a promotion.

    ecctt2000 , Dylan Gillis Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If someone is a non performer, they need to be called out about it. If they want the pay they should do the work.

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