“Lazy Coworkers Get Paid As Much As You”: People Share 30 Honest Answers To What Employment Has Taught Them
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
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The reward for good work is more work.
The only time it makes sense to go above and beyond is if you own your own business.
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.
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.
we had a very different, and vulgar, way of saying that where I used to work... but 100% true at any rate
Loyalty is expected but not reciprocated.
I was accused of stealing by the owner. Then I was expected to buy her a birthday gift,a week later. Nope
Toxic work environments do not change. Get out quickly.
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.
Always get the promotion or raise in writing. Never trust a manager's hand shake.
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.
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.
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."
80% of work is done by 20% of employees
Being a convincing bullshi***r is more important than being a competently talented.
See Elon Musk.
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?
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.
I am 78 years old and I learned decades ago that every one can be replaced, even the higher-ups.
if you leave earlier than the slow workers then you will be considered a lazy employee-regardless of output/efficiency/quality of work
The second they find out you know anything about computers, you are now IT for the entire department.
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)
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
You cannot get promoted if your performance is too good.
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.
Document harassment. Document reporting. And when nothing is done, take both sets of documentation to the labor board and state attorney general's office.
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.
“Sorry, you are too good of an employee for us to be kind to you.” The boss.
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?
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.!!
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.
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.
Once you have the job you no longer need to impress anyone so just do enough to not get fired
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.
when you're new, you notice the "highschool cliques". pretty embarrassing.
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!
Lazy workers are the most efficient, they want to do as little as possible to get the same result.
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.
Standard technique is to do work quickly then play games for the rest of the day
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.
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.
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."
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.
Before you jump that ship, be sure you have another ship ,to jump into...just saying.
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.
Work your wage. That's all. Your boss is making more money than you, let them work their wage, too. If you do something extra, put the highlights in an email to your boss, keep a copy in an email folder titled Accomplishments. When reviews come around, you're ready to write your own.
This list made me kinda sad. I can't imagine being in a profession I hated and clearly the people commenting here must in order to be this bitter. I work in healthcare and if we all have this "just do enough to not get fired" then patients suffer and potentially die. It's not acceptable! I absolutely love what I do because I see the rewards I see patients getting life saving tests and treatments and I see them get better when they come back for follow up's. I go home every night with a smile on my face because I know I'm truly helping make peoples lives better and longer. If you don't get this kind of joy from your work I sure hope you can find it.
Work your wage. That's all. Your boss is making more money than you, let them work their wage, too. If you do something extra, put the highlights in an email to your boss, keep a copy in an email folder titled Accomplishments. When reviews come around, you're ready to write your own.
This list made me kinda sad. I can't imagine being in a profession I hated and clearly the people commenting here must in order to be this bitter. I work in healthcare and if we all have this "just do enough to not get fired" then patients suffer and potentially die. It's not acceptable! I absolutely love what I do because I see the rewards I see patients getting life saving tests and treatments and I see them get better when they come back for follow up's. I go home every night with a smile on my face because I know I'm truly helping make peoples lives better and longer. If you don't get this kind of joy from your work I sure hope you can find it.