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Having a job can be both a blessing and a curse. A few lucky ones have managed to pave the career path they have always dreamed of, but the rest are just putting on a clean shirt and fake smile combo and barely getting through the eight-hour bender five days a week.

While having a meaningful job ranked 13th out of 29 sources of happiness in a global survey, only 40 percent of American workers say that they work in good jobs, according to this survey. Many reasons can be to blame, from poor pay to unfair treatment, long working hours, and job insecurity.

Luckily, for anyone who feels that way about their job, here is a safe place to talk about it. Welcome to the Free From Work subreddit which, according to the description, “is the right place if you hate working!” Created back in 2021, the community is still pretty young, but it already features impressive content that is “mostly memes and tweets to brighten up your day.”

Below, we wrapped up some of the funniest and most soul-soothing Free From Work posts that work like a band-aid for our overworked souls.

More people than we think have been in a position where the hatred for their job became overpowering. For some, it happened suddenly, for others it started from the first day at work, while for most employees, the sense of loathing came gradually but became too strong to ignore.

So in order to find out what to do in such a situation, how to navigate a job you don’t like or even hate, and when is it better to part ways with it, Bored Panda spoke to Christine Mitterbauer, a licensed and ICF-approved career coach based in the UK.

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    #4

    Freefromwork

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    BadCat
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a fear and a sound one, especially if you're working to support others.

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    From her experience as a career coach, people often start hating their job when there’s a clash between their personal values and the values of the company or sector they work in, Mitterbauer argues. “The longer this goes on, the more the dislike, or even hate, can grow.”

    “Another common reason people hate their job is that they have a hard time with specific people, a boss or colleagues they work closely with,” she said and added, “Whether it’s better to quit or not is a matter of your life circumstances and whether you can afford to quit, but of course, it’s better to notice your dislike for your job growing before it becomes all-consuming.”

    #5

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    DKS 001
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as an introvert .... I would LOVE to permanently work remote so that I could stay AWAY from everyone else's unnecessary drama

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    #7

    Facts

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    billionaires have 1000 MILLIONS , and Musk has 200 BILLION , it's both mind boggling and fcking sickening

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    According to the career coach, there can be good reasons for keeping a job that has neither good pay nor good terms: “jobs in certain sectors, for example, the arts or education, don’t always pay well but they might give you a big sense of meaning and satisfaction.” Mitterbauer argues that “if those are values you treasure, that might be enough reason to keep the job despite the salary being low.”

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    #8

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    François Carré
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My job is not exhausting at all compared to others, and I know I'm lucky for that. But it's clearly eating up my intellectual energy. I used to draw from time to time, and write short stories. Now I casually come home at 7 in the evening with zero creativity.

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    #9

    Freefromwork

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    François Carré
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Start looking for all the big companies you don't really need to spend your money for on a daily basis, and thus could boycott permanently until they pay their taxes and decent wages to their employees. That seems a fair and quite satisfying thing to do.

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    #10

    Living Wage Has Long Lost Its Meaning

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    Pumpkin Spice
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I heard that growing up, people could pay rent on a single income and work good hours. I'll never have that life. I wake up every day knowing that it's only a matter of time until I turn 15, and then I need to start working. Otherwise, I'll never afford college. I want to become a psychologist and live in a nice apartment with a cat. But the most I'll ever be is an anxious, depressed McDonald's cashier.

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    When asked what to do when after years a person suddenly develops a sense of not liking their job anymore, Mitterbauer’s advice is to get clear on your values – what is truly important to you in life.

    “I often use the Wheel of Work, which shows people several aspects and values of their job, and then we discuss each in turn, how important it is to them, and to what extent it is being met now. Money, creativity, culture, creativity, etc. Through lots of conversation, you lay out on the table what values are truly important and which ones are less important.”Mitterbauer argues that if you hate your job, there’s a good chance this is because there’s a clash here. “It’s never too late to change, and you can start making small changes today,” she concluded.

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    #12

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    Cammy Cat
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. Worked somewhere with one of these where u had the option of putting your name, and if u didn't, it was "anonymous". So a co-worker did his as Elvis, and shockingly enough, he got called in to HR about it. Told us he did it to prove it wasn't anonymous at all

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    #13

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    IcyPenguinToes
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they actually did invent that flavor of Monopoly. To try to profit on the sadness. Doubt the board is fun enough to be flammable more than once though

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    #14

    The Myth Of Hard Work

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    Jul Chv
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. That! And every edgefound baby with privileges would be starving.

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    #16

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    Philip Williams
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With the benefit of hindsight, if there was an evacuation order then any manager who forced the workers to remain under guard should absolutely be liable for their deaths, and the very company should be sued and prosecuted out of existence. Natural disaster in reference to the storm and its effects is accurate

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    #18

    Facts

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    Iifa A.
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    26 years? And only 78000? Where do you live and can you please get me a place like this.

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    #19

    Being Lazy Is Not A Thing

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    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't believe in laziness. I believe in inactiveness, which is usually a product of something the individual is not happy about.

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    #20

    Freefromwork

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    DKS 001
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    poor folk incentives: 1) Recommend this job to a friend. If we hire them and they stay for 3 months YOU get $100! ... 2) employee appreciation gets you a paper bag full of candy and 1 fruit

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    #22

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    Jiska Veldhuizen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That must be an American thing? We never gave out awards like that, that's ridiculious.

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    #23

    Do You Agree?

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    François Carré
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And I'm always baffled by all these Hollywood movies, praised by massive audience and making billions of juicy dollars, while most of them carry very specific anticapitalistic messages that should start revolutions right away at the exit of the movie theatre.

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    #24

    Freefromwork

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    Torsten
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be more precise it's the Calvinist/Pietist "live to work - not work to live".

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    #26

    Freefromwork

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    Psycho Cat
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Capitalism doesn't work, communism doesn't work, democracy doesn't work, socialism doesn't work... I think our "leaders" don't work.

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    #28

    Freefromwork

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    why do you think they like to keep us fighting ? so we cant unite , if we're busy fighting each other we're not waking up and fighting them , the cause of ALL our problems

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    KJ
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's really crappy of the employer, I will settle for getting no bonus instead.

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    #31

    No Billionaire Got To Where They Are Without The Exploitation Of Workers.

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    #32

    That's Not Job , That's Prison

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    John G
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bro, that’s capitalism in a nutshell. Exploit a land for its people and resources to acquire wealth.

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    #36

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    Pumpkin Spice
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Save things for a rainy day!" Meanwhile, it's 24/7/52 monsoon season.

    #37

    Freefromwork

    lanaskittens Report

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they got their offa your hard work , thats the kicker

    #38

    Freefromwork

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    modern day slavery , you work for housing and food , at least you're "free"

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    #42

    Freefromwork

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    Minath
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate when celebrities are championing some worthwhile causes, they don't put their own money in, they persuade their fans to donate. Then they get celebrated because they raised x amount of money.

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    #43

    Freefromwork

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    Psycho Cat
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ooof if I had 10.000 dollars, my life would do a 180! Debts paid, teeth fixed, bills paid...

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    #45

    Freefromwork

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    InDaCV2 , cymrurouge Report

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    Torsten
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Germany is 67 and may be up 70 due to stupid politicians throwing money around.

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    #48

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    Alexander Neil
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Construction companies do the same. One subsidiary owns all the assets, heavy equipment, scaffolding, etc. The other subsidiary, with different, unrelated officers, operates as HR. Came up in a Federal case where I had the misfortune of serving on the jury.

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    #51

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    #52

    Freefromwork

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    Kel WNC
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Read an economic article that stated the lack of workers is due to...... the Boomers! The boomers that were close to retirement, went ahead and retired. The boomers that were retired, but had a hobby job, quit that job. This is because they were high risk to covid and they didnt want to take the chance. So, the boomers are really the ones "who don't want to work." Meanwhile, essential Mcdonald employees worked through the whole pandemic.

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    #53

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    WordWeaver
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly true. And then dudding you with lies to the next workplace before you even got there.

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    #56

    Freefromwork

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    WordWeaver
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm a boomer and I keep stirring all I can. Yes, I was lucky in many ways to be born in that era but it came with a lot drawbacks too - rampant sexism (pun intended), "greed is good" business ethics (same as now), slimy tactics by Church accepted at face value, overpopulation, shortsighted future planning and more. Maybe YOUR grandkids (if any) will look back on YOUR generation as a Golden Age. "OK, Millennial." So what can we ALL do to change things? I strongly advocate a more spiritual approach (NOT religious!) because sooner or later we will be coming back to sort out whatever has been left - a mess, if we do nothing, and maybe some better pathways if we do.

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    #57

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    sad thing is they could fit them out as housing and end the housing crisis

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    #58

    Great Advice. Found On King At Newtown, Nsw Australia.

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    Redpen88
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Used to DM at a buddy's place before the 'vid ended all human contact. One time, there was almost a TPK and his cat got on the table and carried off the mini for the BBEG.... I decided that was canon and they party was saved by the indifferent cat god. Haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

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    #59

    Freefromwork

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    #60

    Freefromwork

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    Chris
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually dropping the lunch and coffee would save $49. To make a joke right, do better math.

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    #61

    Freefromwork

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    WordWeaver
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder what would happen if every millennial declared bankruptcy - simultaneously?

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    #63

    Freefromwork

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    Gabby Ghoul
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair, if you think FICO scoring is bad, it was even worse before that. Hard to believe, I know.

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    #64

    The System Has Been Rigged For Us To Fail Or Just Get By . Only The Owners Benefit.

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    WordWeaver
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's just a job. No matter how much you work or love it, it will never love you back. It's only your life and other people who matter. In union is strength, which is why the original people who started unions were victimised by the elite and their minions, jailed, murdered (judicial executions, assassination), transported as convicts and vilified in the elite owned press. In the USA, unions have been effectively muzzled and demonised over the generations but in truth, though they are as subject to corruption as any other human enterprise, vital progress re labour laws has been made. But eternal vigilance of the workers is necessary. Be courageous and persevere. Change comes. As Mandela said "It's always impossible until it's done."

    #66

    Demanding Living Wage , With The Fast Pace Of Raising Cost Of Living Raising Can Do A Thing

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    I I
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the whole world needs to down tools at the same time , they'd soon get the message

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    #68

    Freefromwork

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    A.
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Darkness is only oppressive if you've ever seen light.

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    #70

    Freefromwork

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    Kay Phillips
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "That depends. If it's a once in a while situation when I can help my team, sure, I don't mind. But if it's a daily expectation it means the company is understaffed or mismanaged, and has no intention of changing that."

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    #71

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    Sue User
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine gave me a swiss army knife. I asked if I was supposed to use it on myself.

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    #78

    Don't Let Bosses Make You Feel Guilty

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    #80

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