The Sunday Review of the NYTIMES regaled me with a story that made me contort with laughter. The story is titled “A Toxic Work World” and is a great example of the recent efforts to convince the Unhireables that they are better off without evil, nasty work. In the process, the article allows everybody else to engage in sweet, delicious self-pity:
For many Americans, life has become all competition all the time. Workers across the socioeconomic spectrum have stories about toiling 12 to 16-hoyr days and experiencing anxiety attacks and exhaustion.
I’m sure it’s all true. People have stories of misery that would terrify the most cold-hearted and cynical. There can be no doubt that they perceive themselves as hugely overworked even when they don’t really work that hard.
I’m on sabbatical right now, which means that I don’t have to be in my office. Still, when a student asked me to meet to sign some papers, I agreed, warning the student that I don’t have anything else to do at the office and asking her to arrive at 12 pm sharp.
Obviously, the student didn’t show up at 12. Instead, she sauntered in 40 minutes later, offered no explanation or apology, and informed me that she hadn’t had time to fill out her papers, so could I sign the empty sheets instead.
When she fails to become as successful as she wants, she will savor the articles about the evil world of work that only rewards the lucky few and casts aside the hardworking victims like her.
Clarissa's Blog 
Omg, I hate students like this. Inevitably, they are the biggest whiners about their poor grades, and bellyache about how they worked SO HARD for so little reward. Ugh. I HATE that behavior!!!
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okay, there really are toxic work environments…
I could link to the glassdoor reviews of a place where I worked at one time…
(but I’d rather not, not that I’m worried about being doxxed, but…)
The owners regularly cuss out employees and abuse them because they need a paycheck…
One of the telltale signs was that there are only 5 star ratings-written by one of the owners, I recognize his writing style. And then there are only 1 star ratings by disgruntled and abused employees. There are no inbetween 3 star ratings-ie it isn’t perfect but it is a paycheck.
another thing, worker productivity has increased but wages have stagnated…
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Of course, there are. But there are also way too many employees who think that spending hours on Facebook is work.
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Amen!
When I feel stressed or overworked, nine times out of ten it’s because I have not done an adequate job of organizing, prioritizing, and/or planning ahead. It’s tempting to complain about it, but it’s more productive to recognize my own shortcomings and invest extra effort in organizing, prioritizing, and planning ahead.
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“When I feel stressed or overworked, nine times out of ten it’s because I have not done an adequate job of organizing, prioritizing, and/or planning ahead. ”
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