drinking the corporate coo-laid

There are benefits to being single, gay, childless, and under-employed. A different perspective, for one.

Post-university, I heard stories of my friends freaking out at their high-stress jobs. One by one, they'd either drop out from burnout or babies. But they seemed unanimous in their support of 70-hour workweeks being normal.

I'm sorry. Unless I'm a world leader, partner in a law firm, or Martha Stewart, there is something wrong with a 70-hour workweek. At this level of slavery, you should probably employ something called a "household staff" and have at least two personal assistants. But my friends were in mid-management positions and still picking up their own dry cleaning.

I saw reflections of my friends in Leslie Stahl's piece on 60 Minutes last night; in particular, the three "Best Bi" workaholics. God bless Leslie Stahl: she had a hard time maintaining a neutral position as she looked at these people and said, "you're brainwashed."

Money aside, tell me the difference between the passion that North Americans publically demonstrate to their jobs and the fervour that North Koreans publically demonstrate toward their government... the difference between armies of yuppies trying to Blackberry as they drive and the rallies of the former Soviet Union...

There was an article in Fast Company a few years ago about job satisfaction where one ex-corporate-schmuck outlined his reasons for quitting: what good is a $200,000 annual income when all I have time to spend it on is takeout food and expensive suits?

Comments

Butchie said…
I'm happy being straight, married w/ kid and employed at Hardees.
Shora said…
I wanna know wtf happened to our supposed move toward a 4 day work week. BAStards.

Bravo on this Rouge. Your writing gets better and better with every post.
Jason said…
I want that system of "work wherever and whenever you want as long as the work gets done thing."
mistipurple said…
i agree with jimmy.

happiness is also important. i can never do work that sacrifices my happiness. there is always a choice. earning less is alright with me.
I believe that working 70 hours a week is the result of two things
1/ "Clawing you way to the top to make more $"
2/ Simply not working fast enough or incorrectly prioritizing your work load.

I sometimes work a lot more than I should and I sometimes work a lot less. But as Jimmy says as long as I get the job done.


Now get to work you lazy bastards!
lilmammal said…
65 hours are ok, but 70 is just pushing it...
Anonymous said…
Mloyd....
Anonymous said…
I'm just content with my 30 hour work week! (grin)
fatrobot said…
if i could work part time and make the same money i'd do it
Balloon Pirate said…
Work can be an addiction. And just like any other addction, it can be controlled. The first step, as always is recognizing there's a problem.

Thing is, in this country, addiction to work is celebrated. If you hear about someone drinking themself to death, the reactions go from disgust to pity. But someone who works themselves to death? Tragic, yes. But hell, he was a good provider, wasn't he?

Yeharr
Anonymous said…
Mloyd... the sad thing is it will not change. It only gets worse. Now it is expected to check email at night or weekends, expected to carry a blackberry, a mobile, and be in contact in case something happens and longer work weeks are the north american norm.

As long as there is a lot of people out there....straight or not... who are willing to work these hours we will all need to or you will be left behind in your career....like it or not.
I have a friend that works in the high stress world of points. Let me tell you he works crazy hours!
Timmy said…
35 is too damned much, let alone 70!

PS, I want to kiss Brian Finch, he is cute ;-)
madamerouge said…
Interestingly enough, Brian, one of the things the report pointed out lastnight is that France ranks ahead of the United States in productivity... I did my happy dance during that part.

YJA: FECK OFF

everyone else: hearting u
Jason said…
I hate getting worked so hard too MR!
teh l4m3 said…
Earning six figures is really only worth it if you can live (not just survive, and live with yourself while doing it.
toobusyliving said…
The secret Madamerouge, is to "work to live, not live to work!"
Anonymous said…
i heard you got ripped off. PETER HATES ME. ;(
tornwordo said…
I couldn't stick with it, money isn't that valuable.

I decided to go for voluntary simplicity. No car, shitty neighborhood, 20 hours a week job.

Hey, blogging is free!
car@ said…
I could go on and on on this topic....

Thanks for the link!!! wuv u!!!! ;-)
someday, we will meet and we'll try all kind of ice-creams together, jeje! ;-)
The Persian said…
Yikes, lately I can't even seem to get up the desire to work at this shithole 35 hours!!
J said…
"What good is a $200,000 annual income when all I have time to spend it on is takeout food and expensive suits?"

This quote hits it bang on. My last job required ridiculous hours out of me. I once spent a weekend at the office, napping only about 3 hours each night on my office floor, in order to meet a huge project deadline. It was insane. Needless to say, I happily quit and returned to school to complete my degree. :)
Anonymous said…
It's not going to get any better because the fucktards in the US keep signing into law things that protect coroporations. You know, we can call you a "professional or manager", though we neither treat you like one or pay you as such, and fire you at will. La La. We win.

It sucks!
Smartypants said…
Oh geez. This hits such a raw nerve with me.

Even in grad school, you were expected to work 50-60 hours a week in the lab. Postdoc fellowship? 60 hours or more.

I had to get out.
Nölff said…
I work good job during the day and work at a recording studio at night... and bars on the weekend. I don't know what free time is.

Maybe that's why I'm not married.
Jason said…
I work very hard and I don't like it.
Butchie said…
I'm allowed to drink on the job...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! I can also smoke, curse, listen to loud music or turn it off, crap in the girl's bathroom and nap.
Butchie said…
I also make it a habit to eat a handful of Darvocets of Ativans, if I get bored during the mid-afternoon lul. Yes, Hardee's rocks.

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