Working Hard vs Quiet Quitting
Workers realize Corporate America has become Anti-Darwinian
As obedient workers, we are told many Political adages - remnants of a bygone era in Corporate America - meant to maximize our effort and input into the economic system.
Like lemmings, the Boomer generation gleefully recites these not-so-subtle marketing messages:
“The harder you work, the luckier you get”
“If you work hard you will succeed”
“One day all your hard work will pay off”
We are expected to believe the Political Reality that one can devote himself through hard work to the Sisyphean task of “going above and beyond” for the sake of the firm. And by doing so, one can anticipate rising in the firm to the level of leadership or receiving vast reward.
As George Carlin said, “That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”
Perhaps there was a time in American economic history when these adages were not so Machiavellian. Perhaps there was a time when unbridled economic growth gave opportunity to vast numbers. Perhaps there was a time when Objective Work (as opposed to Political Work) was rewarded handsomely.
If so, those days are no longer with us. The Objective Truth is that Generation X and below see Corporate America for what is, an Anti-Darwinian cesspool of Political Work.
As a result, there is a growing trend among this cohort called “Quiet Quitting,” which promotes the concept of doing the absolute bare minimum in one’s job. Surely this concept was always a thing, but it never had the social virality of today as the workplace increasingly loses touch with Objective work.
Before we consult the Commenters, we must remember the prophetic cult classic feature film, Office Space.
The film’s protagonist, Peter Gibbons, is a frustrated and unmotivated programmer who is actively trying to be fired. To his dismay, he is promoted while the hardworking programmers are let go.
He is described by the consultants downsizing the firm as follows:
“I’d like to move us right to Peter Gibbons. We had a chance to meet this young man, and boy he’s just a straight shooter with upper management written all over him.” - The Bobs
As always, it is time for the Commenters to share their thoughts:
-ZHcommenter
It has been like this for at least 20 years. Office Space was a documentary, just like Idiocracy.
I happen to be self employed. But, my god, this is depressing to read.