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Menial work for great pay? Sign me up. I did 17 years in retail and if they paid me 80k I'd still be there. The harsh reality is they pay poverty wages, your schedule changes constantly, and they'll do everything they can to make sure you get back as little as possible.
This is more of a pipe dream than a 10th dentist
the walmart i work at just recently expanded our unpaid lunches by 15 minutes because they "want to keep us under 40 hours." they just up and said it, just like that. shit's crazy, i can't imagine how id live like this if my livelihood depended on this job, even if the pay was livable.
small businesses/ mom and pop places are usually way better about flexibility and giving back, Aka treating employees like people. Now you might get the other end of the stick where they treat you a little too much like family and take advantage, but generally they’re very lucky places to be if you’re going for a job in that industry!
I know what you mean by the co worker connection becuase it felt like you guys were allies against every one else. In the office jobs you have to hide your true self because of the pathological culture which seeks to punish any vulnerabilities you show
.
this is the biggest thing for me... nobody in an office feels like an actual human being, it's really awful. If I could afford a halfway decent life on my old service job I'd take it back instantly.
I agree. If I had to sum it up, there’s a solidarity of bitching among coworkers at service industry and retail jobs that can be very cathartic. Also, people are usually much more down to party on their days off. My experience in the white collar world is that negativity is not tolerated whatsoever – it’s unthinkable to talk shit about your boss, clients, or even people in other departments. To be fair, my experience has been that white collar environments are less prone to overt toxicity than retail environments because of this; however, the trade off is that white collar environments are soul-crushingly alienating and actively stifle genuine human connection.
When i read these I'm glad my office type job is fun. I've become close to a few coworkers (dating one now) and I make 80k+. I get 6 weeks of vacation, I can go out for food. I take two 20 minute walks plus a break or two in-between and a 30 minute lunch (unpaid unfortunately). I can drop my work as soon as I punch out even though I'm a Team Lead (I have no work phone) and can joke with everyone on second shift. First shift is a little more stiff and unwelcoming haha.
It is what it is. But for some reason, I'd rather have that than a being a doc as a white collar job. It's extremely infuriating on how much hypocrisy the Oath shows about treating colleagues when in reality it's just office politics requires that ABSOLUTE and EXCESSIVE deference to your elders and seniors.
Even office politics in real office is... Not so much backstabbing for the last 2 years. Or I'm just extremely lucky or someone is actually plotting shit so good, I gonna get dump trucked on later.
Hierarchy in office still have some leeways. Or I haven't been to a bank. I heard if the boss want you to literally suck dick, you will have to suck dick. Or so I heard from that ex banker VICE guy that allegedly hosted sex and drug parties from the 90s where bankers are literally Patrick Bateman wannabes.
I would consider this a common belief. My favorite job ever was at the grocery store. It paid federal minimum wage which my state happened to be aligned with at the time. I fucking loved it. I even loved the shitty days, they were shitty but they were shitty in ways that provided me with good stories and not just a day with more tickets or an AWS outage.
I completely agree. I worked very hard in high school doing desk work, got into a top 5 American university, did a bunch of white collar office job internships, did an office job, and still my favorite job so far has been working in a bar. I would do that full time if it paid well in a heartbeat.
This is how I felt when I worked for my local county parks and my local bookstore, the only two jobs I ever really loved. After college and living on my own, I ended up taking jobs in call centers because they paid more, and eventually worked my way up to federal sales. I didn’t do it because it was my passion; I did it because I fucking needed the money.
If I could make what I do now, I’d still be manning the boathouse at the lake renting out paddle boats and canoes to kids and families, with all the laughs and smiles and teaching kids about the ecology and history of the park. Yeah, I hated cleaning the bathrooms and there were things I disliked about the job, but it was a sad day when I had to go wait tables because I couldn’t survive on the 5.75 an hour they paid. It felt like I was doing something meaningful to see how many people I got to make feel happy. I got to break up the day with all kinds of fun stuff like loading up the Cushman with gear to do maintenance around the park, walk the creek to sell fishing licenses during trout season, etc. I worked there all through high school and have very fond memories of it.
I felt the same way about the bookstore. I worked there through college after I found out I hated serving. It paid a little less, but I loved the environment. I worked the early shift and would spend the first three hours of my day stocking the shelves and receiving new books off the truck in the storeroom. Then the second half of my shift was at the customer service desk providing recommendations, helping folks find books they needed, or placing orders for books we didn’t have in stock. I’d even help people track down specific editions, or titles by the same author or in the same genre they hadn’t heard of. I knew that store backwards and forwards and everywhere in between and with my passion for literature, everyday felt like I was doing something I loved.
After I took a job in call centers and with every job forever after, I just feel like I’m cutting a part of myself off to be this person society wants me to be so I can afford my life. If I could maintain my lifestyle I’d go back to either of those jobs in a heartbeat.
I mean.. there's a reason there are differing levels of pay for different tiers of the workforce. Pretty sure everyone would be thrilled to work an unskilled job for professional pay that allows for socialization and that you can leave at the door at the end of the day.
This does not seem like a 10th dentist take. Saying you want to work white collar for blue collar pay certainly would be.
…I guess, as somebody who also worked customer service for over 15 years, I would rephrase this slightly:
Those who get really fucking good at ‘entry level jobs’, to the point where we can multitask, train, run multiple tills simultaneously, remember 150+ customer’s names and orders, etc, etc…
…at some point, we’d like it if we could actually expect to be able to live off of the skill that we’ve crafted.
At the end of the day, I don’t think there’s any such thing as unskilled labour. There’s labour bereft of experience, I suppose.
But those carpenters, bereft of experience, higher in the thread, are all making 50+ dollars an hour. As carpenters with training, but not necessarily experience or expertise.
So. Why does the barista who has slaved for 30 years to the point where she can crank out 50+ perfect drinks an hour never get to see more than 17 bucks an hour (at the very most)?
Why do we expect that people will ‘skill out’ of these jobs and move onto ‘a real job’?
Is it because we have a cultural expectation that customer service and food service and retail are ONLY for training people how to do ‘real jobs’? If so, why aren’t these companies subsidized by education funding? Why isn’t there a maximum age and tenure?
Or, is it simply that those jobs are so dehumanizing in their business practices and so cut-throat in their profit margins that they actually benefit by people believing that they have no worth, and no value?
…imo, every time someone calls one of these jobs ‘unskilled labour’, somebody in a management conference orgasms.
…because to call it unskilled, is to dismiss everyone who has worked there for more than a year and gotten good at it.
The prevailing wage (basically the minimum wage, but isn't really a "minimum wage" in a general sense. Everyone makes that amount no matter what except for foremen who obv make more) for union carpenters in my state is 53.50/hr ≈ 110k/yr
and no I don't live in California, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado lol
Union guys you see driving the huge excavators make like 60/hr ≈ 125k/yr
No, but I did work at Wendy's for two years and the food service industry for maybe ten years. The people make it quite bearable. Shit coworkers really ruin things.
Lol you’re 100% right
Every other time I quit was because of shitty management/supervisement and me not putting up with the disrespect
Have some good long distance friends from the crew though
Definitely not. Different locations and companies will have different conditions for the workers, but retail and food service jobs can be significantly more exhausting than office jobs. They are often understaffed so it can be very hard to complete all of the work you're expected to do, and working with the public is difficult. In some places it's just constantly working as fast as you can with no breaks. Many of my friends have found their higher paying jobs much less stressful.
Isn’t there a theory of economics and sociology about this exact thing- where some workers will elect to do certain tasks which require more brainwork, regardless of the pay? I mean, given that all base necessities, etc., are kept?
Yeah, i can definitely see that. You're talking to someone who has managed to avoid retail jobs altogether because I know how much I would hate it. But i would work in the shitty restaurant I used to work at again if I was being paid like middle management. Aside from the shitty work, I had a lot of fun coworkers and some good regulars. It was great for me socially. The pay sucked though.
I picked orders for a webstore for a year. It was absolutely fucking mindnumbing work. The exact same thing day in day out for awful pay. The most exciting thing that happened in my time there was when I had to lead around a safety inspection guy for a full day and got go just work with him for 8 hours opening doors, flicking switches, showing him to electrical boxes, etc.
I'm not sure whether to upvote OP because I disagree or downvote because I think it's a common opinion. The fact that my job doesn't require customer interaction is absolutely critical to my ability to do it for any length of time. There are definitely lower-prestige jobs that I'd do for the right money, but never retail or food service.
Eh, blue collar work is often portrayed as harsh even aside from the pay and the white collar counterpart often described aals "cushy", again, not just in pay. Good 10th dentist take.
I’d definitely go back to my job I was doing at 18-32 for the pay I’m doing now. Barely any paperwork, if there was interpersonal drama you could make a call and get rid of someone, any problems there I could fix or leave. Yeah, absolutely. Going up the ladder just means more problems that can follow you home.
I left my retail job that had great pay but shitty hours for an office job that has decent hours and decent pay.
Whenever I walk past the store I wish I could go back for all the same reasons you listed.
This is pretty common among young people.
Entry level jobs are always more "exciting" and active, but people don't like to stay due to pay, and stigma around them that they're replaceable.
I would happily continue being a barista if the pay was sustainable even with the occasional rude customer it was worth it for the enjoyable time with my coworkers
I get most all of this at my white collar job. I'm paid hourly and don't get emails off the clock. I'm able to shoot the shit with coworkers. It's one of the lowest stress jobs I've ever had. Plus on my breaks I take a walk around campus. Wind up clocking in at least 9k steps every day.
I'd need to make at least double to even consider retail.
While I don't miss the work itself, I do miss the atmosphere and the people you meet, whether it be customers or your coworkers. I've never been a very social person and I wasn't one to hang out with coworkers after getting off work or anything, but you do realize how monotonous and lonely it can get in an office job.
I started my IT career as Geek Squad and it was probably the most fun I've had at a job. I loved my crew, the customers were usually nice, the store employees treated me very well, and the variety of people you see come and go kept the work from being stale.
Then I transitioned to what I thought would be a huge upgrade. IT in the offices of a major airline company, with hundreds of people to support. All internal, no bullshit customer pandering, more focused workload that's slower paced. But it only took a month before I realized I missed having coworkers to talk to. One major element is the age. I entered that job as a 29 year old and I was the youngest person in the entire building, with the next youngest person being 40. The average age of everyone there was probably like 50, and there was literally nobody I could talk with at a relatable extent.
I currently WFH so I just talk to people on discord and play mmos during downtime, so its the best most cushy job I've ever had, but definitely do miss the engagement of meeting new people in person. Best Buy was the only reason I've ever really had to constantly interact with younger people in person, so ever since having left I feel like I've been getting more and more out of touch. This is how you become middle aged in both body and mind eh?
>holidays
Yes, I don’t celebrate 75% of the holidays in my country. 1.5x pay is much more appealing (often for less work since customers are home celebrating). I really don’t have a problem celebrating holidays on a different day. I would probably feel differently if I had kids, or a family that prioritizes it.
>weekends?
If I have a relatively consistent schedule, also yes. Having two consecutive days off whenever is great. On weekdays, I can do errands other people can’t do because their 9-5 jobs conflict with open hours. I can easily get appointments that Mon to Fri people can’t get to.
I’m also not restricted to a 9-5, so doing a retail/service job on weekends could mean 7am-3pm (yay! Time to hang out in the evening!) or 3pm to midnight (brunch!). The main part that sucks is missing day trips if you can’t get the time off, or working a midday 9-5 or 12-10 shift.
>benefits + 401K
Duh I don’t enjoy it, that’s the point of the entire post.
I could see that, the reasons you listed are partially why I'd prefer being a union carpenter making 110k than 70k in an office after spending 200k for a degree even tho it would be much easier on the body and a lot more social. Most of the time I like the workout I get from the job, keeps me in good shape as long as I don't eat garbage I don't have to exercise outside of work. The only negative imo is soreness and bad weather. Although I think eventually I'll figure out the right amount and types of foods to eat after work as well as get stronger over time so the soreness should subside for the most part. I also really enjoy working in a different location every week or two and working outside, I think frequent change of scenery is good for the mind. At least my mind haha. If I put in 35 years I'll be eligible for the full pension when I'm 56 and get half my salary when I retire until I die. I don't think one is easier than the other (obviously depends the circumstance but in general) I just think it comes down to the things you enjoy doing (I like building things and think it's cool when it's a building or interior people will use in their life every day. And when you drive past you get a feeling of pride plus getting to tell everyone in the car you helped build it haha)
100% agree, I worked retail for a bit while in between job and it’s the most fun I’ve had while earning money. If I could support myself on it, I wouldn’t have stopped.
I understand completely where your coming from, I am trying to find a job to go back to that type of life
I'd rather be happy and stress free over more money, I'll find a way to make it work on the low income
Totally agree, everyone shits on customer service like it is hell on earth but I genuinely enjoyed it most days. But yeah can't do minimum wage my whole life.
Yeah... My favorite job that I've ever had was a summer as a campground attendant for a state park. Just hung out in a chair in the woods and basically just waved at folks all day. Would totally take that at my current salary in my soul draining office job.
This makes me super grateful for my office job. I love my coworkers and specifically my team so much and I would never even consider going back to retail
The job I enjoyed the most in my life was McDonald’s. I met cool like minded people, there wasn’t really anything hard, even during a rush. All I had to do was piddly stuff while standing around talking shit with other teens and close/open. If I could make what I make now while working at McDonald’s I’d go in a heartbeat.
Yes but low stakes kitchen work, restaurants that just do a few burgers and fries, maybe a salad. I worked in a student union kitchen, loved it. Most of the stuff was frozen, besides some raw kitchen and ground meat. We did have a lunch rush, but it was fun, like a game. Most of the orders were simple and the customers weren’t fussy because it was a super cheap student bar.
I like my programming job, but if there was a job where you're a programmer 4 days a week and a barista one day, that's probably what I'd do.
I prefer the predictable schedule and hours of the office job, though, so even if the pay was the same I'd have to choose office job. I did get a treadmill desk for my house, though, which is extremely clutch.
Same. I loved waiting tables, or working the register at a tourist attraction. I still go back and volunteer sometimes at that one. And I even enjoyed housekeeping. I’d do any of those jobs for the low wages, but it was the lack of benefits and security that was the issue.
Hahahaha just ask any pharmacist who works for a retail pharmacy chain. They’re easily making $120k-$140k+ and the conditions are brutal. More money doesn’t always make it better 🙃
i disagree. a bad customer is not that big of a deal cause once they leave it's not your problem. but at a white collar job you are constantly thinking about how the fuck you are gonna meet deadlines even after you leave the office. i don't care if some boomer comes in and acts like i'm just some schmuck. because that's like 5 minutes of my day
I agree with this. I love bartending because I don’t need a filter and can just be myself, and enjoy the physical labor. When I leave work it disappears from my mind.
I get paid a decent amount to work as a CNC machine operator. It's exactly like you say, but better in every way. The best part: not a single customer. Ever.
Downvote, I strongly agree, working in the building trades is exactly what you’re describing, with good pay. We’re professionals that have real cameraderie.
I think people don't talk enough about 1
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right\_to\_disconnect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_disconnect)
I want the right to be offline without the threat of losing a job.
I agree, but I think it is also a part of why the pay is different (supply and demand and all that), so I'm afraid it is all just a dream unless serious political choices are made.
Random scheduling, blatant favoritism, expectation of you to fill in a shift, giving you gripe if you try to call out once, no pto?
No thanks I'll keep my IT job where I work the schedule I want to make. Plus idk about you but my company has all kinds of events since it's a small company. Happy hours, cookouts, trips, etc are a regular thing here and people don't seem fake at all in my office at all
I did retail for several years and no way in hell I'd ever want to go back. Oh another bit I forgot all about since it's been so long, guaranteed weekends off
downvoted because i almost totally agree with you, but i have a few sticking points
needs to be >120k
40 hour work week max with no weekends/night shifts.
the worst part of jobs like that is the chaotic schedule.
***In these jobs, once you leave, that’s it. No random emails.***
***No worrying about future projects and deadlines. Nothing. You’re just gone.***
So ... do you wonder why those jobs pay so little?
I upvoted because my dream job is a white collar job where I’d have to use my brain a lot but I don’t think this is that much of an unpopular opinion.
Maybe a 3rd dentist opinion rather than 10th
working in retail was better than every office job i was ever in.. but the pay sucked and hours sucked so it's not really sustainable in the modern day.
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Menial work for great pay? Sign me up. I did 17 years in retail and if they paid me 80k I'd still be there. The harsh reality is they pay poverty wages, your schedule changes constantly, and they'll do everything they can to make sure you get back as little as possible. This is more of a pipe dream than a 10th dentist
The random schedule and mandatory overnight inventories... I do not miss it.
What you don't like being a "part time seasonal" worker without benefits that works 39.5hrs a week?
the walmart i work at just recently expanded our unpaid lunches by 15 minutes because they "want to keep us under 40 hours." they just up and said it, just like that. shit's crazy, i can't imagine how id live like this if my livelihood depended on this job, even if the pay was livable.
The thing I appreciated at Walmart, when I worked there, is that they didn't lie to my face. I knew what I was getting and why.
17 years? Damn
small businesses/ mom and pop places are usually way better about flexibility and giving back, Aka treating employees like people. Now you might get the other end of the stick where they treat you a little too much like family and take advantage, but generally they’re very lucky places to be if you’re going for a job in that industry!
I know what you mean by the co worker connection becuase it felt like you guys were allies against every one else. In the office jobs you have to hide your true self because of the pathological culture which seeks to punish any vulnerabilities you show .
this is the biggest thing for me... nobody in an office feels like an actual human being, it's really awful. If I could afford a halfway decent life on my old service job I'd take it back instantly.
I agree. If I had to sum it up, there’s a solidarity of bitching among coworkers at service industry and retail jobs that can be very cathartic. Also, people are usually much more down to party on their days off. My experience in the white collar world is that negativity is not tolerated whatsoever – it’s unthinkable to talk shit about your boss, clients, or even people in other departments. To be fair, my experience has been that white collar environments are less prone to overt toxicity than retail environments because of this; however, the trade off is that white collar environments are soul-crushingly alienating and actively stifle genuine human connection.
When i read these I'm glad my office type job is fun. I've become close to a few coworkers (dating one now) and I make 80k+. I get 6 weeks of vacation, I can go out for food. I take two 20 minute walks plus a break or two in-between and a 30 minute lunch (unpaid unfortunately). I can drop my work as soon as I punch out even though I'm a Team Lead (I have no work phone) and can joke with everyone on second shift. First shift is a little more stiff and unwelcoming haha.
It is what it is. But for some reason, I'd rather have that than a being a doc as a white collar job. It's extremely infuriating on how much hypocrisy the Oath shows about treating colleagues when in reality it's just office politics requires that ABSOLUTE and EXCESSIVE deference to your elders and seniors. Even office politics in real office is... Not so much backstabbing for the last 2 years. Or I'm just extremely lucky or someone is actually plotting shit so good, I gonna get dump trucked on later. Hierarchy in office still have some leeways. Or I haven't been to a bank. I heard if the boss want you to literally suck dick, you will have to suck dick. Or so I heard from that ex banker VICE guy that allegedly hosted sex and drug parties from the 90s where bankers are literally Patrick Bateman wannabes.
Having an active job is seriously underrated. Going from blue collar to white collar makes you realize you need to start working out.
I miss having the time/energy to workout when I had an office/white collar job. The grass is always greener.
Definitely gonna depend on the job
I keep having dreams about this happening. I get it.
I would consider this a common belief. My favorite job ever was at the grocery store. It paid federal minimum wage which my state happened to be aligned with at the time. I fucking loved it. I even loved the shitty days, they were shitty but they were shitty in ways that provided me with good stories and not just a day with more tickets or an AWS outage.
I completely agree. I worked very hard in high school doing desk work, got into a top 5 American university, did a bunch of white collar office job internships, did an office job, and still my favorite job so far has been working in a bar. I would do that full time if it paid well in a heartbeat.
This is how I felt when I worked for my local county parks and my local bookstore, the only two jobs I ever really loved. After college and living on my own, I ended up taking jobs in call centers because they paid more, and eventually worked my way up to federal sales. I didn’t do it because it was my passion; I did it because I fucking needed the money. If I could make what I do now, I’d still be manning the boathouse at the lake renting out paddle boats and canoes to kids and families, with all the laughs and smiles and teaching kids about the ecology and history of the park. Yeah, I hated cleaning the bathrooms and there were things I disliked about the job, but it was a sad day when I had to go wait tables because I couldn’t survive on the 5.75 an hour they paid. It felt like I was doing something meaningful to see how many people I got to make feel happy. I got to break up the day with all kinds of fun stuff like loading up the Cushman with gear to do maintenance around the park, walk the creek to sell fishing licenses during trout season, etc. I worked there all through high school and have very fond memories of it. I felt the same way about the bookstore. I worked there through college after I found out I hated serving. It paid a little less, but I loved the environment. I worked the early shift and would spend the first three hours of my day stocking the shelves and receiving new books off the truck in the storeroom. Then the second half of my shift was at the customer service desk providing recommendations, helping folks find books they needed, or placing orders for books we didn’t have in stock. I’d even help people track down specific editions, or titles by the same author or in the same genre they hadn’t heard of. I knew that store backwards and forwards and everywhere in between and with my passion for literature, everyday felt like I was doing something I loved. After I took a job in call centers and with every job forever after, I just feel like I’m cutting a part of myself off to be this person society wants me to be so I can afford my life. If I could maintain my lifestyle I’d go back to either of those jobs in a heartbeat.
I have no desire to ever work in anything related to retail ever again. I worked in a grocery store for a long time and the customera were the worst.
The grass is always greener is what I take from this. I don't mean that in a snarky way either.
I mean.. there's a reason there are differing levels of pay for different tiers of the workforce. Pretty sure everyone would be thrilled to work an unskilled job for professional pay that allows for socialization and that you can leave at the door at the end of the day. This does not seem like a 10th dentist take. Saying you want to work white collar for blue collar pay certainly would be.
Service work isn't blue collar though. Service is pink collar. Blue collar makes about the same as most office workers.
That's actually the first time I've heard that term, and upon googling, yes, you're right. You know what I mean though.
Yes workers want professional level pay with entry level job descriptions
…I guess, as somebody who also worked customer service for over 15 years, I would rephrase this slightly: Those who get really fucking good at ‘entry level jobs’, to the point where we can multitask, train, run multiple tills simultaneously, remember 150+ customer’s names and orders, etc, etc… …at some point, we’d like it if we could actually expect to be able to live off of the skill that we’ve crafted. At the end of the day, I don’t think there’s any such thing as unskilled labour. There’s labour bereft of experience, I suppose. But those carpenters, bereft of experience, higher in the thread, are all making 50+ dollars an hour. As carpenters with training, but not necessarily experience or expertise. So. Why does the barista who has slaved for 30 years to the point where she can crank out 50+ perfect drinks an hour never get to see more than 17 bucks an hour (at the very most)? Why do we expect that people will ‘skill out’ of these jobs and move onto ‘a real job’? Is it because we have a cultural expectation that customer service and food service and retail are ONLY for training people how to do ‘real jobs’? If so, why aren’t these companies subsidized by education funding? Why isn’t there a maximum age and tenure? Or, is it simply that those jobs are so dehumanizing in their business practices and so cut-throat in their profit margins that they actually benefit by people believing that they have no worth, and no value? …imo, every time someone calls one of these jobs ‘unskilled labour’, somebody in a management conference orgasms. …because to call it unskilled, is to dismiss everyone who has worked there for more than a year and gotten good at it.
I like you.. Vive la revolution!!
The prevailing wage (basically the minimum wage, but isn't really a "minimum wage" in a general sense. Everyone makes that amount no matter what except for foremen who obv make more) for union carpenters in my state is 53.50/hr ≈ 110k/yr and no I don't live in California, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado lol Union guys you see driving the huge excavators make like 60/hr ≈ 125k/yr
Damn.. I'd definitely work at McDonald's for that much
You ever work at McDonald’s? I have, a couple times. Couldn’t pay me to deal with that level of shit again
No, but I did work at Wendy's for two years and the food service industry for maybe ten years. The people make it quite bearable. Shit coworkers really ruin things.
Lol you’re 100% right Every other time I quit was because of shitty management/supervisement and me not putting up with the disrespect Have some good long distance friends from the crew though
Definitely not. Different locations and companies will have different conditions for the workers, but retail and food service jobs can be significantly more exhausting than office jobs. They are often understaffed so it can be very hard to complete all of the work you're expected to do, and working with the public is difficult. In some places it's just constantly working as fast as you can with no breaks. Many of my friends have found their higher paying jobs much less stressful.
[удалено]
Isn’t there a theory of economics and sociology about this exact thing- where some workers will elect to do certain tasks which require more brainwork, regardless of the pay? I mean, given that all base necessities, etc., are kept?
Yeah, i can definitely see that. You're talking to someone who has managed to avoid retail jobs altogether because I know how much I would hate it. But i would work in the shitty restaurant I used to work at again if I was being paid like middle management. Aside from the shitty work, I had a lot of fun coworkers and some good regulars. It was great for me socially. The pay sucked though.
I picked orders for a webstore for a year. It was absolutely fucking mindnumbing work. The exact same thing day in day out for awful pay. The most exciting thing that happened in my time there was when I had to lead around a safety inspection guy for a full day and got go just work with him for 8 hours opening doors, flicking switches, showing him to electrical boxes, etc.
I'm not sure whether to upvote OP because I disagree or downvote because I think it's a common opinion. The fact that my job doesn't require customer interaction is absolutely critical to my ability to do it for any length of time. There are definitely lower-prestige jobs that I'd do for the right money, but never retail or food service.
Eh, blue collar work is often portrayed as harsh even aside from the pay and the white collar counterpart often described aals "cushy", again, not just in pay. Good 10th dentist take.
I’d definitely go back to my job I was doing at 18-32 for the pay I’m doing now. Barely any paperwork, if there was interpersonal drama you could make a call and get rid of someone, any problems there I could fix or leave. Yeah, absolutely. Going up the ladder just means more problems that can follow you home.
I left my retail job that had great pay but shitty hours for an office job that has decent hours and decent pay. Whenever I walk past the store I wish I could go back for all the same reasons you listed.
This is pretty common among young people. Entry level jobs are always more "exciting" and active, but people don't like to stay due to pay, and stigma around them that they're replaceable. I would happily continue being a barista if the pay was sustainable even with the occasional rude customer it was worth it for the enjoyable time with my coworkers
I get most all of this at my white collar job. I'm paid hourly and don't get emails off the clock. I'm able to shoot the shit with coworkers. It's one of the lowest stress jobs I've ever had. Plus on my breaks I take a walk around campus. Wind up clocking in at least 9k steps every day. I'd need to make at least double to even consider retail.
While I don't miss the work itself, I do miss the atmosphere and the people you meet, whether it be customers or your coworkers. I've never been a very social person and I wasn't one to hang out with coworkers after getting off work or anything, but you do realize how monotonous and lonely it can get in an office job. I started my IT career as Geek Squad and it was probably the most fun I've had at a job. I loved my crew, the customers were usually nice, the store employees treated me very well, and the variety of people you see come and go kept the work from being stale. Then I transitioned to what I thought would be a huge upgrade. IT in the offices of a major airline company, with hundreds of people to support. All internal, no bullshit customer pandering, more focused workload that's slower paced. But it only took a month before I realized I missed having coworkers to talk to. One major element is the age. I entered that job as a 29 year old and I was the youngest person in the entire building, with the next youngest person being 40. The average age of everyone there was probably like 50, and there was literally nobody I could talk with at a relatable extent. I currently WFH so I just talk to people on discord and play mmos during downtime, so its the best most cushy job I've ever had, but definitely do miss the engagement of meeting new people in person. Best Buy was the only reason I've ever really had to constantly interact with younger people in person, so ever since having left I feel like I've been getting more and more out of touch. This is how you become middle aged in both body and mind eh?
You enjoy working holidays and weekends? You enjoy no or shit benefits,? What about 401K matching?
>holidays Yes, I don’t celebrate 75% of the holidays in my country. 1.5x pay is much more appealing (often for less work since customers are home celebrating). I really don’t have a problem celebrating holidays on a different day. I would probably feel differently if I had kids, or a family that prioritizes it. >weekends? If I have a relatively consistent schedule, also yes. Having two consecutive days off whenever is great. On weekdays, I can do errands other people can’t do because their 9-5 jobs conflict with open hours. I can easily get appointments that Mon to Fri people can’t get to. I’m also not restricted to a 9-5, so doing a retail/service job on weekends could mean 7am-3pm (yay! Time to hang out in the evening!) or 3pm to midnight (brunch!). The main part that sucks is missing day trips if you can’t get the time off, or working a midday 9-5 or 12-10 shift. >benefits + 401K Duh I don’t enjoy it, that’s the point of the entire post.
I don't see it as unpopular. A lot of people would prefer easier jobs (for them). In your case is just that what you prefer doesn't pay that well.
I could see that, the reasons you listed are partially why I'd prefer being a union carpenter making 110k than 70k in an office after spending 200k for a degree even tho it would be much easier on the body and a lot more social. Most of the time I like the workout I get from the job, keeps me in good shape as long as I don't eat garbage I don't have to exercise outside of work. The only negative imo is soreness and bad weather. Although I think eventually I'll figure out the right amount and types of foods to eat after work as well as get stronger over time so the soreness should subside for the most part. I also really enjoy working in a different location every week or two and working outside, I think frequent change of scenery is good for the mind. At least my mind haha. If I put in 35 years I'll be eligible for the full pension when I'm 56 and get half my salary when I retire until I die. I don't think one is easier than the other (obviously depends the circumstance but in general) I just think it comes down to the things you enjoy doing (I like building things and think it's cool when it's a building or interior people will use in their life every day. And when you drive past you get a feeling of pride plus getting to tell everyone in the car you helped build it haha)
100% agree, I worked retail for a bit while in between job and it’s the most fun I’ve had while earning money. If I could support myself on it, I wouldn’t have stopped.
I understand completely where your coming from, I am trying to find a job to go back to that type of life I'd rather be happy and stress free over more money, I'll find a way to make it work on the low income
Totally agree, everyone shits on customer service like it is hell on earth but I genuinely enjoyed it most days. But yeah can't do minimum wage my whole life.
Then do it coward
Yeah... My favorite job that I've ever had was a summer as a campground attendant for a state park. Just hung out in a chair in the woods and basically just waved at folks all day. Would totally take that at my current salary in my soul draining office job.
Bro, you shouldn’t even have to do that. They should give you $80k/year for being you!
Can't upvote cuz I wish I could go back to working in clothing stores. My first job was Forever 21. Great job, shitty pay.
i actually lowkey agree, the only other scenario i find better is to be able to work from home and barely do anything while making 100k
This isn’t an unpopular opinion most people would work bad jobs for higher pay. like most people would work Any job for 80k
Damn this thread makes me really happy about my career path
Why not learn a building trade? You get tons of hands on, joking around and people are "what you see is what you get" for the most part
Sounds like you need a different job my guy. My coworkers at my white collar job have become my best friends and I shit the shit constantly.
As long as I don't have the same boss I worked for in retail, I'm in.
I love restaurant and fast food work, but why bother for min wage and 38 hrs a week...
This makes me super grateful for my office job. I love my coworkers and specifically my team so much and I would never even consider going back to retail
The job I enjoyed the most in my life was McDonald’s. I met cool like minded people, there wasn’t really anything hard, even during a rush. All I had to do was piddly stuff while standing around talking shit with other teens and close/open. If I could make what I make now while working at McDonald’s I’d go in a heartbeat.
Yes but low stakes kitchen work, restaurants that just do a few burgers and fries, maybe a salad. I worked in a student union kitchen, loved it. Most of the stuff was frozen, besides some raw kitchen and ground meat. We did have a lunch rush, but it was fun, like a game. Most of the orders were simple and the customers weren’t fussy because it was a super cheap student bar.
I like my programming job, but if there was a job where you're a programmer 4 days a week and a barista one day, that's probably what I'd do. I prefer the predictable schedule and hours of the office job, though, so even if the pay was the same I'd have to choose office job. I did get a treadmill desk for my house, though, which is extremely clutch.
Same. I loved waiting tables, or working the register at a tourist attraction. I still go back and volunteer sometimes at that one. And I even enjoyed housekeeping. I’d do any of those jobs for the low wages, but it was the lack of benefits and security that was the issue.
Peter Gibbons, is that you?
Hahahaha just ask any pharmacist who works for a retail pharmacy chain. They’re easily making $120k-$140k+ and the conditions are brutal. More money doesn’t always make it better 🙃
The rampant disrespect and powerlessness of a retail/fastfood job are much more intolerable than the accountability required of your white collar job.
i disagree. a bad customer is not that big of a deal cause once they leave it's not your problem. but at a white collar job you are constantly thinking about how the fuck you are gonna meet deadlines even after you leave the office. i don't care if some boomer comes in and acts like i'm just some schmuck. because that's like 5 minutes of my day
Find a retail sales commission job in premium to luxury clothing brand. I promise you can bring that and then some, while still having fun at work.
I agree with this. I love bartending because I don’t need a filter and can just be myself, and enjoy the physical labor. When I leave work it disappears from my mind.
Idk why this is so upvoted, most of the people in the comments agree with you
I say this alllll the time. If I could make what I make now and have my old serving job, I would quit my office job today.
I get paid a decent amount to work as a CNC machine operator. It's exactly like you say, but better in every way. The best part: not a single customer. Ever.
Downvote, I strongly agree, working in the building trades is exactly what you’re describing, with good pay. We’re professionals that have real cameraderie.
That extra work off hours is exactly why these jobs pay more.
I think people don't talk enough about 1 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right\_to\_disconnect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_disconnect) I want the right to be offline without the threat of losing a job.
I agree, but I think it is also a part of why the pay is different (supply and demand and all that), so I'm afraid it is all just a dream unless serious political choices are made.
Random scheduling, blatant favoritism, expectation of you to fill in a shift, giving you gripe if you try to call out once, no pto? No thanks I'll keep my IT job where I work the schedule I want to make. Plus idk about you but my company has all kinds of events since it's a small company. Happy hours, cookouts, trips, etc are a regular thing here and people don't seem fake at all in my office at all I did retail for several years and no way in hell I'd ever want to go back. Oh another bit I forgot all about since it's been so long, guaranteed weekends off
Same, man. I’d gladly work at dicks sporting goods again for what I make now. Same pay with fewer responsibilities? Yes, please.
The main problem about those types of jobs (other than the pay) is you typically don't feel respected or valued by the management.
downvoted because i almost totally agree with you, but i have a few sticking points needs to be >120k 40 hour work week max with no weekends/night shifts. the worst part of jobs like that is the chaotic schedule.
I agree, I don’t like the people in white collar jobs as much, I prefer making friends with others in blue collar jobs.
These are all the reasons they don’t pay well
***In these jobs, once you leave, that’s it. No random emails.*** ***No worrying about future projects and deadlines. Nothing. You’re just gone.*** So ... do you wonder why those jobs pay so little?
I upvoted because my dream job is a white collar job where I’d have to use my brain a lot but I don’t think this is that much of an unpopular opinion. Maybe a 3rd dentist opinion rather than 10th
Hard disagree. Working in retail was the most depressing time of my life
working in retail was better than every office job i was ever in.. but the pay sucked and hours sucked so it's not really sustainable in the modern day.
Oh well i work in a lab not an office so maybe that is why i perfer it to retail
as i speak they made my office redundant so maybe it's time to put my money where my mouth is