First off, I want to thank my readers for 16 years of coming back; trying to bring some sanity back to this crazy world. Even to my haters... I love you all too.
Now... this concept that I'm going to present might sound new and different to you. Hopefully by the end of this discourse you will see a different perspective on work/ life relation.
For the sake of math credit, the numbers may be off. Again, this is only an opinion and somewhat of a generalization.
In this day and age it is crazy that we keep having to advocate for basic human rights. Corporations are citizens. They're openly allowed to bribe members of Congress under the guise of "lobbying". They're openly allowed to influence elections. Members of Congress get rich "consulting" for the industries they are supposed to be regulating. Not to mention the insider trading that goes on as they buy and sell stocks based upon the insider information they get from being on congressional committees. My point is that your employer may very well not be holding your interests at heart. YOU are the capital in capitalism. Your work makes them rich. You and your fellow co-workers. There are no more pensions for the working class. Rarely is there profit sharing. And your health insurance is directly tied to your employment.
What I've wondered most of my life, is why so many millions of people continue to bust their asses and work themselves to death for a job that would replace them in a moment's notice. You quit. You die. You retire. They have a new employee at your desk by Monday of the next week...
No job is worth putting yourself into an early grave over. That's why, in my life, I've adopted the 85/15 rule. It goes something like this. No matter how much your job rants on about "we're a team," or a "family", in reality, you're in a consenting relationship of exploiting your labor for their long term gain. Your effort = their gain. Whether you do your job to 100% of your physical effort or 85%, you still get paid the same amount. Kind of like the scene from the movie Office Space. It doesn't provide incentive to work harder.
Now, mind you, there is a caviat here. This only works when you start a new job. If you've been at a place for years, then the expectations are already set. And if you've been giving it all day after day. That is what they continue to expect from you day after day. The expectation vs reality is that we are only humans. Our physical bodies take a toll. Our joints. Our backs. Our feet. Our heads. Stress can take a major toll on your body and lead you into an early grave.
My hypothesis is that you start a new job only giving them 85% of your maximum effort. This may seem absurd, but follow me through my logic.
If you give 85, they don't know it's not your 100, which gives you, as the employee, an advantage over your supervisors. That way, when you do have a day of feeling productive and give more of your precious energy to this job, they see it as you going above the expectation level or above the call of duty that you have previously and consistently set as the standard for your work performance.
Exceptions could be incentives for performance, like bonuses, stock or profit sharing, matching contributions to things like 401k, insurance, flex-spending accounts, etc. But these are all personal and would vary from person to person.
Adjust your mindset to fit your own needs.
The idea is just not to give your life force, your energy, your peace of mind away so freely to a corporation that would replace you in a minute.
If you feel valued at your job and have all the security you need, then I am happy for you. Truly. It is a blessing to feel valued in your work. To do something you love. To be able to be helpful or of service to others. And get paid to do it. The Japanese call this "Ikigai", the reason for being, or the reason to get up in the morning.
Seek happiness. Be well. Find your work/life balance.
