WORK TO LIVE OR LIVE TO WORK?
A Reflection by Victor Lana
Many years ago in my undergraduate sociology class the professor (his name now escapes me) asked the class, "Would you prefer to work to live or live to work?" As I recall now, this led to a vibrant discussion about priorities, what we saw ourselves doing in the future, and how well we wanted to live the life that we envisioned. "Live to work" obviously connotes that one goes happily off to the office each day, while "work to live" implies something more onerous.
I often think about that discussion as the years have passed, and I have even used that question rather frequently as a writing assignment in my freshman composition classes. During the prewriting phase, students usually spoke freely concerning their opinions in brainstorming sessions. Many argued vehemently with those on the opposite side, but by the time they got to the actual writing, most students seemed rather adamant that no job or boss was going to ruin their lives.
In the grand scheme of things for many Americans, "work" seems to take precedent over having a "life." The two terms are largely diametric concepts these days, especially after 9/11 when many people lost jobs. Now it seems just having a job to go to is fortunate; thus, no matter what the conditions, the status of being employed is much more desirable than its alternative.
I believe that most Americans work harder than they might want or need to. If one uses public transport as a means of getting to work (as I have done here in New York City), it is an opportunity to observe people in what are perhaps some of the worst moments of their workday: the daily commute. Surely, after the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005, travel on rail or bus has changed for New Yorkers. People have always had fears since 9/11, but now there is an added burden. The heft of this heightened concern etched on their faces, New Yorkers move along on their way to work with remarkable resiliency, but many are afflicted by something more than their mode of travel, indicating the mounting rigors and stress in the American workplace.
Since 9/11 many companies have been trying to cut corners in order to balance the budget. I know a number of cases where workers have been told that they need to do more to retain their jobs. Do more usually implies taking additional responsibilities. In one particular case, the person was told, “Ms. X is retiring and Mr. Y is leaving for another job, so we expect you to take on their work load.” This was done with no increase in status or salary, and the person kept quiet, took on the additional work, and had to stay later on many days to finish his tasks. Of course, he is miserable because of it.
Article comments
1 - Raymond Scott
This a lovely article that you have written.
Thank you for posting it.
Raymond Scott
Lansford, ND
2 - Victor Lana
Well, thanks, Raymond. Interesting to get my first comment four years later, but it is appreciated.
3 - roger nowosielski
Well, perhaps you should update your article, Victor. Lots has changed in four years to make your thesis less appealing or convincing to most than when you first posted.
4 - Raymond Scott
You are welcome, Victor. I agree that the timing is strange. However, I was fortunate enough to find your article while researching sources. Your topic will provide an essential citation for my paper, Challenging the Career Progression Mindset in the United States. I need to support one of my arguments that business culture is different across the globe and show the impact upon employee health, well-being, stress levels, and job satisfaction compared across those cultures.
5 - Victor Lana
Again, thanks, Raymond.
Roger, I believe that the "live to work or work to live" idea does not depend upon one thing, like the economic climate of the day. It's an individual choice or need.
Kind of like "To be or not to be" doesn't need to change with the times. People will always have to face these choices no matter what is happening in the external world.
6 - roger nowosielski
I'm aware of that, Victor. I have not been affected by these times as most because for as long as I remember, I've been subscribing to this philosophy. Perhaps because I wasn't born and raised here, thank God.
Still, this is the average American's mindset. It's all about money and success - whatever that means. You've got quite a job on your hands trying to convince our citizens that money ain't everything.
7 - roger nowosielski
Raymond,
You might check some of the postings by our STM from Australia. It's refreshing to hear some of his accounts of the business culture there. You might want to contact him on his own weblog, which he publishes independently of his BC postings.
8 - Raymond Scott
This has generated quite a flurry of activity after four years.
I wouldn't say that my paper's intention is to downgrade anyone's desire for money or for the comforts it can provide. My main argument is that it should be okay for people not to join in the constant battle for progression if they are happy where they are. It's about reflecting on the mindset in which holding the same job for ten years is considered to be stagnation by some, so the assumption is that it must be a bad thing for all. Wanting to remain is almost like a deviance and those people are often overlooked by management because they don't want to move on up in their jobs. Those people, who if treated with respect, can be more of an asset to a company than someone who leaves after a few years. It is hard to compare the contributions of both types, but I venture a guess that a happy employee who works hard at the same job for ten years has contributed much more than money to the organization.
9 - Raymond Scott
Thanks, Roger. I will have to check those postings when I get finished with this paper.
10 - Victor Lana
Guys, thanks for your insightful comments.
I do know many people, believe it or not, who have chosen to take lower paying jobs with flexible schedules in order to be able to be with family more regularly. It's the old quality over quantity situation, in this case quality time (which is priceless).
Not everyone is in that position today. My grandfather had to work to live for most of his life, starting in third grade when he dropped out of school to help support 7 little brothers and sisters. Of course, that was in the 1890s, but it was his reality and for many others as well.