Being a Corporate Slave

[JamesDouglas]

Is working in the corporate world modern day slavery? You have to be in at a certain time, take breaks at a certain time, take lunch at a certain time, leave at a certain time. Sure you get to go home every night, but as a slave you're expected to arrive on time the next day or there will be severe consquences.

Want to leave the corporate slave factory? Sure, no problem, but then you won't have food, shelter, or clothing...the choice is yours.

I've been in the rat race for quite a long time, there's many I don't like in the office, and a few that I do like. Office politics is the name of the game, master it and you'll do well, but it's getting quite boring. Spending many hours with people I don't like than I do with family and friends is a bit sad and depressing.

I'd be glad to find a job I actually enjoyed outside of an office, although I suspect the grass is not greener on the other side. Being a waiter? Working construction? Driving a bus? Working at McDonald's? All fine and respectable jobs that need to be done, but none that I'd be happy doing.

So what else is left? I'd love to be a comedian, but the problem is I'm not funny, and likely won't make enough to purchase the new Hyundai Elantra I've been eyeing. I'd love to be a professional athlete, but I think Kobe Bryant is still slightly better than me at basketball. I'd love to host a travelling show, but Phil Keoghan has the Kiwi accent that I lack.

I'm just ranting, but curious to hear your thoughts on the subject of corporate slavery and finding a fulfilling career.

 

[Babypowder]

Want to leave the corporate slave factory? Sure, no problem, but then you won't have food, shelter, or clothing...the choice is yours.

I guess you believe you don't have any other skills that will make $$ outside of your work.

 

[TeasePlease]

corporate slavery gets a whole lot more enjoyable when 1. U get very good at what U do and 2. U move up the ranks and u get to manage ur own bitches.

 

[JamesDouglas]

I guess you believe you don't have any other skills that will make $$ outside of your work.

It's not about skills, it's about interest. There are many other jobs someone working in the corporate world can perform, but if they're not interested in doing them, there's no point in jumping the fence.

 

[JamesDouglas]

corporate slavery gets a whole lot more enjoyable when 1. U get very good at what U do and 2. U move up the ranks and u get to manage ur own bitches.

That's very true, there is a hierarchy for the slaves, the VPs and CEO are the favourite slaves and get to boss around the lower ranked slaves. They also get to enjoy many more perks.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I have a corporate job but in no way am I a "slave." I have flexible work hours, come and go as I please, and choose whether I'll work at home or on the road.

You just need to find a different corporate job that gives you flexibility.

All that said, I'm always "on" and work at night, at 2 am, whenever the iron is hot, etc.

 

[Babypowder]

It's not about skills, it's about interest. There are many other jobs someone working in the corporate world can perform, but if they're not interested in doing them, there's no point in jumping the fence.

its definitely about belief in those skills. if you believe in your skills & abilities you will have an interest to take a risk, make a change and not worry about having 'food shelter & clothing' if a 9-5 is that bad.

 

[canada-man]

there is a company here in Toronto that do things differently. they give their employees unlimited vacations you can work anytime as long as you get things done. i don't remember the name of that company. the employees like this arrangement saying the company treat them like responsible adults.

 

[nuprin001]

1.) Can the drama. It's not "modern day slavery". That's an insult to people who actually were slaves. To people who are slaves today. Sudanese Christians who are slaves to Sudanese Arabs. Child soldiers who are slaves. Child prostitutes who are slaves. A cubicle in a climate controlled building pushing paper around isn't slavery. It's boring as hell, but it's not slavery.

2.) Unhappy? Start your own business. Trade your 9-5 hours for 24/7 work where, even if you're not working you're living in dread of that phone call or email telling you there's a problem that needs to be fixed. A problem that you need to fix, using your money and your time that you're not going to get paid any more for.

If you're a grown man who hasn't figured out that life isn't all about living a baller lifestyle, then I'm just sorry for you. Yes, work sucks. Find a job that makes you happy and pays what you need to live. Comedians DO make enough money to buy that Hyundai you're looking at (damn your goals are low...). They just need talent and are willing to live through a difficult period of hunger and bombing first.

If you're not going out there to be a comedian, then you either don't want it badly enough or you don't have the balls to do it. Which is fine. But then at least have the honesty to stand there and admit that you're just bitching about your own personal unhappiness and blaming society/the corporate world for it. It's not their fault you don't have the balls to be who you want to be.

 

[JamesDouglas]

1.) Can the drama. It's not "modern day slavery". That's an insult to people who actually were slaves. To people who are slaves today. Sudanese Christians who are slaves to Sudanese Arabs. Child soldiers who are slaves. Child prostitutes who are slaves. A cubicle in a climate controlled building pushing paper around isn't slavery. It's boring as hell, but it's not slavery.

2.) Unhappy? Start your own business. Trade your 9-5 hours for 24/7 work where, even if you're not working you're living in dread of that phone call or email telling you there's a problem that needs to be fixed. A problem that you need to fix, using your money and your time that you're not going to get paid any more for.

If you're a grown man who hasn't figured out that life isn't all about living a baller lifestyle, then I'm just sorry for you. Yes, work sucks. Find a job that makes you happy and pays what you need to live. Comedians DO make enough money to buy that Hyundai you're looking at (damn your goals are low...). They just need talent and are willing to live through a difficult period of hunger and bombing first.

If you're not going out there to be a comedian, then you either don't want it badly enough or you don't have the balls to do it. Which is fine. But then at least have the honesty to stand there and admit that you're just bitching about your own personal unhappiness and blaming society/the corporate world for it. It's not their fault you don't have the balls to be who you want to be.

A little sensitive there, whoa. I also see that sarcasm is a hard concept for you to grasp, did you actually think I was serious about becoming a comedian? Jesus Christ. :frusty:

 

[canada-man]

if you want to experience slavery try work for a door to door scam company like cydcor aka ds-max, aka innovage, etc

http://wolfram.org/scam/ds_max/index.html

 

[JamesDouglas]

there is a company here in Toronto that do things differently. they give their employees unlimited vacations you can work anytime as long as you get things done. i don't remember the name of that company. the employees like this arrangement saying the company treat them like responsible adults.

Most progressive companies understand that, it's not about punching clocks, it's about getting the work done. You can be there from 9-5 and sleep all day, or you can be there from 10-2 and actually accomplish something. That's the philosophy I use when managing my employees.

 

[canada-man]

in the UK they are known as Cobra Group they recently changed thier name to Appco Group like cydcor they are part of Ds-Max that recently changed to innovage

 

[danislaw]

corporate slavery gets a whole lot more enjoyable when 1. U get very good at what U do and 2. U move up the ranks and u get to manage ur own bitches.

Bitches as in hot secretaries/assistants or just regular schmuck subordinates? In any case U sound like a fucking idiot.


Seriously though, every new grad entering the workforce has thought about this. Everyone has seen Office Space. You can suck it up, find a better company, more interesting job, start your own business, or live with your parents indefinitely.

 

[~V~]

true freedom is elusive - as someone being successful both in the corporate world and being self employed - you have to realize that if you want a level of success you have to be dedicated - is dedication slavery? NO it is a choice to go above and beyond expectations . No one is truly free

 

[Celticman]

I work in the corporate world for one of the largest multi-nationals. I make my own happiness there. I see a great deal of what I do as part of my own concept of the creative creative process. It makes for positive changes in the organisation, I am recognised and rewarded for it and enjoy a senior position (earned on merit, no poloticing). Unless an employee is assigned to a routine role, regular hours are a thing of the past. Conversely, this does make for long hours at home sometimes. There are a few unpleasant folk around me. But there are lots of great people also, including legions of great women that it has been a pleasure to work with, and occasionally socialise with.

 

[Toronto_IT_Guy]

Of course the other solution is to jut stop wanting crap. If you give up material things you can give up working. There was a show on the bbc a while ago about a guy that decided to live without touching money for a year. At the end of it he came to the conclusion it was the happiest time is his life. He lived off the land, had no job, and just bartered with food he grew for everything else he needed. If you feel like a slave paying your bills, maybe it's time to reevaluate your entire lifestyle.

 

[TeasePlease]

Bitches as in hot secretaries/assistants or just regular schmuck subordinates? In any case U sound like a fucking idiot.


Seriously though, every new grad entering the workforce has thought about this. Everyone has seen Office Space. You can suck it up, find a better company, more interesting job, start your own business, or live with your parents indefinitely.

It's called a pyramid model, and it's about climbing to the top.

I may be a fucking idiot. But I'm the chief fucking idiot of my own little empire. I didn't bitch about work. I got good, very good, at it. I paid my dues.

I fnd that people who bitch about the System are the kind of people who think the world owes them a decent wage and 8 weeks a year vacation simply for existing. Nobody owed me anything. I owe everything I have to my immigrant parents who busted their ass to give me a decent chance at a good life, and to my own sweat and blood.

Life is what you make it. Take smart chances. Make lots of friends and keep them close, because friends are the ones who give you opportunities, and lend you a hand when you need. Business partners and associates will fuck you over for a dollar. Friends have your back. Many ambitious, but naive, people don't know the difference.

Btw, by "bitches". I mean the grunts, clerks and staff that you are rewarded with to make your life easier.

 

[james t kirk]

I don't think I could ever work in an environment where I was expected to be in my chair at 08:30 every day.

I've never worked in that environment actually in the 20 years since I finished University. I've always had a lot of freedom to come and go as I please. It's always been about 1. Getting the job done, 2. Meeting the budget, 3. Making sure the end result of my work is correct. (and there would be massive consequences if it was wrong). Throughout my 20 years, I've always been "on". I work sometimes extreme hours. I go on vacation to Europe, but I check my emails every night. I take conference calls from a cottage in Northern Ontario when I'm supposed to be relaxing. I have taken 0 vacation in 2 years one time. I get 4 weeks off a year, but I usually take 2 at most. I work days, nights, long weekends, but last Friday I fucked the dog all day long. It's what needs to be done. But don't ask me to be on the clock. Never.

Up until 4 years ago - I worked for a "massive corportation" with about 60,000 people all over the world. Didn't start out that way. It was a nice Canadian company of about 1,000 that got hoovered up by massive corporation. For the first couple of years, nothing much changed, but massive corporation was on a Canadian buying spree. After about 3 years of nothing much happening - they lowered the boom and lots happened. Long story short, it was a case of "fit in or fuck off" So I fucked off. Joined a client, sunk a big chunk of borrowed money in for a share in the company and have never looked back. I have more pressure now than ever, and almost no support, but I'm definitely part of the equation. Is it the perfect job? Nope. But I don't hate my job. I like it at best. I can get up in the morning.

Do I work too much? Yep. Am I work a holic? I don't think so, but some would say yes. If I won the Lotto Max, I would feel very guilty about quitting on my boss. I think I'd offer to buy an even 50% of the company from him and if he said yes, I'd stay, but if he said no, I'd go. Strange eh.

 

[nuprin001]

A little sensitive there, whoa. I also see that sarcasm is a hard concept for you to grasp, did you actually think I was serious about becoming a comedian? Jesus Christ. :frusty:

Why not? What's wrong with being a comedian?

Catch-22, JD: if you're a good enough comedian for us to get that you were sarcastic, then you weren't sarcastic. If you were being sarcastic but aren't good enough to be funny, how are we supposed to get that you were being sarcastic?