Work Won't Love You Back

1. The labor of love is a con: We're expected to work longer for less

"Like so many things about late capitalism, the admonishment of a thousand inspirational social media posts to "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" has become folk wisdom, its truthiness presumably everlasting—stretching back to our caveperson ancestors, who I suppose really enjoyed all that mammoth hunting or whatever."

Work-life imbalance: The modern workplace demands more time and emotional investment from workers while offering less in return. This shift has been normalized through the "do what you love" mentality, which blurs the lines between work and personal life.

Historical context: Until about 30-40 years ago, the wealthy often lived off their wealth without working. The recent shift expects everyone, including the ownership class, to find fulfillment through work. This change coincides with declining wages and job security for most workers.

Consequences:

• Longer working hours
• Constant availability (even when off the clock)
• Increased stress and anxiety
• Loneliness and isolation
• Difficulty in maintaining work-life balance

2. Charity and nonprofit work perpetuate inequality while claiming to solve it

"Charity is necessarily asymmetrical and reproduces inequalities."

Power dynamics: Charitable giving and nonprofit work often reinforce existing power structures rather than addressing root causes of inequality. The wealthy use philanthropy to shape public policy and maintain control over societal issues.

Historical development:

• Early charity: Religious duty, focused on the poor
• Industrial era: Wealthy individuals funding institutions (e.g., Carnegie libraries)
• Modern era: Large foundations and corporate philanthropy

Key issues:

• Tax-exempt status allows the wealthy to avoid taxes while maintaining influence
• Nonprofits often compete for funding, leading to mission drift
• Workers in the sector face low wages and burnout despite their dedication
• "Hope labor" keeps workers committed despite poor conditions

3. Academia's "last good job" is disappearing, replaced by precarious adjunct labor

"We're used to being like, 'OK, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it, because we all care about what's best for kids,'" said Karen Lewis, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union during its 2012 strike. "But that kind of caring didn't help them against a corporate-backed education 'reform' movement that wedged itself into the cracks between teachers and the communities they served; no matter how much the teachers conceded, the reformers continued to insist that teachers' selfishness was the problem."

Declining tenure: The traditional academic career path, with its job security and academic freedom, is increasingly rare. Universities rely more on adjunct faculty, who face low pay, no benefits, and little job security.

Corporatization of education:

• Focus on metrics and "accountability"
• Reduced public funding
• Increased tuition and student debt
• Emphasis on research that can be monetized

Consequences for workers:

• Multiple part-time positions to make ends meet
• Less time for research and professional development
• Reduced academic freedom
• Burnout and disillusionment

4. The tech industry's "fun" workplace masks exploitation and burnout

"I have time periods where, like, I sleep for two or three hours," Agwaze said. "I'm just going home to bed and waking up and going back again. I don't remember what happened. I just remember going to bed and being in the office again."

"Playbor": The tech industry blurs the line between work and play, using perks and a fun atmosphere to extract more labor from workers. This culture normalizes long hours and constant availability.

Industry practices:

• "Crunch" periods of intense work before deadlines
• Expectations of passion and dedication to the job
• Perks like free food and games that keep workers at the office

Consequences:

• High turnover rates
• Burnout and mental health issues
• Exclusion of workers with family responsibilities
• Reinforcement of gender and racial disparities in the field

5. Internships normalize unpaid labor and reinforce class divides

"Hope labor, and the internship, is a problem of power. The intern is the least powerful person in the room; interns are there to do what is asked of them in such a way that it inconveniences no one while drawing the positive attention that might lead to the ultimate prize: a real job offer."

Exploitation disguised as opportunity: Internships, often unpaid or low-paid, are presented as necessary stepping stones to careers. This system advantages those who can afford to work for free and normalizes the idea of working without compensation.

Key issues:

• Legal gray area: Interns often lack worker protections
• Replacement of entry-level jobs with unpaid internships
• Reinforcement of existing class and racial disparities
• Creation of a culture of constant "auditioning" for jobs

Global impact: The internship model has spread worldwide, affecting various industries and educational systems.

6. Domestic workers and teachers: Undervalued "women's work" in a capitalist system

"Throughout history it has been artists and artworkers, more than any other actors, who have subsidized art production."

Gendered labor: Work historically associated with women, such as teaching and domestic labor, is consistently undervalued and underpaid. This reflects broader societal attitudes about gender roles and the nature of care work.

Key issues for domestic workers:

• Lack of legal protections
• Isolation and vulnerability to abuse
• Low wages and lack of benefits
• Intersection with immigration and racial discrimination

Challenges for teachers:

• Expectation to work beyond contracted hours
• Use of personal funds for classroom supplies
• Blame for systemic educational issues
• Attacks on unions and tenure protections

Resistance and organizing: Both groups have a history of collective action to improve working conditions and challenge societal perceptions of their work.

7. Art and creativity become commodified in the pursuit of profit

"To ask for capitalism to pay for care is to call for an end to capitalism."

Tension between art and commerce: The capitalist system struggles to appropriately value and compensate creative work, leading to exploitation and precarity for many artists.

Key issues:

• Expectation of "passion" used to justify low pay
• Unstable income and lack of benefits for many artists
• Concentration of wealth among a few successful artists
• Corporatization of cultural institutions

Impact on creative output:

• Pressure to produce marketable work
• Reduced time for experimentation and development
• Exclusion of diverse voices due to financial barriers

Resistance: Artists organizing for better working conditions and challenging the notion that their work should be done purely for love.

8. Retail work demands emotional labor without fair compensation

"Service with a smile" is just another way that retail employees demonstrate their dedication to their jobs. "Sometimes I feel like all the money I earn goes back to the company," one young worker said.

Emotional labor: Retail workers are expected to maintain a positive demeanor and manage customers' emotions, often without recognition or compensation for this skill.

Key challenges:

• Low wages and unpredictable schedules
• Constant surveillance and pressure to meet metrics
• Physical and emotional toll of customer interactions
• Lack of respect and recognition for skills

Industry trends:

• Increased use of part-time and temporary workers
• Technology used to monitor and control workers
• Erosion of benefits and job security

Worker responses: Efforts to organize and demand better conditions, including campaigns for fair scheduling and higher wages.

9. Unions and collective action offer hope for improving working conditions

"We strike because we care."

Power of solidarity: Across various industries, workers are finding that collective action through unions and other forms of organizing can lead to improved working conditions and recognition of their value.

Recent successes:

• Teacher strikes winning improved classroom conditions
• Tech workers organizing against unethical company practices
• Domestic workers winning legal protections
• Graduate students and adjuncts forming unions

Challenges:

• Anti-union efforts by employers
• Legal obstacles to organizing in some sectors
• Difficulty in organizing precarious and gig workers

Future directions: Expanding the definition of who can unionize and what issues unions can address, including broader social and environmental concerns.

Last updated: November 19, 2024