[steven]

I see what you're saying, but on the contrary I think that style of thinking has resurfaced or has just kept on keeping on (perhaps it's just in my general area?). I often hear the "it's a recession" excuse for that style of working. The thinking goes like this: yea, the pay is terrible and the hours are outrageous, but at least I have a job.

The result is this: People "work" 8 hours a day for 5 days a week. That's on paper and in hiring advertisements. In reality people work on weekends and stay after work for at least a few hours of unpaid over time every day. Even if over time is paid, it's not like time and half (or a greater amount of pay than the usual hourly rate), it's a percentage of the regular hourly rate.

I'm sure you know all about how that works MMM... I'm just saying that while that kind of overworking is "outdated", it still seems to be carried out by quite a few people I know.

The whole lifetime employment thing disappearing is something I feel like I've read in articles dating back to the early/mid nineties. I get what you're saying though... and I do feel like there is definitely an age group that feels very strongly that way. Unfortunately however, I feel like some of the younger workers fall into the "I'm just happy to have a job" category. I also hear the "during the war"... type of thinking.

At any rate, I'd like to see that kind of overworking truly become outdated and a thing of the past. You could literally take one person's shift and split it between two people and still have both of them come close to 40 hours a week (each).

I think some of it has to do with shady employers as well. My wife got offered a "part-time" job, which had her working 9 hours a day 5 days a week with days off being spread out throughout the week (with probably an average of less than one day off a week). By "part-time", I think the place meant, "we'll strip you of any full-timer benefits and let you work full time." (which in case of that particular company full time benefits is bonuses... they don't have real over time pay or maternity leave or paid days off or anything like that). It's a win-win situation for the employer.

So while on paper and in statistics everything looks hunky-dory, the reality is some people just don't have time to have a life. I personally wouldn't want "life-time employment" in that kind of situation anyways. Anyways, MMM I'm sure you've heard this kind of thing and seen it first person a lot... but I'm just saying I don't think it's a thing of the past. It's rather unfortunate really.