Working For Work's Sake

I heard recently that there is a family out there that makes $200,000 from government benefits. There are 6 in the family, and they are living it up (I'm assuming it's tax free?), chilling out at home and playing the XBox.

One of the major issues with unemployment is the lack of financial security. With "The Solid Facts: The Social Determinants of Health" paper from the World Health Organisation in Europe (it's amazing the stuff I read now for my work), the authors have stated that unemployment brings both mental and physical illnesses.
But what if that financial insecurity was removed, as is the case with this family. They are earning a decent buck.

Life is grand...or is it?

At much as we would like to be ladies and men of leisure, I think there is an urge in all of us to have a meaningful job. A job that we feel utilises our skills, encourages responsilibty and and promotes creativity and problem solving. There is a buzz from achieving, no matter what the task may be. We look forward to our reviews, not just to complain about a pay rise (which we all do!) but to see if the stuff we do is making a difference.

Do other people feel this is true, or am I off on the wrong path?
Would an extra 40 hours of relaxation make me a happier person?

Damn! six cheap calls already:

I think for most of us who want to achieve even a teeny microscopic amount of something/anything with their lives, a career of coach-potatoing will drive them certifiably insane. Particularly for our social clique, most of whom were raised in decent environments and privileged enough to receive a solid education. To squander it away is an injustice to all of that. A holiday is only a holiday if you have something to take a break from.

A job confirms your self-worth in a sense. Like you said, we all like to know that what we're doing is making a difference, that we're being constructive, not just taking up space. The politics, pain and endless biatching at work makes life interesting.
beckster (link) - 04 August '05 - 13:32

I've been off work for almost two months now. I don't really want to go back, to be honest. I couldn't really say I'm not adding to people's lives. I'm a funny guy, I make people laugh.

RC (the clown)
randomcow - 10 August '05 - 09:44

if you can keep yourself busy in your time off (e.g. travelling the world, surfing the net, house sitting or xbox) i don't think many people would not it back. Who's gonna knock back free-money? or who'd knock back a job with less work/responsibilities and more money? not me :)
Dessy (link) - 11 August '05 - 18:21

How much net surfing and XBox playing can one do?
As with all things, it's all a balance....although those all-nighter Halo events were fantastic!

I don't know though, having less responsibilities makes a job less interesting.
JookBoy (link) - 12 August '05 - 13:19

I think it comes down to your personal needs.

There are 6 basic needs we, as humans, all share -

1 Certainty
2 Uncertainty/Variety
3 Significance
4 Connection/Love
5 Growth
6 Contribution.

Addictions arise when people satisfy 3 or more of these needs by committing a various act eg smoking.

Needs 5 and 6 are what it sounds like people fear losing if they do not work or accept reduced workplace responsibilities. As most people reading this site are "achievers" the thought of not growing (#5) or not contributing beyond themself (#6) is unattractive.

People who don't like getting up for work every day and additionally don't like the thought of NOT working every day clearly value their need for Variety. It doesn't matter what they do, as long as some uncertainty about their day exists.

Surely there are alternate ways to meet these needs other than work, right?
Taipan (link) - 14 August '05 - 10:14

dude I haven't worked for more than three months now and I'm still not sick of it. I start work this Monday as a porter at the Hilton Hotel up in Otaru (near Sapporo) just in time for ski season :) I wouldn't say I'm not looking forward to it, but the time off has been great.

RC
randomcow - 26 September '05 - 08:34