Which kind of person are you when it comes to work? (1 Viewer)

[Otis]

I've concluded there are basically two kinds of people.

First type: There are people who take their work very seriously, almost as an obligation; they work hard and are proud of it, believe in doing a good job, believe in showing up on time, feel even a little guilty when they take days off. 

Second type: Then there are people who think the first group of people are basically idiots.  These people believe life is short, and you have to "drive it like you stole it"; take lots of vacation and don't give a F about it: take advantage where you can; milk every sick day you can get, etc., because they realize that one day they'll be on their death beds and don't want to be the first group of people sitting there regretting that they worked too hard and didn't play enough.

Which type do you identify with more?

Which is "better"?

 

[Sabertooth]

Second type mostly.  I don't feel any guilt at all taking time off.  It's not personal.  It's a business transaction. The vacation and sick time is part of that contract.  

 

[Captain Cranks]

Voted more first type than second.  I take pride in my work, want to do the best job I can, and make sure I pull my weight.  That said, I value my free time more than work and would probably prefer to a more European work ethic if given the chance.  I think the US has it wrong in terms of its priority of work and efficiency over relaxation and time with family and friends. 

 

[AAABatteries]

If those are the only two options then I'm in group 2 - life IS short.  I don't think you paint the 2nd group in a positive light - I don't take many sick days, only use the vacation allotted me and I show up every day and get my #### done.

 

[Capella]

2nd group but I don't milk sick days at all. If I'm really sick I'll stay home but I have tons of sick leave. 

 

[The Z Machine]

I'm definitely the first with the exception of feeling guilty about taking time off. I have earned that time through hard work and economic benefit to my employer.

 

[jamny]

More first for most of my life although I never felt guilty for taking time off because I worked hard for it. Leaning more towards the second as I get older but still treat the work seriously when I'm on a job. I just do less of it now.

 

[-OZ-]

I was squarely in the first group for a long time.  But with a change of career and time to think, to put things in perspective, I think I'm in the middle.  The job is important, to do it well and help the organization perform its mission.  But my job at work is replaceable, my "job" as dad much less so. 

 

[Raging weasel]

1st group. I work in a 6 man dept and have more sick time banked than the other 5 put together. I get to work on time and stay busy doing the best job I can. I do get 6 weeks of vacation that i make sure i use but rarely take a whole week off at a time.

 

[Ned]

I'm at 1.75 on the scale.  I used to be much closer to a 1, but as I get older I've learned that the reward for working hard is more work.  #### that noise.  Now that I've got kids, I'd much rather spend my time with them.  There's a very short window to enjoy them before they fly the nest and have their own lives.

 

[brun]

More the 1st. I've had a few contracting jobs and even did so out of my own LLC. Those experiences conditioned me to think that if I didn't show up, I didn't get paid. I always want to do a good job and believe that most others do as well unless the organizational culture or their boss causes employees to become disengaged or unmotivated.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

I can't say I fit either category all that well. I work hard but not nearly as hard as those in my company perceive I work. I make my own hours, will take off to play golf or have beers during the day. I will also work late at night at home and put time in on vacation when needed. I'm in sales and as long as I'm making my number (9 figures this year) my attitude is everyone can bite me as I will do what I want when I want to do it. 

 

[belljr]

no idea how to vote.

I am never late (on rare occurrences) , take my work serious, do what needs to get done, work hard and proud,

But I also have no qualms about leaving for the day, taking time off, milking a sick day or anything,

 

[gianmarco]

The world isn't this black and white, son. Hop on over and join most of us in the gray side.

 

[MattFancy]

Mostly 2nd for me. No one ever looks back and says, "Gee, I should have spent more time at work and less time with family".

 

[Sabertooth]

Mostly 2nd for me. No one ever looks back and says, "Gee, I should have spent more time at work and less time with family".

Well, Michael Jackson might have.  

 

[AAABatteries]

The world isn't this black and white, son. Hop on over and join most of us in the gray side.

Yeah - the options kind of suck.

 

[McGarnicle]

I usually put in a solid hour from 9-10, then binge watch something on Netflix. Parks & Rec was actually a great show, not sure why I wasn't into it when it first aired. 

I have to move my mouse every ten minutes though, or else I'll show as idle on our IM app. So annoying.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Definitely more the 2nd.  Don't feel at all guiltily taking time off, coming in late, leaving early, browsing Internet all day,  etc. , but I generally want to see the company be successful and will put in the effort to do an adequate job when I actually have to do something 

 

[Dentist]

I'm not sure what's it's like to hold a corporate type of job,  but as a small business owner/part-owner I feel like you almost have to be much closer to type 1 than type 2 or you'd suffer.

Now, there's a lot of dentites out there that are super driven.. they work by day, take tons of weekend continuing education out of town,  prepare lectures by night, have teaching institutes, write books, do podcasts, develop products, etc..   I mean ballers..   they generally make a ton of dough, and generally end up getting divorced at some point.

I take my job seriously, I feel bad when I'm gone, I check in with the office when I'm on vacation, don't take sick days unless I'm borderline dying, and do think about work sometimes when I'm at home.    But I am definitely not the person I described in the above paragraph.

 

[Ned]

I routinely see my boss online when she has a scheduled day off and my first feeling is just how sad that is.  

I don't know where it originated from, but the saying "work to live, don't live to work" has stuck with me for a long time.

 

[fdas2]

I usually put in a solid hour from 9-10, then binge watch something on Netflix. Parks & Rec was actually a great show, not sure why I wasn't into it when it first aired. 

I have to move my mouse every ten minutes though, or else I'll show as idle on our IM app. So annoying.

Have you tried changing the idle time on the IM app?  Ours defaults to 5 minutes,  changed that ####er to 99.

 

[NutterButter]

Definitely more the 2nd.  Don't feel at all guiltily taking time off, coming in late, leaving early, browsing Internet all day,  etc. , but I generally want to see the company be successful and will put in the effort to do an adequate job when I actually have to do something 

exactly me

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

The older I get the more important family becomes to me.  Jobs come and go but your kids are only little once.  You only get a small window with your family so take advantage of that time.  If you have been at your job for a few years and haven't figured out how to get your #### done and get home on time it may be time for a different job or career.  I guess I am lucky that I work in healthcare and I literally could quit a job and have another job the same day.    When I was young I didn't use my vacation time much, and actually cashed it in a few times.  Everything changed when I started seeing older and older people saying what @MattFancy  said above no one looks back and thinks man I wished I would have worked more.  

I never call in, I am never late, and I am usually the one who volunteers if something extra needs to be done.  I do feel guilty if something is needed and I can't do it.  

So type 1.78

 

[AAABatteries]

Have you tried changing the idle time on the IM app?  Ours defaults to 5 minutes,  changed that ####er to 99.

Brilliant! 

 

[MattFancy]

Definitely more the 2nd.  Don't feel at all guiltily taking time off, coming in late, leaving early, browsing Internet all day,  etc. , but I generally want to see the company be successful and will put in the effort to do an adequate job when I actually have to do something 

That's how I am. When I'm at work, I'll work hard and get my stuff done. But when I'm not at work, I don't want to be bothered with work stuff. I'm not one of those people that will check emails on vacation and all that.

 

[MattFancy]

The older I get the more important family becomes to me.  Jobs come and go but your kids are only little once.  You only get a small window with your family so take advantage of that time.  If you have been at your job for a few years and haven't figured out how to get your #### done and get home on time it may be time for a different job or career.  I guess I am lucky that I work in healthcare and I literally could quit a job and have another job the same day.    When I was young I didn't use my vacation time much, and actually cashed it in a few times.  Everything changed when I started seeing older and older people saying what @MattFancy  said above no one looks back and thinks man I wished I would have worked more.  

I never call in, I am never late, and I am usually the one who volunteers if something extra needs to be done.  I do feel guilty if something is needed and I can't do it.  

So type 1.78

Yup, once we had kids, it changed for me. Much rather spend time with them then sit at my desk for 9 hours a day. I take off for their birthdays every year. Having kids puts a lot of things into perspective.

 

[Weebs210]

Definitely more the 2nd.  Don't feel at all guiltily taking time off, coming in late, leaving early, browsing Internet all day,  etc. , but I generally want to see the company be successful and will put in the effort to do an adequate job when I actually have to do something 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Buttonhook]

Totally a 1.  Owned and ran a small firm early in my career.  I guess I enjoy outworking people and reaping the benefits.

 

[belljr]

Brilliant! 

There are programs - that mimic a mouse movement every so often.   

Just saying



I may not really even be posting this

 

[McGarnicle]

Have you tried changing the idle time on the IM app?  Ours defaults to 5 minutes,  changed that ####er to 99.

It's a company developed program, doesn't have that feature. :(  

There are programs - that mimic a mouse movement every so often.   

Just saying



I may not really even be posting this

Blocked from installing any 3rd party or unauthorized apps on my laptop. They are such bastards. :(  

 

[Brony]

I'm definitely the first with the exception of feeling guilty about taking time off. I have earned that time through hard work and economic benefit to my employer.

This. I don't feel bad about not checking in during vacation. 

 

[Weebs210]

It's a company developed program, doesn't have that feature. :(  

Blocked from installing any 3rd party or unauthorized apps on my laptop. They are such bastards. :(  

Have you tried taping a wireless mouse to an animal?

 

[rockaction]

I usually put in a solid hour from 9-10, then binge watch something on Netflix. Parks & Rec was actually a great show, not sure why I wasn't into it when it first aired. 

I have to move my mouse every ten minutes though, or else I'll show as idle on our IM app. So annoying.

So true. 

 

[rockaction]

Oh, and how I work depends on the job. Anything involving disposable consumer product, I'm the second. 

Anything of lasting import, and I probably can see myself in the first.  

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Was completely 1 until I had kids.    Now I'm 2, but not quite as extreme as you paint it.    I've passed on promotions and advancement opportunities in the last 5 years -- the small $ increase coupled with the loss of time and additional stress they would bring isn't worth it.  

 

[ZenMaster]

I used to be a solid 1. Loved my job, enjoyed the challenge, and worked all the time. I'd check/follow up on emails on the weekends and usually try to get some 'real work' done on the weekends as well. I'd keep up with email and work while on vacation unless I was out of the country. It's not so much that I felt bad being out of the office, but I certainly felt an obligation to keep up with things and make sure all was going well. For clarification, the obligation was internally-driven and not because my company required it.

Where did that get me? A good salary, bonus, stock options, etc. Financially we have no worries. You know what else that got me? I'm burned out. A few years ago I got involved in a new project at work and my time at work increased along with my stress levels. My company didn't add any resources so it's been all on me and I'm tired of it. I'm actively looking for another job outside my company because any request for an internal transfer will be rejected due to 'business needs' for the project I'm on. 

Now when I go on vacation, I'm unavailable and I don't check email. I don't feel bad about it. I don't take sick days because I rarely get sick, not because I feel like I have to be at work.

My wife and I are working on a transition plan to get out of our high-stress jobs. Life is short and we want to do something much more satisfying with our lives.

 

[belljr]

It's a company developed program, doesn't have that feature. :(  

Blocked from installing any 3rd party or unauthorized apps on my laptop. They are such bastards. :(  

What if I were to tell you it's an .exe with no installation whatsovever

would you be willing to pay $40, $30, $20  HOW ABOUT FREE

 

[SacramentoBob]

I take pride in my work and deliver good results, but I don't give a #### about showing up late or taking lots of sick/vacation time.  The people who show up early and stay late do it because they aren't as good at their jobs and need the extra time to get stuff done.

 

[-OZ-]

I'm not sure what's it's like to hold a corporate type of job,  but as a small business owner/part-owner I feel like you almost have to be much closer to type 1 than type 2 or you'd suffer.

Now, there's a lot of dentites out there that are super driven.. they work by day, take tons of weekend continuing education out of town,  prepare lectures by night, have teaching institutes, write books, do podcasts, develop products, etc..   I mean ballers..   they generally make a ton of dough, and generally end up getting divorced at some point.

I take my job seriously, I feel bad when I'm gone, I check in with the office when I'm on vacation, don't take sick days unless I'm borderline dying, and do think about work sometimes when I'm at home.    But I am definitely not the person I described in the above paragraph.

this kind of scares me.  My dental hygenist and dentist better not be the least bit sick when they're spending an hour or so in my mouth.  I get that you wear a mask and all that, but I'm skeptical of the utility of said masks. 

 

[Aerial Assault]

False dichotomy.  

 

[Scoresman]

One of the things Europe generally does better than us is work/life balance and I identify more with their philosophy.  I fall into the group of work to live, not live to work.  

You can take your job seriously and still fall into the work to live category.

 

[gianmarco]

I'm at 1.75 on the scale.  I used to be much closer to a 1, but as I get older I've learned that the reward for working hard is more work.  #### that noise.  Now that I've got kids, I'd much rather spend my time with them.  There's a very short window to enjoy them before they fly the nest and have their own lives.

Btw, the bolded couldn't be any truer.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Out of the two types that you describe--I definitely relate to the first type.  Part of it is that I tend to be a workaholic and the other part is the way that I was raised. While I always had a roof over my head and never had to miss any meals--my upbringing was that I was very middle class in an area that tends to be more upper class.  Also--my parents were in the middle of a divorce when I was in college--and at the time--because they weren't officially divorced--I wasn''t able to qualify for financial aid or student loans (as their joint incomes looked decent).  However--the truth of the matter was that most  (if not all) of their money was going to pay lawyers--and the little remaining was used for them to make their ends meet while in the divorce.  Because of that I worked two jobs while being a full time college student and paid my way through.  I remember that at one point--I made the quarterly tuition payment and purchased the necessary books for my class-and literally had $45 left in my account to last until my next payday.   I was living on top ramen and picked up every hour of work that I could those two weeks--and I never want to feel that way again. This might sound stupid--but sometimes being broke is the perfect motivation to be a workaholic. 

Lastly-I think somebody brought up the small business aspect. Being the manager of a very busy small business--I really have no alternative but to be a workaholic.  My co-workers do not know how to do sales reports, payroll, our taxable/untaxable reports for the state board, and much more.  I feel guilty when I miss a few days of work because I know that the mountain of work on my desk is just growing exponentially--as nobody else on my staff can do it.  While I technically have lots of vacation time per year--I rarely ever get close to using it all because I end up drowning in work when I return from them.  

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I get more satisfaction from coming up with a good joke in the FFA than anything I have ever done at any job ever.

 

[Kafka]

If those are the only two options then I'm in group 2 - life IS short.  I don't think you paint the 2nd group in a positive light - I don't take many sick days, only use the vacation allotted me and I show up every day and get my #### done.

How quaint...

 

[Kafka]

I'm at 1.75 on the scale.  I used to be much closer to a 1, but as I get older I've learned that the reward for working hard is more work.  #### that noise.  Now that I've got kids, I'd much rather spend my time with them.  There's a very short window to enjoy them before they fly the nest and have their own lives.

This...so much this...

 

[Jayded]

I disagree on their being that stark of a drive between the two as I feel I'm a bit of a mix. I take a lot of pride in my work, but my works is generally in the 8-5 range most days. I won't work myself to death, but I'm more of a 100% on/100% off kind of personality. I expect myself and my team to work hard but take vacation and take mental breaks so they are happier and more effective at what they do.

 

[Osaurus]

Classic underachiever here.  Went with 1, but some 2.  Used to bust my ### when I first got out of school.  I guess I had my midlife crisis and realized there were things far more important than making bank.  I still take a lot of pride in the work I do, but I'm not really motivated most of the time.  Life of this consultant  I guess.  

 

[Nugget]

Transitioned from 1-2 over the pasts 5 years.  I built a strong reputation and have coasted on it since 2012.  Now all I do is manage relationships.  

Rather than drive to Fed-Ex to overnight some documents, I'm going to walk them down.  It will add an hour to the trip, but I'll get about 5.5 miles in towards the staying thinner than Otis challenge.  I can respond to calls, texts, and emails from my phone, but I'll probably just listen to podcasts.

I'll stop working around 3:30 today and take my son to the park to practice baseball.  I'm sure I could find some busy work to do instead, but I'll be checked out by then.