We live in strange times. The world of work has become very odd. Employment is supposed to be that thing you do that allows you to live your life. You work for the paycheques, and the income lets you pay your bills and do other things. Some jobs are callings, and some are just employment, marking time. But none of them should have an element of ownership. None of them should be your everything.

Employers have developed a strange attitude towards employees. They seem to think they own us and are entitled to our every waking and sleeping moment. Employers seem to believe employees should constantly go above and beyond with unpaid work.

It’s not entirely their fault – we did throw our hearts and souls into the working work once upon a time. But that was when the equations were more equal. And, we were also misled. Greed is not good. Killing ourselves for our employers benefits them, not us.

Corporations are likely unhappy we’re waking up.

Employers complain about workers a lot these days. They complain that workers are only doing their jobs. They complain that workers don’t keep themselves available on call for no money. They call it “quiet quitting” and accuse people of poor work and social ethics.

I’m a fan of work-to-rule. It can be used as a job action, but really, it should be business as usual. WTR is simply doing the job you’re contracted and paid to do. How telling that only doing that causes businesses severe distress.

They especially like to blame “kids today,” but the word they’re looking for isn’t “laziness.” It’s “boundaries.” Remember once upon a time when people talked about a work-life balance?

The problem isn’t the workers. The problem is employers and politicians who seem to think that they own us. It would be good if we held the line and corrected those impressions. Otherwise, we’ll wake up to find they do.

My parents once told me not to take any job that asked me to buy new clothing or equipment. It’s a good rule. “Don’t work for free” is another one.

I’ve made this mistake in the past. In my last job, I let myself be available twenty-four-seven to help with logistics and safety – my job. And then I flamed out. Too much work and too little downtime hurts the brain. And you are completely replaceable. Employers shouldn’t ask for fealty.

Boundaries. I put them on everything these days.

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