80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by GMoromisato on Friday August 11, 2023 @10:13PM (#37096305)

Complete tangent: I wonder if it's uniquely American to believe that people can/should only be passionate about jobs that are world-changing. Or maybe it's just very common in the tech-world and HN.

I'm absolutely guilty of this. I'm a software engineer, and I feel proud of having worked on products that millions of people use. Steve Jobs's challenge to "put a dent in the universe" is axiomatic for many of us.

Yet I know that in other countries (e.g., Japan) there is a belief that any job, no matter how humble, is worth doing well and that passion for excellence is a virtue inside us and is not conditional on the perceived pecking order of the job.

If we had such an attitude, maybe it would be easier to feel fulfilled--if you're holding out for changing the world before you can be happy, you're (statistically) going to die miserable. On the other hand, maybe a culture in which we give 110% to meaningless jobs is just another chain for the rich and powerful to keep us productive.

I honestly don't know.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by eulgro on Friday August 11, 2023 @10:33PM (#37096416)

I find it very difficult to find meaning in a large portion of the jobs available today. Most workers are just another cog in the wheel. The system is so large that one cannot directly appreciate the effects of their work, or even know whether they are positive at all.

This contrasts with say, a subsistance farmer who produces food for their family and lives in a small community where every product of their labor has a known and appreciable impact. In that case, the equivalent goal of "changing the world" is "helping the community", which is much more attainable.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by newaccount74 on Friday August 11, 2023 @11:47PM (#37096834)

At some point you have to just like your job. No amount of "you are changing the world" feeling is going to keep you motivated for a job you hate.

I get joy from figuring out how to solve a tricky UX issue, or from finally discovering the root cause of a difficult bug.

The work itself can be fulfilling, regardless of any potential deeper meaning.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by mgrund on Saturday August 12, 2023 @06:25AM (#37098749)

> I find it very difficult to find meaning in a large portion of the jobs available today. Most workers are just another cog in the wheel. The system is so large that one cannot directly appreciate the effects of their work, or even know whether they are positive at all.

My experience is that the same job also has a large range for meaningfulness depending on how well leadership manages to facilitate it.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by petre on Saturday August 12, 2023 @02:38AM (#37097636)

> Yet I know that in other countries (e.g., Japan) there is a belief that any job, no matter how humble, is worth doing well and that passion for excellence is a virtue

That's a reason why the quality of most Japanese products is superlative. Another nation that is passionate about their stuff are Italians, but they value good looks above all. The US values profits and growth and China values high output volumes.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by Hendrikto on Saturday August 12, 2023 @08:17AM (#37099438)

> Another nation that is passionate about their stuff are Italians

At least where I am from, Italians have a reputation for shoddy products, laziness, and not caring. As you say: They are happy as long as the facade looks good. Behind the scenes is a mess.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by petre on Saturday August 12, 2023 @08:41AM (#37099595)

You're probably from Germany, the Nederlands or Denmark then? I've been to Italy several times in the last few years and I've changed my mind. Italians are not lazy. In the cycling world, some of their companies make top notch premium products. A member of my extended family mainly uses Italian products for winemaking. Also designer clothes, shoes, handbags, food, wine rival some of thf best French products. We have much respect for Italy.

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by Pigalowda on Saturday August 12, 2023 @09:45AM (#37100103)

Yea, Spaniards, Italians, and Greeks are some of the hardest working people in the world..

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by Macha on Saturday August 12, 2023 @07:40AM (#37099162)

It's funny, because my perspective as a European is American culture places more value on the performative idea of "love your job" even for the entry level jobs where here it's much more honest about it just being a job

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Re:80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans by atleastoptimal on Saturday August 12, 2023 @03:18PM (#37103324)

>if you're holding out for changing the world before you can be happy, you're (statistically) going to die miserable

You bring up Japan yet they're known for being excessively and pointlessly overworked to the point of depression and suicide. It is a culture that rewards obedience and prostration to your job above everything else. So many were peer pressured into finding meaning in their work to such an excessive extent, and of course didn't become happy because its a system that optimizes for cohesion and stability, not happiness and meaning.

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