Is Work Inherently Good?

Today’s edition of Wishful Working is a 4 minute read.

I’m currently reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck, a novel with many sweeping themes, including good vs. evil, identity, grief, and ideas surrounding hard work, success, and ambition. It takes place in the early 1900s, a time when the American Dream was becoming deeply ingrained in the national consciousness.

Now, obviously, I’m not going to be able to fully unpack the false promises of the American Dream in a 4-minute newsletter. Let’s just pull back the curtain a bit on some cultural narratives, explore how they have shaped our perceptions of success, and see how they need to change.

Our Obsession with Work

On one hand, our collective obsession with work makes sense, as most of us spend a good chunk of our waking hours working. Around 63% of the total civilian noninstitutional population (16 years or older and not in the military or residents of institutions) in the United States participates in the labor force. 

Across the USA, many people work to simply survive. The cost of living has steadily increased, and wages have failed to keep pace. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 for the last 15 years.

In the misnomered “middle class,” many of us are closer to poverty than prosperity, and we work to achieve a shaky semblance of financial stability. With healthcare tied to employment and inadequate, unequal access to social safety nets, our situation is precarious.

On the other end of the spectrum, the affluent work to maintain and increase their (often obscene) wealth. The top 1% of American earners now control more wealth than the nation’s entire middle class.

A False Promise and a Broken System

In the past, the prevailing thought seems to be that work is inherently good. To be hardworking and diligent was seen as a moral responsibility, and idleness was equated with laziness. The American Dream is based on the idea that anyone can be successful and prosperous as long as they work hard enough. 

Over time, cracks have formed in that way of thinking, exposing the idea of meritocracy in America as an idealized myth. We’ve seen how systemic inequality and exploitation benefit those at the top, perpetuating disparities and reinforcing the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a privileged few.

On top of it all, valid critiques of work are often trivialized and dismissed by people who say “No one wants to work anymore.” 

It’s enough to make a person more than a bit cynical. It’s enough to make me feel like our ways of working are irreparably broken.

A Glimmer of Goodness

And yet, through my disillusionment, I know there is so much good in work.

Traits like industriousness, ingenuity, and diligence are objectively good and admirable. Work gives us something to do, a sense of accomplishment, and a way to grow.

Not to mention the fact that some peoples’ work is essential for our society’s functioning — healthcare workers, educators, caregivers, and farmers, to name a few.

But even for those of us whose work is not essential (Hi, it’s me, the marketing writer 👋), there is something so satisfying about using our skills and talents to create things and collaborate with others to make an impact on the world  — however big or small. 

I’m so thankful for my work.

And I’m confident that work could be so much better for so many people.

How Work Gets Better

It’s not complicated — we just need to take all of our cultural narratives about work and flip them upside down. 😅

For example:

The American Dream

Before: Hard work, determination, and perseverance lead to individual success and personal wealth.

After: Community well-being and support systems lead to collective flourishing.

Meritocracy

Before: Individuals are supposedly rewarded based on their abilities and efforts, but privilege and structural advantages play a significant role in determining success.

After: Systemic barriers are acknowledged and dismantled, leveling the playing field and creating opportunities for those who previously lacked access.

Corporate Culture

Before: The corporate environment is competitive, fast-paced, hierarchical, and designed around unceasing financial growth.

After: Work is just one part of life, and employers promote a collaborative, regenerative environment where employee well-being is a top priority.

The working world is already heading for many of these “After” scenarios — and not just because people are leaving the traditional workforce to become freelancers, consultants, and other independents. 

Employers are also recognizing the shortcomings of traditional work models and cultural narratives, and things are changing.

We love to see it. Let’s keep going.

See you next week,

Kara