8 Hours of Satisfactory Paid Work Is Enough
So, someone once dropped the idea that giving raises might turn employees into couch potatoes. Hmm…
Maybe that’s why those well-paid public servants aren’t exactly jumping at the chance to clock in. I mean, if I was rolling in P25,000 to P50,000 daily, I’d probably be sipping a fancy drink on a beach somewhere instead of sitting at the congress. Richer makes you deafer, I guess.
At 17, I had a fan obsession with 2 Broke Girls.
I totally bought into the whole hustle culture — the idea of juggling a bunch of jobs, diving into the gig economy, and freelancing. But reality check, working the morning shift, pulling a night shift, throwing in odd jobs on the side, and a dash of freelancing? It’s less glamour and more grind. Turns out, hustling is not always as Instagram-worthy as it seems.
My 2 Broke Girls Era
That was me — enthused about filling up resumes, circling job ads, and adding experiences to my repertoire. The thing is, Caroline and Max might have thrived in Brooklyn, but I was navigating a small city with an 800,000 population, far from a bustling metropolis. The odds of scoring gigs and multiple jobs barely scraped the 50% mark. Yet, the internet opened up a world of opportunities. Back in 2014, as blogs turned into information hubs, I started writing articles, even if it meant a measly $3 for 1000 words. It was terrible pay, but I took it. After crawling out from the university, odd writing requests trickled in, but they weren’t cutting it. I joined a company that didn’t pay well, using the opportunity to upskill in Photoshop, video editing, and learning how to remove viruses manually through the command prompt.
The same company tossed in a curveball, offering me a gig as a night administrator — just four hours, a free meal, coffee, transportation, and even a spare room. Initially, it was only three times a week, but I got hooked on this round-the-clock hustle. Eventually, I got some relief. A friend then dangled another opportunity — tutoring kids in English during the night. That’s where the real marathon started. From 8 to 5, I tackled my day job; from 6 to 10, I entered a whole new realm. Sleep became a distant acquaintance. With a promotion in marketing came a slightly higher paycheck, but I had to bid farewell to the part-time tutoring gig. Evenings, however, turned into a boredom fest, despite a Netflix watchlist, stacks of unread books, and unopened chatboxes. My body seemed to ache for more work. So, I threw my hat into the ring for more online jobs and embraced writing again — articles, web novels, scriptings, and copywriting. I stayed afloat, but it came at a cost — sacrificing sleep and health. The most rewarding parts are getting home late, winding down with friends at 7–11, and shawarma at the night market. I was clocking in 15 to 16 hours daily, even squeezing in a few on the weekends.
Nobody wants to work just to be paid low
My body can just accommodate 8 hours and 10 maximum to work.
I heard many stories about overwork where they are caught to have another job besides their business. Especially in the same industry. So they are fired due to fear of corporate espionage. Like man, the cheapest way to avoid that is to pay employees more so they don’t seek out another source of income.
We tend to romanticize that. The overwork. The hustle. The incessant grind until you drop. There’s this societal badge of honor attached to burning the proverbial candle at both ends, almost as if the more exhausted you are, the more commendable your efforts become.
As if a slice of pizza is worth the lack of sleep, verging breakdown, and dehumanization.
It’s a narrative we’ve grown up with. But, truth be told, there’s a breaking point for everyone. A moment when the glamour of hustling fades, and you’re left grappling with the toll it takes on your well-being. Perhaps it’s time to redefine success, acknowledging that sustainability and balance are not signs of weakness but rather a testament to resilience and wisdom.
That 20-something else year overworking vibes to catch your dream should no longer be tolerated.
Actual Disadvantages of Being Paid Low To a Company
1. Work Quality Suffers When Passion and Focus Are Lacking
If I were again earning a measly $200 monthly, which is nowhere near enough to cover my rent, food, and essential expenses, my mind would be elsewhere, figuring out how to make ends meet. It’s a stark contrast compared to being paid just a little higher. the exquisite art of underpaying employees works wonders on the collective morale. It’s like a magic trick — you blink, and suddenly, performance is doing the limbo, gracefully bending under the weight of demotivation. And oh, the masterpiece it creates! Productivity takes a nosedive, and the quality of work waltzes out for a stroll, leaving customers dissatisfied and hunting for greener pastures. It’s a symphony of workplace bliss.
2. Opportunities for company growth are missed.
Number one is just the beginning.
Research in organizational psychology consistently underscores that when companies prioritize the well-being of their employees through fair wages and comprehensive benefits, it’s like waving a magic wand over employee engagement and performance. This aligns with the rockstars of foundational theories, like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which says, “Hey, meet those basic physiological needs, like a decent income, and watch individuals soar to higher-level motivations.” The Job Characteristics Model and Equity Theory nod approvingly, throwing confetti on the idea that fair pay and benefits make work not just a job but a meaningful experience, a motivation bonanza. And hey, concepts like job embeddedness jumps in, shouting, “Connect those employees to their work haven, give them perks, and watch turnover do a disappearing act while engagement takes center stage.”
In the real world, competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and fair treatment aren’t just icing on the workplace cake; they’re the secret recipe. They create a positive work environment, fostering a vibe of security and satisfaction that transforms employees from bystanders to enthusiastic contributors.
So, in conclusion, we are not paid enough to care.
3. Low Morale
Imagine a workplace where the revolving door spins faster than a disco ball. Mix that with a sprinkle of absent company culture, and voilà, you’ve got the perfect recipe for low morale. Employees start feeling like they’re in a motivational drought, forgetting what it’s like to tackle tasks with gusto or challenge themselves to be workplace superheroes. It’s like the office has turned into a ghost town — empty of engagement, connection, and any reason to stick around.
Underpaid employees don’t just bring a raincloud to the morale parade; they throw a whole thunderstorm. Picture this: reduced job satisfaction, stress levels reaching Everest heights, and commitment to the organization hanging by a thread. Team dynamics turn sour, attrition rates skyrocket, and organizational loyalty becomes as mythical as a unicorn. Individual and team performance? Let’s just say they take an unscheduled vacation. The negative perception of leadership spreads like wildfire, top talent steers clear, and the company's reputation? It’s not exactly winning any awards.
In this gloomy scenario, employees wear their undervaluation like a heavy coat of discontent, leading to a demoralized workforce. Productivity takes a nosedive, absenteeism becomes a regular chore, and the hunt for better opportunities elsewhere becomes a workplace sport. It’s not just a bummer for the employees; it’s a full-blown crisis jeopardizing the health and success of the entire organization.
They know, they just don’t care!
This is where they throw a pizza and coke party. And when they do, you know they just shrug it off.
Employers, those custodians of cosmic knowledge, graciously understand the importance of work-life balance. It’s like having a treasure map but choosing to stash it away.
Yet, behold, their reasoning is a marvel. They assert, with a straight face, that achieving this mythical balance would wreak havoc on profits and circulation. A tragedy in three acts!
Now, we — the humble seekers of equilibrium — dare to question this divine rationale. Lo and behold, they know it’s a tad exaggerated! The symphony of work and life isn’t a corporate apocalypse; it’s a productivity waltz waiting to happen.
But here we are, armed with this insight, and what do they do? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Because, you see, the pursuit of profit often blinds them to the human need for balance. They know, but they won’t care. Not until they find themselves at the jagged, barren bottom, surrounded by the echoes of a disheartened workforce. How tragically mundane.
