Why do people think that they don't have to work hard to earn things like weekends off?

Question

I have worked every weekend for the past 14 years with a few exceptions and now that I am 28 and stepping back into a manager's role I am not expected to work weekends (though I will in a heartbeat). So why do these little 19 and 20 year olds think that they should have weekends off?

Answer 1

I think that it depends on the education of the person and the type of job that they have. I personally don't work weekends but I have put 22 years into nursing/health care and think that I deserve to have the weekend off.

If the contract of employment states that you must work weekends then politely remind them that they are treading on thin water and that they must do their fare share of weekends and antisocial hours. I personally don't think that it's fair to make someone work every weekend, and would never force any employee to do so they are entitled to a life too.

Answer 2

Probably because they havent realized they are in the real world of entry level jobs yet.  They see that their parents have weekends off, their parents friends have weekends off...  the parents of their friends have weekends off...  Everyone that they know that works is an adult, and established in their career, and generally dont have to work weekends.

And all their lives themselves through school they have had weekends off.

Its not really that they think they are better than everyone else, its that they have never experienced anything else.

Answer 3

We must live by the decisions we make.  New members of the work force who start off with the attitude that they are not going to do this or that will have to live with the results.  Those willing to put in time, do a good job, show up on time and not watch the clock will most likely do far better in life.

I now have a job where I work regular hours, have a long lunch, do not have to break my back and people seek my advice on many projects.  It is a good way to work.  But I did not start out this way!

I, too had plenty of times where I had to work long hours, weekends etc.  I had bosses who treated me poorly, tried to fire me for no reason, promoted less worthy people ahead of me etc.  But I had a wife and kids so I did what I had to do.  Now, thirty years later, all of those people are gone and I am one of the most senior, well seasoned and respected people in my company.  I do not walk very fast, not run up the stairs.  But believe me, there was a time when I had to take the stairs two at a time and my walking pace was so fast that my wife could not keep up, do to my hurrying around at work to make sure things happened.

I suppose young people think they, too deserve their own parking space.  

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Answer 4

You remind me of a job interview I had a few years back. When asked if I would work overtime, I said if paid. And the interviewer said "You're hired to do a job, not 40 hours!" Oh really? Too many times I've had my portion done & sat twiddling my thumbs waiting for someone else & "talked to" when I wouldn't stay late. Or the manager that's Oh so Bizzy, but can still manage to talk for 30 minutes about her kids & then expect me to stay 2 hours more because she comes in at 9 (hafta drop off the kids) & I come in at 7.

Sorry pal. You hire me - spell out clearly what you want me to do. I'm not sacrificing my time 'cause your a work n**i.

Answer 5

You dont earn time off, you earn money.

Do you use a whip or a cat o' nine tails?

Answer 6

You seem to be a bit peeved here.  

But I fail to see what age has anything to do with working weekends?

You're obviously a company man & would work whatever hours you were told to work.  And certainly, I have no problem with you working 24/7 if you'd like.  

But please, I put in from 6:30 AM until 5:30 PM (counting commuting time) M-F,  I have no desire to donate any more of my time to the company cause.  

I would think everyone should be able to work the hours they want if they can get them.  And if the hours don't suit them, they are free to leave.  There is no loyalty to the employee any longer from the company.  So, in turn, the company shouldn't expect much loyalty in return.

Answer 7

Good for you! You should be proud of yourself. I mean that.

But not everyone is an obsessive workaholic without anything else they like to do.

Answer 8

If I work everyday around the clock, I feel unable to enjoy the fruits of my labor. What's the sense of working hard if you never get to play? Maybe it would be different if I had a job I actually enjoyed, but I've always worked just because I need the money.