Five Cultural Expectations About Work That Must Go

By Vedran Vuk

There’s no other way to put it. The Greek riots were no more than a temper tantrum thrown by overgrown government employees. Previously, Greek government employees could retire with a full pension (80% of their salary) after 35 years of work. Theoretically, a worker starting at 18 could retire at 53 with full benefits. With reduced benefits, an even earlier retirement was possible.  With the overly plush benefits disappearing, the workers are naturally angry. The problem isn’t that the Greek government is too cruel but rather that Greek expectations are too high. But Greece isn’t our main concern. U.S. culture also has some problematic expectations of work and employment.

1. First, we all expect to live like kings, no matter what our profession. The subprime mortgage crisis was the result of systematic government interventions. However, it doesn’t explain why so many purchased a $300K home in the suburbs rather than a $150K home in the city. If most subprime buyers had financed homes in their price range with ARMs, many would likely still have their homes. We have a cultural problem of financially reaching beyond our means and future expected salaries.

2. To most Americans, the 40-hour work week is sacred. But with globalization, this simply cannot last forever. The history of the world is filled with 80-hour weeks in the factory and on the farm. For most of the world, this is still true. Having two jobs or attending school while working is considered a Herculean effort by most Americans. For the rest of the world, it sounds like a vacation. Sooner or later, globalization will force us back to reality.

3. The expectation of a great factory job straight out of high school is finally gone. There are only a few parts of the country with this mentality left, and they’re struggling. But there is a new, equally unrealistic idea left over from better times: get a college degree and receive a job afterward. 

Many critics suggest fixing the college system. But it doesn’t need to be fixed. The students’ expectations need to adapt. That’s a much easier solution. These days, one goes to college to get a degree, which leads to a series of internships. These internships lead to a job. It’s a much more entrepreneurial approach to the job market. Employment is no longer handed to any bozo with a diploma. A recent graduate really has to make things happen for himself. Students operating under the old model fail in the job market.

4. The worship of the college degree hurts non-degree holders as well. Skilled labor is completely demeaned in the United States. Society encourages a young adult pursuing an art degree more than an electrician’s apprentice. Without a college degree, one is basically treated like a second-class citizen. Being a plumber, electrician, or mechanic are perfectly respectable jobs. Further, small business and entrepreneurship can create very rewarding careers. By pushing everyone to attend college, society demeans these important career paths without degrees.

Most Americans don’t realize that our value system is somewhat unique. For example, when I was entering college, I remember a conversation with my grandfather from Croatia. I explained to him my desire to study economics. His response was, “Economics? Why don’t you do something useful, like become an electrician?” What American parent would want their kid to be an electrician rather than a college graduate! And it’s not that Croatians don’t value education – they do. It’s just that becoming a good electrician is a respectable job over there.

5. The college degree is a double-edged sword. Once someone acquires a degree and can’t get a job, things get even worse. Students are often too embarrassed to change careers toward non-degree work. Shame and guilt prohibit former students from amending their college mistake. Instead of finding a new career, they dig the hole deeper by seeking a Masters or Ph.D. in useless majors. Even when they do accept non-degree jobs, the choices are very specific. Somehow, it’s socially acceptable for a former philosophy student to work at the coffee shop but not at a construction company for more money. It’s a very confusing social predicament.