Ethics: Would you work just as hard if you were underpaid AND disrespected? (employment, free market)
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Would you still be willing to give your employer your 100%? The ethical answer is "Yes", but would you be willing to work just as hard in practice? Or you would give your employer "what he/she paid for"? In practice, I don't think I could do it.
Just wondering..
Why do you think the ethical answer is yes? When you assert this you are essentially saying that there is no relationship between treatment, pay and effort? If that is the case, why not pay all engineers, architects, doctors and rocket scientists $1 a day? After all, if the ethical thing for them to do is work all out, then there is no reason to pay them more. By your philosophy, that wage would be ethical, as it was accepted by the employee.
I think it is ethical to hold back if you are not paid appropriately or treated well.
Being in health care, and previously being underpaid, I would say that I do everything that needs to be done to do right by the patients but other than that? I will not do anything extra, I will not try to fix mistakes (unless they're potentially harmful), etc. So yes, I will be a good worker, I will do my job and I will do it well but don't be surprised if I'm gone sooner than later...
Just to clarify, by "giving it your all" or "giving it your 100%", I don't mean doing just the minimum that's required of you in the job description nor does it mean going all out and putting way more effort than what's expected. It's just putting in the maximum amount of effort each day that's sustainable in the long run.
Just to clarify, by "giving it your all" or "giving it your 100%", I don't mean doing just the minimum that's required of you in the job description nor does it mean going all out and putting way more effort than what's expected. It's just putting in the maximum amount of effort each day that's sustainable in the long run.
I get that. I put no because nine times out of ten you cannot really say I am being underpaid, pay me more, especially in an employer market. Of course they would look to pay as close to the wage floor known as minimum wage. They (feel they) can replace you in a second with someone equally as skilled. This is dilemma of an employer's market.
I would give any job I had my utmost, but it would be because of my own work ethic and integrity, and the fact that no matter what the job is, what I do in that job is a reflection of my own character and person. That makes it mandatory for me to do the best I can, especially as I accepted that job and agreed to the conditions of the job.
I absolutely agree. But the traits you speak of (work ethic and integrity) are in short supply these days. People don't give a damn anymore, and part of that is because they are treated like crap and paid low wages.
That said, work has always been about proving to myself what I can do, not proving to my boss. And I want to do my best regardless, and always have.
I guess I have a cruel streak. On the occasion I worked in a situation where I felt underpaid and disrespected I put in full effort. While looking for my next job. the pleasure it gave me when I turned in my resignation and the owner jumped through hoops trying to get me to stay. L loved saying no to his raise offer.
Perhaps he learned and his future employees got better treatment.
I guess I have a cruel streak. On the occasion I worked in a situation where I felt underpaid and disrespected I put in full effort. While looking for my next job. the pleasure it gave me when I turned in my resignation and the owner jumped through hoops trying to get me to stay. L loved saying no to his raise offer.
Perhaps he learned and his future employees got better treatment.
I did too until the toll on my physical and mental health after about a year made it impossible to continue at 100% effort.. funny thing is, a few months of getting sick and (unwillingly) working at less than 100% didn't get me fired but radically changed my manager's attitude.
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