The COVID-19 pandemic was an upheaval in many aspects of life, not least employment. Many workers who struggled through the uncertainty of those years felt unappreciated or mistreated by their employers, contributing to a growing anti-work movement and workers quitting their jobs in record numbers.
Employers who fail to meet the expectations of today's workers will increasingly struggle to attract and retain the talent they need. This requires understanding what specific anti-work sentiments are so you can address or prevent them in your workplace.
The anti-work movement is rooted in anarchist criticisms of modern labour practices and the broader economic system that supports them. However, its recent growth spurt – central discussion hub r/antiwork on Reddit grew by 900,000 members in 2021 alone – has seen its appeal widen considerably to encompass dissatisfied workers from many walks of life.
The growth of the subreddit and anti-work sentiment generally is mainly credited to employee experiences during the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted traditional working practices and left many employees feeling they were not adequately compensated or recognised for their efforts.
This culminated in the 'Great Resignation' that has seen workers in many countries leaving their employers in droves since 2021. While many sought greener pastures with other employers, others remained sceptical or hostile to returning to what they see as an unfair system that needs to change.
Despite its inflammatory name, most anti-work supporters are not rejecting work itself, but what they see as an imbalance of expectations between employers and employees. Common points of discussion include:
Employees are driven to an anti-work mindset through negative experiences. When you provide a supportive work environment with fair compensation and without unreasonable pressure, you will improve your chances of acquiring and retaining valuable workers over your competitors.
There are many ways to create a more positive work environment, including:
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