The World of Grandpa Don

Why do we Work?

A headline in the business section caught my eye. The article reflected on the evils of large company CEOs concentrating only on the goal of increasing the value of the stock. I feel that a similar problem exists for many people and they don't need to be executives to have the problem. It is a problem for the worker at the lowest level as well.

When accumulating wealth is the goal, the job itself is of secondary importance and in fact can be viewed as a hindrance. Shortcuts are taken and the work itself suffers. It is often poorly done and does not accomplish it's purpose. So, why do we work? 

We work to survive. In the earliest times we benefited directly from the work we did. It provided food, shelter, and clothing. Then life got complicated and work became specialized. Joe Smith was a lot better than anyone else in the village at making tools so that is what he did. He traded his tools for the bread that Sam Baker made from the ingredients that someone else grew. Everyone did what they knew and liked best and they enjoyed doing it. They liked being productive members of society. Work was an integral part of life.

There came more technology and more specialization. There also came large landowners and the growth of industry. Along with it came exploitation of hired workers and people doing jobs that they did not like. The goal shifted from providing a useful product or service, to getting paid wages that could be used to purchase essentials and maybe a little left over for creature comforts. People came to perceive their homes and family  as their lives, and work a drudgery, a necessary evil that was separate from their real lives.

It was not all like that. Some company owners respected their workers and acknowledged their needs. In addition, they recognized the need to provide a product or service which economically met the needs of their customers. With this management attitude, the business thrived because it was a cooperative partnership of employees, management, customers and  suppliers. The worth of these companies increased as a byproduct of their endeavors. Knowing they are providing a service of value, employees are happy in their work. I worked for 45 years in such a company. It was not perfect and there were some in the organization that were greedy, but for the most part it was a very good company. As a result I was very happy in my work and, indeed considered it a major part of my life, shared (sometimes too much) with my home life and family. 

There are always parts of our work that we do not like. The tendency is to avoid these tasks, put them off, or do them poorly. This often hurts us in many ways, including the perception (by others) that we are inept in our job. Putting these things off also keeps the need of doing  them pressing on our minds and as a result causes depression and poor performance in the task at hand. The best solution is to do these things first and put extra effort into it so as to overcome our natural distaste. We may even come to like that part of our job.

We may feel that we are unappreciated and underpaid. As a result we decide to do as little as possible until we are appreciated and are compensated fairly. This attitude will most likely result in failure to advance and have a negative effect when salary evaluations are made. If, on the other hand, we perform to the best of our abilities regardless of how 'fair' it seems, we will be seen to be of greater value and compensation will be increased. If there are reasons that this does not occur, such as favoritism or an exploitive management policy, or just plain unreasonable or incompetent management, it is time to look for new employment.

One of the greatest favors given to me was the interviewer who told me that if I was hired, they never want to here me say, "That is not my job." I was being paid by the hour and anything (moral and legal) to which I was assigned, was my job. By the same token, when I saw something that needed doing, and I was capable of doing it, it became my job. This is how, hired as a draftsman, I became, in time, a Vice President and member of the Board of Directors. 

So, why do we work? We work to provide goods and services which are the fruit of our particular talents to others who have different talents. In doing so, we use the resources that God has given to us to the benefit of all His creation. Thus, we are rewarded in the satisfaction of work well done and sharing with others. Our reward also includes the ability to obtain goods which are created by others and shared with us. The money is a token for barter and a by-product of work. It should never be the primary goal. When it is the primary goal, it is counterproductive and corruptive.

It should also be remembered that our work should not result in immoral or illegal results. Doing evil work corrupts others and makes us responsible for the loss of their souls. There is no justification for doing work that is contrary to the advancement of civilization. 

In conclusion, when we work we must put our best efforts into it regardless of the task. Should our efforts prove to be un-rewarded, or counter to our values, it should be abandoned and other employment sought out. An unhappy worker is a detriment to himself and all around him. Gibran said, "... And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy."

We work because it is part of our life to work, share, and build a better world in the continuance of God's Creation. Does this sound like an idealistic utopia? Yes it is. But, why not go in that direction? You and I can be some of the first ones to reach it. And in striving for this ideal, it contributes to a feeling of being "right with the world".

Don Plefka
09/20/2002