Anyone else stuck at a job they hate but feeling guilt for hating it when others are totally out of a job?

I think something we’re realizing in this pandemic is that work makes us all miserable. Before lockdown we’d all go out after work, have a beer and commiserate about how shitty it was and kind of forget. But now we really have to sit with it and it’s starting to take a toll on most of us. The system itself is broken. The fact that we’re all living through the most stressful situation in recent history and jobs are requiring us to put in 8 hours a day or more, like you’re just taking a work from home day is crazy! We’re not working from home, we’re sheltering from a pandemic and trying to remain somewhat productive so we don’t lose our livelihoods.

We need shorter work days or longer weekends. We need to be done with a system that was created during the industrial revolution just with manufacturing plants in mind.

Perspective is key here. I’ve been working since I was 11 years old. I’ve worked paper routes, retail, construction, landscaping, the deli and supermarket. I’ve struggled to make ends meet as an illustrator.

I know what hard manual labor feels like. I know what standing on your feet all day feels like. I know what calloused hands feel like, and how it feels to come home covered in plaster dust.

So when I compare this ‘cushy’ job to the jobs I’ve worked in the past, I’m truly thankful to be employed in an industry where I get to be creative and be paid ‘relatively’ well for it.

There are a lot of very entitled and over privileged people in this industry for sure. Clearly, those secretly wishing to be among the millions of unemployed can’t have family’s to raise, mortgages to pay or children to send to college.

I choose to count my blessings rather than complain about lack of fulfillment. Maybe most are to insulated from the realities of poverty to have proper perspective.

You're allowed to hate it while still being grateful for the income right now

Definitely. I've been pretty busy, but I sometimes hate the work. I look at other jobs, but sometimes hope they lay me off so I can take a breath, collect unemployment and find something that makes me happier.

I’m in the exact same boat. I was just starting to actively look before the pandemic. Now I feel trapped... I’m grateful for the income but know deep down it’s hurting my career because I’m not growing and the work is super stagnant. I feel awful looking on Linkedin etc. when I know so many people are out of work. Thing is, I’m looking because I want to grow and continue to evolve not for economic gains.

I hate my job. I’m just grateful to hate it from home right now so I don’t have to be with the trolls in my office and deal with them in person.

As someone who was just let go after 13 years at my job, don’t feel guilty. I have hated mine for a while, yet had been loyal to a fault and constantly working long hours bc I have a good work ethic and wanted to do good for my clients and teams. But I’m taking this as the kick in the ass I needed to leave or I never would have (for a while at least). I know I’ll find something that makes me happier and this was meant to be. So dont get complacent at your job if you hate it.

Pretty miserable. Started my search and then the virus hit. So I’ve paused my search for now thinking “last in, first out” and I do like a paycheck. So for now I’m just trying to keep my misery to myself.

I think it’s ok to feel that way. I’m guessing many do.

Yes! My saving grace is that me and a few buddies have decided to start our own agency so we’re planning for that. That’s keeping me excited these days

I hear you. My brain feels likes it’s going to explode every day, and boundaries are now non-existent. So grateful I have a job, but it’s still hard, even harder without the social aspect of the agency.

So tired of feeling “always on” and can’t even enjoy downtime because thinking about how much pressure is on me, it never stops

Count your blessings. I’m a few months away from having to leave the country.

Feel the same

Omg we’re living the same life

I’m being furloughed and am not at all upset about it...

I respect everyone posting in here with their agency name in the description.

Same

Same. If only money wasn’t an issue.

Yes :/ I feel like my job could be A LOT worse but I still don’t care for it.

Same position - was looking before and have put it on hold and tried to be thankful to have something.
Anyone else nervous that if they were to get an offer and move in this period they’d put themself at the bottom of the totem pole when recession and cuts hit? Cause that’s my current fear as I interview 😬