Why do people stay at jobs they don't like for so long?

[Exterous]

And I'm talking outside of 'The great money' or 'I need the health benefits'

I have a relative who has constantly complained about their job for at least 6 years now. "The hours are terrible" "The pay is bad" "Coworkers suck" and all of those do seem true even if you scale the complaints back 50% for exaggerations. But no action has been taken to look for another job. The job market in that area is really good right now but not a single resume sent out. It shouldn't be fear - the spouse makes like 3x as much and gets benefits through their job. Defeat? Are some people really more willing to work for years at a shitty job rather then try and fix the issue? "I'm tired" "I have no free time" "I can never get time off" So...do something about it?

 

[ultimatebob]

Some people are just too lazy to look for a new job, even though they hate the job they are at. Kinda sad.

 

[Zeze]

Because it's easier to open your mouth and complain than actually spent the time to fix resume, apply 1000x, do interviews, and land a new job.

OR

Some people are just crappy ass complainers with awful attitude.

 

[Exterous]

Some people are just too lazy to look for a new job, even though they hate the job they are at. Kinda sad.

And not really a mindset I understand

Because it's easier to open your mouth and complain than actually spent the time to fix resume, apply 1000x, do interviews, and land a new job.

OR

It doesn't seem easier to dread work 5-6 days a week for years than spend comparatively little time looking for a job

Some people are just crappy ass complainers with awful attitude.

Yeah - esp contractors who complain about Chris all the time

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Fear of change?

 

[purbeast0]

Because people are lazy and generally fear change.

 

[Yakk]

A few people I know did quit, but cave when their workplaces just kept throwing more money at them to stay.

Then they stay miserable, but with more expensive toys they bought.

 

[IronWing]

Health insurance

 

[BurnItDwn]

No Idea, there are problems where I work, but I love my coworkers like family, and honestly the work isnt bad though sometimes the hours are crazy when the shit hits the fan.

 

[GeekDrew]

• Unusually good retirement package or other benefits.
• Absolute disbelief that the situation will be better elsewhere.
• Loyalty to the organization, regardless of hating their job or coworkers or pay.
• Loyalty to other individuals at the organization.
• Loyalty to the mission statement.
• Blackmail.
• Mental health issues, whether they're related to work or not, cause many people (though certainly not anywhere close to all) to be very conservative with risk-taking, to their own detriment (i.e., feeling isolation and/or despair and/or lack-of-support gets someone to come apart at the seams). Toxic work environments are sometimes detrimental to the employees in ways that even the employees won't recognize at the time.

And I'm sure that there are a litany of other reasons -- those are just my reasons that have come and gone over the years.

 

[cfenton]

In the situation you describe, is there good reason to think another job in the same industry would be any better? Some industries are just bad to work in.

More generally, many people aren't in a situation where the job market is very good. If getting a new job requires you to move to another city and uproot your family, it's a big ask unless you know the new job will be much better. Also, in industries with a close knit community, you might fear your employer will find out you are looking for other work. Even if they don't fire you, they could pass you over for any benefits or promotions, and you could be stuck there if your job search is unsuccessful. Lots of people aren't in a position of power with their employer or potential employers.

 

[lxskllr]

Fear of change?

The devil you know's better than the devil you don't.

 

[JM Aggie08]

May as well have asked, "Why do people do the things that they do?" There are an infinite number of reasons why someone would stick with a dead-end/demoralizing job.

 

[Red Storm]

Some people also love to exaggerate their problems.

 

[hasu]

It could be that he or she likes the job itself more than his/her earlier ones. Could also be lack of self confidence too. Moreover, it takes time to prove yourself and build relationships within the company, so if that person has been there for 6 years, then in a new job he/she will have to do that all over again.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Some people are also just fucking miserable, and will never like any job they're at.

 

[Feneant2]

Other than change, this also seems to be a generational thing. Generation X'ers learned from their parents that you get a job and stick with it until you retire. I think that with the upcoming employees, other than sucking it up for money and benefits, staying at a job you don't like will be a dying trend. Even now millenials want a better work/life balance and we're having a hard time recruiting them. We pay 2, 3, 4 times more than private sector for similar work but they'll still go there instead because they can work from home, they can pick their hours, they have a pinball machine in the office, etc.

In my case, I stay where I am because of salary, pension and benefits.

 

[Red Storm]

Other than change, this also seems to be a generational thing. Generation X'ers learned from their parents that you get a job and stick with it until you retire. I think that with the upcoming employees, other than sucking it up for money and benefits, staying at a job you don't like will be a dying trend. Even now millenials want a better work/life balance and we're having a hard time recruiting them. We pay 2, 3, 4 times more than private sector for similar work but they'll still go there instead because they can work from home, they can pick their hours, they have a pinball machine in the office, etc.

In my case, I stay where I am because of salary, pension and benefits.

Which I think is really the better way of living life. Slaving away and waiting until retirement to finally start enjoying life is such a waste IMHO. Balance is key.

 

[Sonikku]

A lack of better alternatives.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Two other things no one mentioned - some people will just complain and 'hate' any job they have. Because they are complainers. Also, Most people don't 'like' to work. The number of jobs out there where you can love your job is minimal in the real world. Most people work because they have to and making decent money is better than making less and still hating it. Any job can be amazing the first year or so, but you never know what will happen down the line and you might not be in a position to just quit or job hop. Also, after a time, when the new wears off, you can grow to resent it. Add to that if that job is taxing and a time sink, 'going out and finding another job' may not even really be an option.

 

[Chaotic42]

It can always get worse

 

[Exterous]

In the situation you describe, is there good reason to think another job in the same industry would be any better? Some industries are just bad to work in.

Its not a position that should be high stress or unreasonable hours if the company is run well. For example there is the complaint about the constant long Saturday hours when many places don't do any work on the weekends at all. Having worked for a company that went bankrupt and another that was sold off piecemeal I get that well run companies aren't always easy to find but like I said the job market in that area is really good so now is the time to look.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Its not a position that should be high stress or unreasonable hours if the company is run well. For example there is the complaint about the constant long Saturday hours when many places don't do any work on the weekends at all. Having worked for a company that went bankrupt and another that was sold off piecemeal I get that well run companies aren't always easy to find but like I said the job market in that area is really good so now is the time to look.

Do you live in the real world? Or just not in the US? Contrary to what people like to throw out - most companies give 2 sheets about their employees work/life balance or the employees in general. They are nothing more than a number on the balance sheet. Most companies are NOT well run at the peasant level. They may talk like they do but at the end of the day, if they want you there, you are there or you are out of a job. It really isn't a cut and dry topic and most people should just accept that they aren't going to find that 'magic' job that has everything they want, for the pay they want and hours they want. THIS is reality. Job stability is way more satisfactory than being unemployed.

I'm not saying such things do not exist, but for the majority of people it is a pipe dream. One thing I notice around here is that the quality of workers and applicants is horrible.

 

[GeekDrew]

Do you live in the real world? Or just not in the US? Contrary to what people like to throw out - most companies give 2 sheets about their employees work/life balance or the employees in general. They are nothing more than a number on the balance sheet. Most companies are NOT well run at the peasant level. They may talk like they do but at the end of the day, if they want you there, you are there or you are out of a job. It really isn't a cut and dry topic and most people should just accept that they aren't going to find that 'magic' job that has everything they want, for the pay they want and hours they want. THIS is reality. Job stability is way more satisfactory than being unemployed.

I'm not saying such things do not exist, but for the majority of people it is a pipe dream. One thing I notice around here is that the quality of workers and applicants is horrible.

^ My experience exactly.

 

[Chaotic42]

Its not a position that should be high stress or unreasonable hours if the company is run well. For example there is the complaint about the constant long Saturday hours when many places don't do any work on the weekends at all. Having worked for a company that went bankrupt and another that was sold off piecemeal I get that well run companies aren't always easy to find but like I said the job market in that area is really good so now is the time to look.

Other than government jobs, I've never heard of any well-paying remotely technical positions which don't require at least a fair amount of overtime (paid or otherwise) or weird hours. I'm lucky in that I get comp time - I know a guy who has about 200 hours of comp time and 300 hours of vacation time banked up. It's not the norm, but it happens. I really should be working a lot more, but I'm going to graduate school and was in the hospital a few weeks ago, so I think I get somewhat of a pass.