Is Work the New Religion?
This appeared in The Guardian Newspaper, written by Ian Wylie. It’s worth reading and thinking about. Personally, I hope work is NOT the new religion, only because I can’t imagine who’d play God… besides me, of course, and I’m working on that. Balance, people!
Research by consultancy Penna suggests a quarter of British workers are so passionate about their job they believe it defines who they are and gives their life meaning. For a significant 12%, work is the single biggest provider of “community and belonging”. A fifth have built up a close network of friends through their workplace, a figure that rises in London, where the workplace is an even more important social agent. A quarter of directors say they get more meaning from work than at home or socially. Another poll says more than 90% of employees would rather find a new job than love this Christmas.
British workers spend 60% of their waking hours in work, but many put in long hours because they want to, rather than out of economic necessity. The workplace, instead of the home, is where they make friends, feel supported and find opportunities to “make a difference”.
Older workers - those in their 40s and 50s - were brought up on a live-to-work ethic: work harder, work longer, earn lots of money. In contrast, surveys suggest younger workers focus on quality, not quantity of work. They take it for granted that they will be paid well. But they want work to mirror their values, too.