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Kaleva

(40,007 posts)

43. Think of the thousands of years before child labor laws, unions, social security and duch

Sun Oct 23, 2022, 09:56 AM

Oct 2022

I had a great grandfather who was sold by his mother as she couldn't support her family after her husband died. My great grandfather lived in the barn with the animals and worked for years to earn his freedom

I live in an area that was known for copper mines. No benefits, long hours and always in debt to the mining company which owned the homes and stores. If a miner died and his family lived in a company house, his wife had two weeks to marry another miner or she and her children would be evicted.

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The responses to my retirement post are a real eye opener. [View all] fightforfreedom Oct 2022 OP

That is a very clear explanation. I agree totally Walleye Oct 2022 #1

It's the job that makes you smoke and drink. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #2

Yup, but the drinking only works against you in the end. It's a mine field out there. Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #20

My last job was in a terrible public library XanaDUer2 Oct 2022 #65

I worked in a library like that. murielm99 Oct 2022 #86

Wow. Fortunately, my local library shows no signs wnylib Oct 2022 #97

I think for most people genxlib Oct 2022 #3

Those golden handcuffs are real. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2022 #55

I can totally relate to your experiences. I also worked in a similar environment. walkingman Oct 2022 #4

Thank you for that Honest. post. True Blue American Oct 2022 #13

Yup, unions help the little guy and gal. Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #16

Love this. Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #17

Until It Happens To You FrankTC Oct 2022 #5

True. The workplace can be a very dark place and very bad for your health. Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #15

A toxic work environment almost killed me. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2022 #54

Google "work trauma". I went through that more than once, raccoon Oct 2022 #76

It can simply eat you up, nibble by nibble, little bite by little bite. calimary Oct 2022 #98

I worked for a SHIT company for 20 years. I am so happy running my own now... Ferrets are Cool Oct 2022 #6

I know this is a very serious topic, but cyclonefence Oct 2022 #7

That made me chuckle. Ferrets are Cool Oct 2022 #9

I was surprised to see how anxious people were to share their thoughts and experiences 70sEraVet Oct 2022 #8

You did the same thing my Son did. True Blue American Oct 2022 #18

I think that many middle management managers are treated like a dog, so they feel it necessary Chainfire Oct 2022 #10

While Likely True... ProfessorGAC Oct 2022 #71

i settled down to raise a fam just in time. mopinko Oct 2022 #11

And you sound contented True Blue American Oct 2022 #21

i am but the big thing i chose was to dump my hubs. lol. mopinko Oct 2022 #24

But you made the right decision for you and your family. True Blue American Oct 2022 #67

the kids were grown by the time we divorced, mopinko Oct 2022 #70

I worked in the corporate sector. Very toxic. Need to find at least one mentor to survive. Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #12

Me too. Then I guided my children away from such a career. GoodRaisin Oct 2022 #104

👍 Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #105

👍 Joinfortmill Oct 2022 #106

The reference to teachers caught my attention..I retired 17 years ago. 3Hotdogs Oct 2022 #14

Toxic Teaching Environments.... McKim Oct 2022 #41

Was there ever a time in history when work for most was fulfilling and rewarding? Kaleva Oct 2022 #19

Not for some!:) True Blue American Oct 2022 #22

When I starting working in the 70s the work place was not as toxic. It was more laid back. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #28

Thanks to ronnie raygun, wildcat striking became illegal SouthernDem4ever Oct 2022 #30

It's changed a lot. Used to be much different and laid back by comparison. Now the "health care" Evolve Dammit Oct 2022 #40

This is why we need True Blue American Oct 2022 #68

yep. I'm a Bernie/Liz supporter so you know where I'm at with universal health care. Evolve Dammit Oct 2022 #72

Think of the thousands of years before child labor laws, unions, social security and duch Kaleva Oct 2022 #43

Life was hard Random Boomer Oct 2022 #38

Life was a struggle and people took what ever work they could get. Kaleva Oct 2022 #47

it's a tired old saw but onethatcares Oct 2022 #60

So right snowybirdie Oct 2022 #23

I turned in my notice at one job wnylib Oct 2022 #100

Work turned to shit when..... jimmil Oct 2022 #25

Whenever I started a new job Mr.Bill Oct 2022 #79

this is my 3rd week of retirement littlewolf Oct 2022 #26

From a female point of view- milestogo Oct 2022 #27

I believe you. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #31

I became an expert at handling sexual harrassment malaise Oct 2022 #36

Ha! That is great. And the reference to Bolt made me smile Evolve Dammit Oct 2022 #42

Most of the assholes are terrified of their wives malaise Oct 2022 #48

sounds about right. It's time for more rights for women and I hope we can retain House control to Evolve Dammit Oct 2022 #64

I worked in an office with two men who never stopped talking about milestogo Oct 2022 #51

I loved my profession malaise Oct 2022 #29

Oooo, that sounds like something I would have fun doing. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2022 #56

I'd love to learn more about this. jmbar2 Oct 2022 #62

I would like to know more about this, too! ShazzieB Oct 2022 #74

Lol doctors. carpetbagger Oct 2022 #32

The key to freedom is being able to walk away from a job at all times. The Jungle 1 Oct 2022 #33

Good unions can make a big difference in people lives. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #34

30 years to the day, I worked in a large factory. multigraincracker Oct 2022 #35

100% correct wendyb-NC Oct 2022 #37

Perspective of an engineer dwayneb Oct 2022 #39

"...giant soulless corporations". That sounds right.... Evolve Dammit Oct 2022 #44

Your post is another example of what I am talking about. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #45

Engineer here too Johnny2X2X Oct 2022 #50

Union! True Blue American Oct 2022 #69

This is a true story. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #52

Tom Smykowski in "Office Space" resonated with me. Pinback Oct 2022 #46

Must have seen it at least 10 times malaise Oct 2022 #57

Office Space - in my top 10 dwayneb Oct 2022 #94

I've dealt with similar issues. I totally feel you The Third Doctor Oct 2022 #49

I worked as a computer programmer SouthernLiberal Oct 2022 #53

When I got out of the military after 20+ years, Farmer-Rick Oct 2022 #58

Good post. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #63

The worst, scariest thing that happened to me at work was this. fightforfreedom Oct 2022 #59

I dealt with many of the same issues at my old job Woodwizard Oct 2022 #61

Work most certainly is toxic for a lot of people. Perhaps even most. Jedi Guy Oct 2022 #66

"Management and the union were in a constant state of war." LudwigPastorius Oct 2022 #73

The Episcopal Priest this morning says he's ready to retire - again. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2022 #75

I don't feel so alone in my experience because you shared your story. Alwaysna Oct 2022 #77

I worked for a liberal organization whose work I support. Yet I had a very bad boss who wanted to CTyankee Oct 2022 #78

Your first job ymetca Oct 2022 #80

I'm close to retirement. BradBo Oct 2022 #81

My workplace is deranged. Hoping to retire within 5 years. onecaliberal Oct 2022 #82

Mine was deranged, too XanaDUer2 Oct 2022 #83

It is incredibly difficult to get through. onecaliberal Oct 2022 #84

when I hear fellow Booomers saying younger workers aren't as "loyal" Skittles Oct 2022 #85

Soon as I hit 62, I'm out of the workforce. Xolodno Oct 2022 #87

I for one loved your post. I'm sorry that others aren't being supportive. Shipwack Oct 2022 #88

I was stuck in teaching due to health insurance... BigmanPigman Oct 2022 #89

Work is a toxic, draining thing to do. Aussie105 Oct 2022 #90

I, too, am waiting to become myself again XanaDUer2 Oct 2022 #107

The "greed is good" snot Oct 2022 #91

Most jobs suck NJCher Oct 2022 #92

Even those of us who like helping people are having difficulty now. I'm a Physical Therapist and at LT Barclay Oct 2022 #93

I liked all my jobs. Cracklin Charlie Oct 2022 #95

I'm still working part-time after 50... JoeOtterbein Oct 2022 #96

I hear ya! A lot of my fellow teachers were mad at me becaue I spoke up when our contract Dark n Stormy Knight Oct 2022 #99

Actually, in a lot of ways, it got better for women between the late fifties when I first joined appleannie1 Oct 2022 #101

I loved working - still busy at 83 dem in texas Oct 2022 #102

Japan is horribly worse. betsuni Oct 2022 #103