To bring about real and lasting positive change it is necessary to remedy three core problems that exist in our work ethic and wage system.
Our wage systems are structured to value some peoples’ work at a higher rate of pay than others. Those who have higher paid jobs are perceived to be better, more important and more valuable, skilled, educated and worthy members of our society. Those who have lower paid jobs are perceived to be less important, less valuable, unskilled, uneducated and less worthy.
The second core problem is that some forms of activity, and inactivity, are considered to be work while other forms of activity and inactivity are considered to be not work. Take cleaning, for example. We are only considered to be cleaners if we get paid to do cleaning. If we don’t get paid then we are not really cleaners. The same applies if we are gardeners, cooks, musicians, artists, writers, skateboard riders, surfers or parents. If we are paid to do any of these things then we can legitimately say that we are working. If we aren’t paid then we are considered to be doing our chores, having time off or attending to our recreational interests and activities. We are also considered to be unemployed or 'bludging' if we don’t have a ‘real’ job.
If we happen to be amongst the many people in Australia who receive Centrelink benefits we are also not considered to be working, even if we do all of the above stated activities. The government is not considered to be our employer therefore we are not really employed when we are receiving ‘benefits’. If we are government employees who tell other people how they should be cooking, cleaning, gardening, parenting, keeping themselves healthily occupied and properly looked after, then we are employed. This same contradictory logic applies when we are doing inactive things like meditating and relaxing. If we are yogis or paid teachers then we are working when we are doing these inactive things. If we are not earning an income from these pursuits, then we are not really working, even though many of us will agree that it can be hard work meditating and relaxing. These inactive pursuits are also referred to as 'recreational' interests and activities if we’re not being paid to do them.
Interestingly enough, in countries like Australia where we are fortunate to have sickness benefits if we become sick, have a nervous breakdown or are diagnosed with some terminal disease then we can legitimately spend our time doing inactive things like meditating, resting and relaxing. Once we’re well again we’re expected to get back out into the competitive, 'each person for themselves' workforce. Our workforce actually cultivates ill health because we can only legitimately live in a way that is healing for us when we’re sick or when we’ve reached crisis point. Many of us know these things, yet we still feel pressured to participate in the workforce because we have to earn a living.
The third core problem is that the purpose of our working life is to earn as much money as we can so that we can secure ourselves a good, self-funded, retirement package. If we achieve this moneyed outcome then we are considered to be a successful and responsible member of our society, even if we suffer from ill health, get drunk once or twice a week, consume more than we need and have long term unresolved conflicts with our spouse, neighbours, family members or friends. Once we’ve retired successfully we aren’t even expected to contribute to our society anymore. We can legitimately sit back on our laurels and think that we deserve to be rewarded for our non-productivity because we’ve worked hard to get there. Work is considered to be a dirty word and many of us don’t want to work anymore because we’ve had so many bad experiences.
Those of us who successfully achieve this self funded retired status are often aware that some people aren’t as well off as we are, and we also know that society is unfairly structured, but we still justify our good fortune by thinking that those other people should have up skilled themselves and got themselves better, proper, well paid jobs. This is a very ignorant way of thinking given that we need cleaners, cooks, parents, gardeners, artists, musicians, writers and sportsmen and women, be they paid professionals or not, and given that there aren’t as many highly paid jobs available as there are people.
To remedy these worldwide problems I suggest that we take steps to value all people equally and financially, that we reconsider our definitions of work and that we change our perception of what the purpose of our work is. All people ought to be granted their right to life instead of having to earn it. All activity and inactivity ought to be seen to be work and the purpose of our work ought to be to strive to live healthily, happily, humbly, co-operatively and compassionately.
