Reddit threads posted on the R/Jobs forum trigger a surge in frustration with the harsh reality of U.S. "business" employment
It started with a direct question of one person, a person, a worker outside the United States, reacted to the news of a sudden layoff of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT): "How do you live comfortably know that you can be fired at any time for any reason?" they asked. “(In) the country I live in, you have to give a valid reason to fire someone.”
Hundreds of replies come from American workers in various industries, describing the system that many say, many say, create constant stress, fear and trust in employers.
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“We live uncomfortable,” one wrote. “Every day you worry about losing your job.”
Another added: "That's why many people tend to casually explore other opportunities even when they're employed. I often call recruiters or interview other roles to stay sharp."
A healthcare worker described how management rolled out colleagues for 20 years simply because he didn’t get along with his new boss. "She built the case for more than a year and fired him at random," they wrote. "She found work from the entire health system to make him a black ball."
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Several commenters pointed out that despite laws against discriminatory or retaliatory shooting, it is almost impossible to prove even more difficult to fight. "We may not be able to afford the court even for clear illegal reasons," one person wrote.
Another user explained that it is legal to fire someone for illegal reasons, as long as you say it is something else.
While some suggest that lawyers might work on contingency, many respond that justice is often out of reach: “Justice is blocked (for me),” one said.
Faced with this uncertainty, users share various ways they try to deal with it. For many, this means keeping emergency savings, building skills that are difficult to fix, and always being ready for an updated resume.
"Make yourself valuable and expensive," said an air compressor technician. "That doesn't mean breaking the butt. It just means you do your job and keep looking at it all the time."
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One commenter shared their unique solution: After being fired twice in a row, they stopped chasing high-paying positions and instead worked in two stable remote jobs that were more than they had previously earned from a job. “I can handle them at the same time (9 to 5) and neither knowing the other exists.”
Some defend the “will” system, believing that it provides employees with the same freedom to quit on the spot and keep wages higher in the competitive market. As one person says, “It’s a better system for those who do well” while acknowledging that it can be cruel to others.
However, for many people, the risk outweighs the benefit. One summed it up: "We don't deal with it. We suffer." Another said: "America is a literal dystopia that is stressful for everyone except the rich."
As for the original poster, they were shocked by the response. One American replied, “You are lucky to live in your own place.”
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This article comes from a foreign Microsoft employee questioning the work safety specifications in the United States. "How can you live a comfortable life knowing you can be fired at any time?" Originally appeared on benzinga.com
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