The anti-labor movement

The New York Times dubbed it the “anti-ambition” era. That 47 million Americans left their jobs in one year, the newspaper argues, cannot be considered an issue related only to burnout or the search for a better place. Two years into the pandemic, in fact, workers around the world appear tired. Mental health and exhaustion have become common issues, particularly among low-wage and essential wage earners. And so, writes the BBC, the “anti-labor movement” was born as well. Reddit’s namesake channel is growing from 20 to 60 thousand users per week. Members there share experiences, advice on how to demand better conditions, organize protests (like the one that targeted Kellogg’s when the company tried to replace striking employees).

The air in the air People suddenly seem to have realized that work is not everything, and that work methods need to be changed(Bbc). So it is not simply a decline in motivation, but a real cultural mutation, a rejection of old, nerve-racking rhythms. The exact reasons for these changes in the labor market, however, still remain mysterious. Job recovery is not evenly distributed among sectors, nor is the dropout rate. Staffing levels in the leisure and hospitality sectors, for example, are still 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels, and, according to the December jobs report, people working in hotels and restaurants in the United States are more likely to have left their jobs.

Worker bees or not? The pandemic-at least it seems so-has made workers more aware of their job dissatisfaction. As for Italy, future data will increasingly tell us in what direction we are going. Meanwhile, according to a survey by Bain & Company, our country would rank last in job satisfaction. In fact, only 60 percent of Italians say they are satisfied with their employment(The Press). Everyone else, especially in the 35-54 age group, seems to be “working bees” who find meaning and self-awareness only outside of work, considering employment a mere means to pay the rent.