Why Do People Work

Why do people work? Think about the reading and your own knowledge of human nature. In his essay “Work and Labour” Igor Shchegolev referred to Daniel Yankelovich’s three conceptions of work (described in “The Work Ethic Is Underemployed”). “First, as labour, as a way to exist; second, as a way to improve one’s level of life; and third, as a moral necessity”, paraphrased Igor. These conceptions closely resonate with an ancient orthodox perception of three stages Christian might act in: stages of a slave, an employee, and a son towards his father. Although, at first glance, the question “Why do people work? may sound as a rhetorical one, there is possible to formulate three main motivations – on a base of both mentioned above theories. There are vital necessity, stimulus for reward, and nonmaterial reasons: moral duty or passion. The first motive does not leave people another choice. “One who is not working – is not allowed to eat”, teaches an old Slavonic proverb, appealing to the vital necessity of work. Tireless Ant of Aesop's Fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper” sees no other ways for himself as the only hard work. There is the only way to survive. He has to. He does.

The majority of people on earth follow him in the same way, let alone those struggling to make both ends meet all the time. Besides, in modern society where consumption is highly valued it happens that it is workers’ dependence on purchases what “determines how much work they do” (according to “Working too hard”, The Press). Regardless of the variety of necessities, those people alike the slaves who have no alternatives. Another reason why people work is to obtain benefits, which may vary from person to person. Generally, people in this group might focus on calculation any possible profit from work they do.

There may be the steps of career or certain earnings, or tax rates. Whatever the motive, it aims to conform to employee’s expectations, so these interests are self-centred. Such workers tend to always think they contribute enough; therefore, to be rewarded is one of the privileges of theirs. Similarly, some Christians perform a definite behaviour in theirs life, waiting on the bounty. In this case they are alike the employees of kind the described group. People depicted in both paragraphs make all their efforts in order to achieve personal premium. They work to live.

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Finally, the last group of incentives to work represents the immaterial qualities that people possess. “Life is given to us for doing good deeds”, teaches us folk wisdom. For some of the people all of the time there is no question why to work; they are convinced – for the good of the commonwealth. A feeling of a moral duty inspires them. In the history of USSR there were great examples of altruistic work: people were eager to move into extremely remote places of the country in order to break new ground. They were full of endeavour and enthusiasm to secure the future of new generations.

At the same time, there is a type of people who work because they are devoted to it – their passion. They may continue to work in their spare time as well, being absolutely satisfied. These people sacrifice their heart and soul. They live to work. To sum up, there is diversity of reasons that prompt people to work and it is entirely possible that they can be intermixed in each particular case. However, alike in an organism every part is vital, all kind of workers are essential in our society as well. There is for the purpose of bringing good balance into its existence.

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