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Day’s Verse:
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Cor 10:11-13
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“Just be grateful you have a job.” How many times have I heard this sentiment expressed in the last few months, and especially now after we’ve had layoffs? Every time I turn around, it seems people harp on variations of the theme, often in response to a coworker’s complaining. The thought seems to be: Hey, things are so bad right now, it’s better to work miserably as a slave than not have any work at all.

I struggle with this sentiment. On the one hand, I can’t help but agree: There are millions of people unemployed in the US right now, and every day you read articles like this that make you glad you do have work. On the other hand, I hate the abuses it seems to justify, that it simply says Shut up and work, turning a blind eye to employers’ wrongs. Just because the economy stinks doesn’t mean that people should have to endure mistreatment for their jobs.

But it seems to be happening anyway: Not serious mistreatment, but employers making increasingly high demands on their employees without additional compensation. Where does requiring part-time employees to move up to 40 hours or be laid off fall in the spectrum of employer nastiness? What about requiring employees to work weekends? Underlying these requests is the implication We could replace you at the drop of a hat, so do whatever we say — and no complaining! It’s a “You’ll take it and like it” mentality on the part of employers. I hate how people accept that mentality, thinking, sheep-like, that accepting any amount of harsh treatment by employers is par for the course — indeed, is reasonable — when the economy is bad. People are still people no matter how easily replaceable they are!