How Unpaid Overtime Work Is Costing And Devaluing You

Many of us have faced the voluntary unpaid work scheme of the modern, endless growth centered capitalist job. Though we have the right, by law, to refuse the “privilege”, the law cannot protect us from the subtleties expressed by a disappointed boss.
In the boss’s mind, you’re just a lazy worker, uninterested in improving his company’s value. Thus, you are a liability; never mind the agreement you made on hours worked and wage received. So he cannot outright fire you, but he can make your life uncomfortable and hope you eventually give in or leave. Alternatively he can build up a case of numerous small reasons to let you go. The law cannot protect you from these subtle intricacies without policing the boss’s thought — which is impossible at the time of writing and also unethical (that’s a discussion for another time).
We could go on about improving worker rights, establishing unions, etc. And eventually you might get your way in keeping your job and eliminating the boss’s ability to even ask for overtime. But it’s all liberal revisionist hopefulness. Your relationship with the boss is now ruined, he’ll work hard at trying to replace you with a much more timid submissive.
So how does this devalue you? From a moral standpoint, that’s quite subjective, so we won’t be discussing that here. What we want to talk about, is the value versus time of your labor.
Unpaid overtime is not just as simple as not being paid to do the work, it’s a negative transaction in your boss’s favor. Your time and labor has value, thus, working overtime for no monetary payment, is essentially you paying your boss for working for him.
Now you might soften this realization with quips such as: “The work will pay off in bonuses or promotions” or “It will improve the boss’s opinion of me”. That’s really pleasant sounding bullshit.
Firstly, there’s no guarantee you will get bonuses or promotions. In a sense a bonus could be awarded, but it hardly ever makes up for the actual unpaid labor. A promotion is a bit of a reach, if a worker is performing well in his current position, putting in extra effort, then why promote him? Will the promotion make him feel as if he’s worked hard enough and now can take it easy? Will it be hard to find someone else as hardworking as him to fill that position? So it’s in the boss’s best interest to keep you chained to that position as long as possible.
So then, what is to be done?

I don’t think anyone could exactly predict which solution would work best. Human sociology is way too complicated. But the important thing is that we have to keep trying to find the best methods that benefits humans the most ; not profit, not clout. We need to keep progressing and evolving. The modern boss has found a model which works great for him, so he’ll do anything to resist change. We’re in an unholy place; we’re technically not slaves, but we also don’t have the means to fully express our inner being nor do we feel like the work we do has any meaningful contribution to society. We still have to sell ourselves short to survive.
A socialist model of putting the ownership of the labor into the hands of workers themselves is a common goal that’s been suggested by many great leftist minds. It’s been tried throughout history with varying levels of success. Although never in a grand enough scale and it keeps being thwarted by various anxious capitalists. For, if a system like that actually would end up working, everyone everywhere would want it, and the capitalists would lose their privileged lives, so they’ll do anything to stop it.
The planning of necessary goods and services and having our work and shifts scheduled accordingly, would free up so much time for ourselves. With this extra time we could pursue whichever passions or hobbies we want . Everyone would have the opportunity to become a musician, dancer, poet, engineer, scientist, etc. And the most crucial part is, that they won’t be dependent on doing these things to survive. The writer would write from his heart and let it connect with people who find it interesting. The musician too; there will never be a need to sell out or follow market trends - if that’s your thing though, it’s fine, but no one would be forced to and that’s opening the gates to a lot more artistic expression and beauty.
Eventually we should look at wanting to abolish profit altogether to really minimize the requirements of our work. We would work to benefit society as a whole, and produce accordingly; we could eliminate poverty this way, no resources have to be wasted on unnecessary production - no more ridiculous products that benefit no one, if you’re interested in creating things like that, do it in your own time, with the surplus resources available, do not waste what we need to give people basic living conditions.
Check this Subreddit out for some idea of what we really are wasting resources on, while millions are homeless and starving:
Some of those are really humorous, and I’m not going to be all drab and dismiss the novelty value of silly things like this. But at what cost do we have so many of these things? Could using these resources elsewhere have saved lives? Ended suffering?
Think about how you value yourself and those around you. Make decisions to get the best value out of your life and your being.
Remember: Unpaid work is not just a theft of your time and labor value. It is also a theft of the quality time spent with loved ones — your time and theirs. Your boss is robbing you and your family. Do not let your boss alienate you from your friends, kids, wife, etc. Do not lose the humanity and love within yourself.
We can end this misery.

