The Future of Meaningful Work
Has the pandemic created an upward trend in choosing “meaningful” pathways of work?
COVID-19 emerged at a time when many people were working day in, day out, life passing by at an ever increasing rate. Suddenly everyone was forced to just pause, take a breath and take care of their health for themselves and those around them. This blip in our regular lives caused a lot of changes, especially with daily lives around work. Although some say that the pandemic forced people to stay in jobs due to the increased financial instability, there were still many people who chose to resign from their jobs. As people enter the workforce, I argue that newer generations will continue to choose work paths that they find more valuable or important because of the increased time for reflection during quarantine and the goal to truly enjoy their careers.
In a time of great job insecurity, many people were still willing to risk it all. Being able to reflect on their lives, their values, and what changes they need to make caused a big shift in how and where they chose to work. As Joanne Lipman points out in her article, “the pandemic has masked a deep unhappiness that a startling number of Americans have with the — workplace” which led to “people [who] are not just abandoning jobs but switching professions,” (Lipman 2021). Lipman explains how through people’s exploration of what made them unhappy, there was a greater connection between unsatisfying or unfulfilling work that negatively impacted their lives. People may have felt this was their opportunity to turn around their lives through a drastic work change. I believe that it is important to realize how people value being able to choose their passions over something stable because work is something that happens almost every day. If it is something we aren’t passionate about, how can we continue to do that for the majority of our lives?
If people are starting to leave their old , what do they decide to go towards instead? Do they just choose something that’s opposite of what they already know, looking for something new? For many they want to choose more “meaningful” work. But what does that really mean? Some people chose something that they are passionate about, turning hobbies into businesses, and pursuing left behind dreams. Jaonne Lipman, a writer for the New York Times, interviewed a young family about the effect that the pandemic had on their careers. For them, they chose to open a landscaping business together and have even said “[they] get to go to work, [they] don’t have to go to work.” They do this with the motto in mind that “‘We aren’t supposed to live to work. We’re supposed to work to live”’ (Lipman 2021). They were able to choose their passion and make a living out of it that also fit their lifestyle. They are likely not the only ones who have taken a similar path towards a more passionate career. Others are choosing work that is more fulfilling to others, where they can truly see an impact from their actions. Lipman also included Lucy Chang Evans’ experience of being “done with toxic workplaces” as she “plans to pivot into a more meaningful career focused on tackling climate change” (Lipman 2021). Evans is able to pinpoint an exact cause she is willing to work for, inspiring her to move forward beyond just something local. These are just two examples of many who have participated in a similar movement towards a different future from where they began the pandemic.
Not everyone had the choice to simply leave their job after wanting something better. Meehika Barua states in her article that “There are some people that are now staying in their current roles due to fear of the job market as a result of the pandemic” (Barua 2021). Due to the instability of the times from the pandemic and changes in the economy, some would prefer to maintain jobs they have to avoid the fear and uncertainty of not having one at all. Despite the goal of security for many, Barua counters that “there are more people taking stock of their lives and re-evaluating what truly matters and want to find work they love ‘’ in comparison to people who kept their previous jobs (Barua 2021). Because the government provided stimulus checks, people were able to feel more confident that switching their jobs would not cause their family to suffer. With this security blanket, more people were willing to take the plunge towards new more valuable work opportunities.
Some may argue that there were people who were not given either choice and lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic. Being forced into an unwelcome and startling situation was surely very jarring for those who had to experience this loss. Women have been affected in a huge number, Lipman states that “4.2 million women dropped out of the labor force from February 2020 to April 2020 — and nearly 2 million still haven’t returned” (Lipman 2021). But where there is loss, there can also be opportunity. An end brings about a new beginning as I’m sure the sayings go. With this newfound time on their hands and the search for a job to replace the one lost, workers were able to reflect and re-evaluate their careers. W This has started to put the idea of work into the employees hands, giving them the chance to look for things they want based on their personal needs. For example, women who have chosen to stay home post-pandemic are now able to spend more time with their families and care for elderly in an easier manner. They may have also used this time to explore new opportunities that their hectic work lives did not allow them to before.
Women weren’t the only ones to explore new opportunities. All workers have been able to experience changes in how they work, exploring something new beyond their traditional day in day out routine. Remote work has become something that almost every industry relies on for its flexibility and efficiency. The McKinsey Global Institute reports that “about 20 to 25 percent of the workforces in advanced economies could work from home between three and five days a week” (Lund et al. 2021). Even though work has made a huge transition back to in-person, remote work continues to have its benefits in many ways. For some, having a large part of their workforce online can even be beneficial for both sides. On the business portion, this can mean less office space and greater productivity. As an employee, this can save them commute time, avoid workplace distractions, work in a personalized environment, and allow them to prioritize health, especially after the pandemic worries. After encountering a virus that spreads so quickly, some workers “who do not want to risk work that compromises their health — particularly older workers — are seeking new careers that will permit them to work remotely” (Barua 2021). After industries switched to being mainly online or remote for some time, many have realized that the benefits go far beyond just better physical health. Working from home is a large technical factor that is here to stay as part of the change in work pathways.
How permanent is this idea of working for something we find meaningful? Is it just a trend that will fade due to the circumstances and forces at play? I argue that this is an idea that will last for upcoming generations. By seeing how work can be something we are passionate about or find a greater meaning in, it can help people become better workers in their fields. Rather than resorting to something we are good at, we are now able to put our full effort and care into our work, leading to much happier and fulfilling lives. This can cause us to start loving work rather than finding it to be a chore, necessary to live in this capitalistic society. Rather than shaping our lives around work, it is time to start considering them as a unit. When we work for something we love, then work becomes a bigger and better part of our lives.
