Life seemed so simple when we were kids. Follow the rules, and you won’t get in trouble. Be kind to others, and the world will return that kindness. Work hard, and you’ll be rewarded with success. Unfortunately, at some point, we realize that the world is not black and white, and we can’t predict the future or how others will treat us.
2 days ago, Reddit user OwOKronii shared a screenshot of a tweet from Kate Lister asking readers how old they were when they realized that “being really nice, working really hard, and taking on much more than [they] should” would not automatically earn them rewards. Since then, readers have flooded the replies with their own personal epiphanies. We’ve gone through to find some of the most impactful responses and gathered them for you to read and reflect on. We also reached out to OwOKronii, so you can hear what inspired him to start this conversation down below. Enjoy reading through these thought-provoking answers, then if you’re interested in hearing even more, you can check out Bored Panda’s last publication on the same topic right here.
#1
24/25. Basically, after I’d been in the world of work for a few years to see how the game operates. Quiet, diligent workers aren’t valued nearly as much as louder but far less knowledable individuals. Rude awakening for me.
Image credits: bobbyjoe221
#2
I swear, this is what I love about my company. Putting the wage discussion aside for a moment, the non wage benefits and company culture are amazing. 1 month into my temp to perm assignment, my MIL passed away. I told my hr person, 100% ready to walk away and instead was met with “family first, go do what you need to do”. Almost 6 years later and im still here.
Image credits: Devon Rupp
#3
45. When I finally left a job where the owner of the company berated and yelled at me constantly in front of a room full of people. I was NOT bad at my job, he was just a garbage human being who wanted to get a ride out of me. He never, ever, got one. Which is why he kept getting more persistent.
When you’re the sole provider of a family, it’s harder to just deck a mf in the face and walk out.
Image credits: shazamallamadingdong
#4
Like 30? Was my job before my current job where I worked crazy shift patterns over their busiest period when others refused making them millions to then get 0 bonus whilst others got bonuses and then they back tracked on offering me a new contract. Literally had me train my replacement without my knowledge who would get paid less. Just to be told by my manager he did all he could to fight for me.
Now I realise that the only person looking out for me is me and I won’t be walked over again.
Image credits: cotch85
#5
28. Got fired and my boss literally said, “you used to work so much harder but are now just doing the job you were hired for. As a PhD I expect more out of you.” Important note, I was a contract, not full time employee and had no PTO, sick leave, heath insurance. Everyone else I worked with had all that and full time employees as not a PhD (not shaming, just saying that I wasn’t paid for my experience level but expected to work harder).
Image credits: Dorathy-Ann Harris
#6
Working at Whole Foods. December 23rd, 2016. We were busy as heck, everything looked great, we were cranking with customers.
Regional president showed up, pulled me aside. She says, “one of your part timers doesn’t have an apron on. Why is it every time I’m here, one of your team is out of dress code?”
Didn’t last long after that. Took my leading the area numbers elsewhere, and don’t regret the move for a second. Haven’t set foot in one of their stores since, and never will.
Image credits: Nick Inzalaco
#7
after I was passed over for a promotion working for a company for over 5 years. It was game over and I refused to work for them anymore. I wasn’t walking the new idiot manager thru everything by the nose and explaining everything to him while he makes double.
Everyone says if you dont like it LEAVE ; THEN when you announce your leaving they all act shocked and surprised……………
Image credits: vodkastraightup23
#8
Heh. Keeps happening. When I was 25, realized I had to go take things I wanted in my career. Then I mellowed to my default style. At 40, I had to make it about myself again and not rely on anyone else’s “attaboy.”
Now in my mid 50s, I do a great job, but it’s not for the boss or for any affirmation. I know what value I bring, but it’s for my kids’ college and my retirement accounts. If those aren’t being served, I’ll move on.
Image credits: PapaSteveRocks
#9
I was 29, nearly having a burnout. My boss sent me to a workshop learning to cope with heavy workload and saying “no” to work. On my first try in real life (on the job), I got fired for refusing to obey my managers instructions.
Image credits: Marrit de Jong
#10
28, when my boss stole a deposit and tried to have me prosecuted for it. The case eventually got thrown out for lack of evidence, but defending myself cost several thousand dollars more than what she’d taken.
Image credits: Chelle Besing
#11
I don’t have a life goal anymore. Just like Vince Vaughn’s character said in *Dodgeball*, something like: if you don’t have a goal, you are never disappointed, and let me tell you it feels great.
I just work and chill, over and over, until I [pass away].
Image credits: Flopolopagus
#12
21 after I spent 70hrs a week at my job as a manager in a failing store making $9 an hr and still being under appreciated. I think I got a 5 cent raise after a year.
Image credits: heybunnybunny
#13
I’m 32 and only just now, in the past 2 years or so, have I stopped feeling like the world is fundamentally good and just, and that if you work hard and go above and beyond for people then good things would happen to you. I’m ashamed it took me so long to shake off that naïveté and realise that people will happily use you and take advantage of you without a second thought if you let them. Now I’m starting to do the bare minimum that I need to do just to get through the day.
Image credits: MVIVN
#14
It’s the last part about taking on more than you should that is the mistake most people make, myself included.
It wasn’t until I was in my mid thirties and through therapy learned I can say ‘no’ and still be ‘nice’. In fact, people tend to respect people who respect their own boundaries.
As a corollary, I can demand (not just ask) to be treated / paid fairly and also still be considered nice and respected.
The trick for me was I had to learn how to give myself the same respect I gave others. That was hard, still is, but at least I’m better at recognizing when I’m being disrespectful to myself.
Image credits: theDaninDanger
#15
A couple of months ago I realized this, almost 40 years old. It doesn’t matter what I bring to the table. If the bosses like you, they like you. A coworker of mine does much less than I do and he was given a much larger merit raise recently.
Image credits: AppropriateTime261
#16
30. Employee of the year at an IT company and got a belt buckle. Moved on, things worked out very well, but I never gave a company my life again.
Image credits: willtag70
#17
23, I learned that incompetence gets rewarded and hard work and dedication got punished.
Image credits: Bhino93
#18
2 weeks into a job at a nursing home. I was put in the unit that required 2 people due to the patients being immobile. I asked for assistance, the two nurses just sat at the desk and wouldn’t help (night shift). I got yelled at for not getting things done on time, went home and had a seizure. Until then, my seizures were controlled for 13 years. I was 21 and the date was 9/11. I returned to the office later that day to talk to the manager and was told I would never amount to anything in my life. I quit.
Image credits: Amanda Reicha
#19
I was 25. My first couple bosses liked me enough that I did get a very minor promotion after a few years, but once the boss got replaced by someone else who seemed to hate me (I have no clue why), I quickly found myself being the guy who did the jobs nobody wanted. And because I was a casual, when those tasks weren’t there I wasn’t given shifts.
Never again.
Image credits: Frogmouth_Fresh
#20
About 15
Coincidentally that’s when I entered Highschool
Don’t listen to people older than you kids, it doesn’t get better after middle school
It gets way worse
Image credits: Lohan3xists
#21
20. When I managed three businesses for 500 dollars a week and worked 7 days a week for three months.
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