Posted on 11/28/2006 11:10:16 AM PST by freemarket_kenshepherd
American laborers are “going to extremes” working in jobs “where 60 hours a week can be considered part-time, and overtime is an understatement.”
That’s how ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased a story in the opening credits of the November 27 “World News.” Yet for all the hype, fewer than one percent of Americans hold these type of “extreme” jobs, and most are well-compensated.
The “so-called extreme jobs,” Gibson told viewers, involve “high-pressure work that often comes with a very high salary and a very heavy personal toll.” Yet it’s only about “2 million Americans” that “fall into this fast-growing category,” Gibson conceded as he introduced a report by Betsy Stark.
In a nation of roughly 300 million people, that’s only 0.67 percent of the country’s population, although Stark’s report made “extreme” work sound like a pandemic.
What’s more, Gibson got his 2 million number by rounding up from the 1.7 million Americans in “extreme” jobs as determined by the New York-based Center for Work-Life Policy (CWLP). Stark featured CWLP senior fellow Catherine Orenstein in her story but did not mention the organization’s name or its ideological leanings.
A review of CWLP’s Web site shows the group often focuses on traditional liberal workplace concerns such as the number of women and minorities in executive leadership in American business. Liberal activist and Princeton religion professor Cornel West serves as CWLP vice president. In 2001, West resigned his post at Harvard University after then-president Larry Summers criticized West for focusing on political activities at the expense of his academic obligations.
Stark chose a Florida lawyer as a textbook case of the “extreme” worker. The correspondent profiled 35-year old David Shontz, a “man who rarely vacations,” who is “a trial lawyer hoping to make partner at his firm..."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessandmedia.org ...
Who knew I was a trendsetter when I used to work 100 hr weeks during my residency...
Someone once said, "You're not gonna make 100K a year working 40-hour weeks"....maybe it is 150K nowadays, due to inflation...
"You don't get rich working 40 hours a week."
"Oh yes you do. A man that goes home and spends time with his family is richer than anyone."
BTTT
Some peoples family is the almighty dollar.
Ok...seriously.I don't get paid for 70 hours a week but I'm a full time stay at home mother with two part time jobs scheduled around the kids' and hubby's work schedule.
I go to work when the hubby leaves his job to pick up the kidlets from school. Put in 3.5 hours and make it home in time to fix dinner for the family. On Fridays (Grandma Day), I work my other part time job. The only time I'm not with my family is on Sunday afternoon from 11-3pm. My only day off is Saturday. But I love this schedule. It's only $850 per month in income but I'm always busy and I don't miss anything!
But if you enjoy your job, does it really count as work? :)
You weren't. This article is discussing a trend which involves choosing to work very long hours while making oodles of money. The forced socialist exploitation of young doctors involves nothing of the sort, as you well know. It amazes me that medical profession hasn't put a stop to this.
Me too. Now have laws about that in hospitals. Oh well, we have bragging rights I guess.
only two million ? my sore feet...there are gazillions of auto salespeople who work unimaginable hours,ask their spouses, kids and ex spouses and kids
I spent my first five years out of college working 100 hours a week most weeks.
It's called "paying your dues."
If you don't like the hours, get a job with hours you like.
The world needs video store rental clerks too (at least for the next couple of years or so).
Same here, but I do it because the IRS needs it more than I do.
Or something..
[/SARCASM]
However, your incoming Democratic Congress has a plan to overcome this inequality! They will simply tax these overachievers heavily, removing the profit that forces them to harm themselves by over work, and spend the money on vital programs to help pay for college benefits for our newfound guest workers! Every man a king!
[SADLY NOT SARCASM]
Trouble is, the vast majority of people just want a job where they go in at nine, go home at five, and get to spend time with the family, etc.
Yeah? Welcome to any startup in Silicon Valley.
I've done that.
Over the past 5 years I`ve averaged 60 hours a week ... and I`ll keep doing it until the last terrorist is reduced to a pink mist.
that is the great thing about this country you get to choose
Inflation...
gosh, now i feel lazy. i only put in about 50 hours a week.
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