Do I Really Work Hard?

An article in the Houston Chronicle titled “Few Americans take immigrant’s jobs in Alabama” by Jay Reeves and Alicia Caldwell has been on my mind for the last couple of days. Here are a couple of quotes that have stayed on my mind for the last couple of days.

“They (Americans) show up late, work slower than seasoned farm hands and are ready to call it a day after lunch.  Some quit after a single day.”

“Politicians who support the law (the new immigration laws in Alabama) say over time Americans will fill these jobs.”

“….. has heard just about every reason unemployed Americans don’t want to work on her blueberry farm.  It’s hot, the hours are long, the pay isn’t enough and it’s just plain hard.”

“At his farm (tomato farm), field workers get $2 for every 25-pound box of tomatoes they fill.  Skilled workers can pick anywhere from $200 – $300 a day, he said.  Unskilled workers make much less…………..A crew of 25 Americans recently picked 200 boxes – giving them $24 a day…. It may make sense for some to sit on a couch.  Unemployment benefits provide about $265 a week while a minimum wage job, at $7.25 an hour for 40 hours brings in $290.”

I am not quoting all this because of immigration laws or that farmer workers should be paid more.  But that Americans find this work too hard.  It dawned on me that I have a bad case of “entitlement.” I have thought of myself as a hard worker but that fact of the matter is – I am probably not.

This last tax season I complained a whole lot to my friends and family about the long hours.  Secretly, in my heart I thought I was not being paid enough even though I agreed to work at the pay rate I am getting.  I also thought I was doing more work than the boss and surely I should be treated better than this.  It was unjust and unfair – but every payday I received a paycheck to help support my family.  It dawned on me – what do I have to complain about – well absolutely nothing.  I know that if I had to work on a farm that I would be one of those that quit – probably after an hour.

I owe my friends and family a huge apology for all the belly aching about my job.  So I am now working on a new perspective – one of thankfulness for the fact that I have a good paying job in an office – and my boss has every right to boss me around.