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Notes from America with Kai Wright

Maybe We Just Want Less ‘Work’

Notes from America with Kai Wright

WNYC Studios

News Commentary, Politics, History, News

4.41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2021

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The “Great Resignation” appears to be a real thing. But why? We ask workers what they really want. Plus, 45 questions to help us understand each other, and ourselves. Recent research shows that for a lot of us, our relationship with work has evolved greatly through this ongoing pandemic. In our Labor Day episode, journalist Sarah Jaffe, author of the book Work Won’t Love You Back, returns to the show to explore what’s changing, and why. Plus, we hear from listeners about what they want -- and don’t want -- from their jobs. Then, in a time when it’s harder to deal with others, finding ways to connect in our “new normal” is becoming challenging again. So, reporter Jenny Casas introduces us to a list of questions that have helped her get to know the people around her. The list is actually a poem written by Chicago-based artist, educator and activist, Benji Hart. Its questions range from the mundane (2. Where is the least-visited corner in your home?) to the romantic (5. What is the cruelest thing you have done in love?) to the deeply personal (20. What hypocrisy in yourself have you yet to amend?). Companion listening for this episode: Capitalism vs. Time (3/8/2021) Kai and Sarah Jaffe consider the history of collective action -- and the struggle to shield our humanity from the demands of productivity. “The Necessary Work” (9/7/2020) Public and care workers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, but who takes care of them? We explore the histories, realities and hopes of these very essential workers. “The United States of Anxiety” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. To catch all the action, tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on WNYC.org/anxiety or tell your smart speakers to play WNYC. We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Twitter @WNYC using the hashtag #USofAnxiety or email us at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is the United States of Anxiety, a show about the unfinished business of our history and its grip on our future.

0:09.0

This is a moment of employee empowerment, worker empowerment that we haven't seen for a long time.

0:14.7

It's being called the Great Resignation.

0:16.8

In April, a record 4 million workers quit and in May another 3.6 million.

0:21.5

I couldn't do it.

0:22.4

I could not work for somebody that treats their employees

0:24.8

that way anyone.

0:25.5

I can't be like one of those people who just like are just

0:27.6

comfortable with just getting unemployment

0:29.9

and like all the other crap.

0:30.9

I can't do that.

0:31.8

I will go insane. loser eight dollar an hour job

0:39.5

during the pandemic many of us have relied on grocery store workers to get us through.

0:44.0

Those employees are deemed essential and now there's an effort to make sure their pay reflects that.

0:49.2

Other people were locked down. You were locked down and we're saying that won't remain.

0:58.0

Welcome to the show, I'm Kay Wright.

1:00.3

We start this week talking about work.

1:03.0

It's Labor Day weekend, a holiday that many people just think about as a day off work.

1:08.0

It's actually got a fascinating history that's

1:15.0

We'll get into later, but in the present day, it feels like everything to do with work is all scrambled up and that's begging a lot of questions.

1:20.0

There's agreement on the fact of a labor shortage right now.

1:23.0

There are more people trying to hire than there are people who want the jobs.

...

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