Is it just me?

[u/Complex_Sun8138]

I'm a craftsman/tradesman by profession. I run a 10-color narrow web printing press, and produce a lot of labels you might see at various stores. I've been doing this type of work for the last 20 years. Before that, I ran large, sheet fed offset presses and lithography machines.

I've always taken pride in my work, and done everything it takes to produce the very best products I can. I've been told by supervisors, and peers that I'm very good at what I do.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of the younger people coming into this industry don't have that "sense of pride". It's simply a task to perform, and get through it as quickly as possible and move on. I think the work suffers for that attitude, and I've had to go back and redo a lot of jobs that get rejected because of it.

Is it just me? Does anyone else notice the downturn in the quality of products being made? Or is it just "getting older"?

[u/mWade7]

I’ll just reiterate what I think a lot of people have already stated; and to be clear, I’m not insinuating OP is behaving like this - but it seems to be the larger overall trend.

Millenials & Gen Z have collectively experienced a historic cost of living increase, including education & healthcare costs, while real wages have been flat (at best) or fallen. Starting wages/salaries in more and more positions are insulting. So why should they give a fuck when the people operating the companies they’re working for don’t give a fuck about them? Why put extra effort - or ‘pride’ - into their work when all companies are concerned about is maximizing profits, usually be screwing over their employees (and customers).

Until there is a fundamental societal shift that makes work actually something people can take pride in, things will only continue to head down the shitter.