Why Some People Say They’d Rather Die Than Get a Job

 

The belief that everybody should be slaving away at a job is fundamentally wrong. Work should be about meaning, fulfillment, and fair compensation, not about exhausting ourselves to survive. Yet, in today’s world, the 9-to-5 grind has become a trap, forcing people into a cycle of stress, low wages, and little personal freedom. While some thrive in structured employment, many find themselves drained, underpaid, and disrespected in a system designed to exploit workers rather than empower them.

One of the biggest issues is corporate greed. Companies prioritize profit over people, paying workers the bare minimum while executives take home millions. The same corporations that claim to promote “work-life balance” force employees to work on weekends, holidays, and even unpaid overtime. Many companies refuse to increase wages despite rising living costs, yet they expect loyalty, dedication, and hard work from their employees. The reality is clear: corporations see workers as disposable tools, not as human beings.

Then, there’s office politics—an invisible battlefield where promotions aren’t based on talent but on favoritism, manipulation, and survival. Many employees face workplace bullying, discrimination, and toxic environments that leave them mentally exhausted. The stress of navigating these politics can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout, yet people are expected to act as if everything is fine.

Mental health is another casualty of the modern work system. Many employees don’t even see sunlight because they are stuck inside offices all day, only to come home in darkness. Their only taste of freedom is at night, leading many to stay up late just to feel like they have control over their own time. The result? Chronic fatigue, stress, and a declining quality of life—all because society demands they dedicate every productive hour to their employers.

Another form of control is financial enslavement. Banks and corporations keep workers tied to jobs by offering loans, mortgages, and debts that are impossible to escape. People take loans to survive, only to find themselves trapped in endless repayment cycles, ensuring they remain dependent on their jobs. The system is designed so that even if someone hates their job, quitting is not an option without risking homelessness or financial ruin.

Adding to this, workers have little to no protection. In many industries, labor unions are either weak or non-existent, leaving employees with no voice. Without unions to fight for fair wages, better conditions, and job security, workers are at the mercy of corporate policies that only benefit those at the top. Employees are often disrespected, treated as replaceable, and denied basic rights. Complaining about low pay or unfair treatment? That might get you fired.

The corruption of capitalism is what fuels this modern slavery. The system ensures that wealth is concentrated at the top while the majority of people struggle to afford basic necessities. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg make hundreds of millions of dollars per day, while millions of workers worldwide live on less than $5 a day. This level of income inequality is not accidental—it is built into the system, designed to keep the rich richer and the poor working endlessly just to survive.

The worst examples of modern-day slavery can be found in the Middle East and parts of Asia, where migrant workers, particularly Africans, South Asians, and Filipinos, are subjected to inhumane working conditions. Many are forced to work in extreme heat for 18-hour shifts, without proper pay or rest. Some have their passports taken away, ensuring they can’t leave. Others experience physical abuse, sexual violence, and even death, all while building the luxurious cities and businesses of their oppressors. Human trafficking is still alive in many parts of the world, where people are deceived, kidnapped, or sold into forced labor—a crime that most governments turn a blind eye to.

So, what should we do? The current system is failing millions, and a new approach is needed. We need to push for stronger labor laws, universal basic income, and alternative economic models that prioritize human well-being over corporate profit. People must recognize that a job should not be a prison sentence—we should explore entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and self-sustaining communities instead of relying on a system that exploits us. The internet has opened up countless opportunities for remote work, freelancing, and passive income, yet schools still teach us that the only path in life is "get a degree, get a job, work until you die."

It’s time to challenge this mindset. We must rethink what work means and demand a system where people work to live, not live to work.