When I was working my nightmarish assistant job, I used to think things like “at least I’m not living on the street,” although there were times when living on the street would have been way better than dealing with my boss’ bullshit. Author Liza Featherstone compiles this list of ten jobs that are definitely, definitely worse than yours, including Farm Laborer and Prison Inmate/Forced Labor. Here’s a snippet from the description of “Poultry Processor”:
It would be tough to decide which was the worst task in a poultry plant — would you rather be crapped on and scratched by live birds; slaughter and behead them; or pull their guts out? The work is repetitive, with relentless pressure for profit-maximizing efficiency. Bathroom breaks are discouraged and often punished. Because of the brutal pace and casual safety training (portrayed in a Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal investigation of the industry) one in four poultry workers are injured or made ill by their jobs.
Wow. Something to think about the next time you curse the universe for making you put together spreadsheets. Perspective is a bitch.
I like how they include “street prostitute” and “U.S. soldier in Iraq”. Yikes.
Clearly, the woman who compiled this list hates America.