Why Work Won’t Love You Back (and That’s OK) (w/ Sarah Jaffe) | How to Be a Better Human | TED

Overview

This episode explores the emotional toll of modern work culture and the myth of labor of love jobs, as discussed by journalist and author Sarah Jaffe. Drawing from her books Work Won’t Love You Back and From the Ashes, Jaffe examines the exploitation inherent in meaningful work, the societal and personal dimensions of grief, and the transformative power of solidarity and collective care.

Notable Quotes

- Work is still work, and we do it because we have to pay the rent—not because we woke up one day and decided slinging sushi to tourists would be great fun. — Sarah Jaffe, on the realities of labor.

- Grief is not joyful or peaceful. It is a war inside me. It is an alien chewing its way out. It is breaking me, and somehow people can’t see. — Sarah Jaffe, on the visceral experience of grief.

- What would it be like to organize a world around making sure everybody is cared for—not just because they’ve worked hard at building social networks, but because we all deserve it? — Sarah Jaffe, on reimagining societal care.

🌟 The Myth of Labor of Love Jobs

- Sarah Jaffe argues that jobs framed as meaningful or fulfilling often exploit workers by demanding emotional investment without fair compensation.

- She highlights how professions like teaching, nursing, and nonprofit work rely on workers’ passion to justify poor conditions and low pay.

- Jaffe emphasizes the importance of pushing for better working conditions, noting that meaningful work should not come at the expense of personal well-being.

🛠️ Organizing for Better Work Conditions

- Jaffe discusses the concept of bargaining for the common good, where workers advocate for improvements that benefit both employees and the community, such as smaller class sizes or better hospital resources.

- She shares examples of strikes by teachers and nurses, illustrating how collective action can challenge systemic exploitation.

- Practical advice for workers includes talking to colleagues, using secure communication tools, and identifying leverage points to demand change.

💔 Grief as a Personal and Societal Force

- Jaffe explores grief through her personal experience of losing her father and the collective grief of societal upheavals like COVID-19 and racial injustice.

- She introduces the concept of disenfranchised grief, where losses—such as factory closures or systemic failures—are unacknowledged but deeply felt.

- Grief, she argues, is nonlinear and transformative, offering a roadmap for reimagining societal progress and solidarity.

🤝 Solidarity and Care Work

- Jaffe draws parallels between coal miners’ unions and care workers, highlighting how both involve deep interpersonal trust and collective care.

- She recounts stories of workers who transitioned from industrial labor to care work, emphasizing the emotional challenges and solidarity inherent in both fields.

- The episode underscores the importance of organizing communities around mutual care, not just efficiency or profit.

🌍 Reimagining the Public Good

- Jaffe critiques the erosion of public sector jobs and the demonization of government work, advocating for a renewed focus on collective well-being.

- She envisions a world where public institutions prioritize universal care, such as accessible healthcare and free public transit.

- The conversation challenges listeners to imagine a society built on solidarity and shared responsibility, rather than individualism and profit motives.