Quote from: K-Dog on Feb 20, 2025, 07:04 PMThis makes me very irritated when I am stuck with four hour shifts.  I figure an hour of my 'working day' is simple overhead from having to work.  That makes a hidden tax on the job of 25% doubling the visible cost to account for hidden costs.  (not likely accurate, but you have to start somewhere, and the actual hidden costs are larger IMHO).  Once I have four hours that are all mine, I am OK with the arrangement.

Well...then a 5 hour shift gives you four hours that are yours. But you are still stuck with an hours worth of "tax" to make it happen.

ALways thought of these types of things as "fixed costs". Regardless of job, you drive there. Whether you eat along the way or buy some groceries and make your own sandwich, a fixed cost regardless. Lump these types of things into just "life". I really like doing X! Pay to play. Or work.

Quote from: K-DogHidden costs also scale with income.  I get my work shirts at my McJob for free.  If I had not worked in the more casual professional era when I slummed as an engineer I would have had to have a suit.  The peoples car of the low tier American working class it the Toyota.  The higher tier class traitors of the American working class drive more expensive cars.  Assholes drive Teslas.

Well, never placed much value in how people decide to advertise their social class with clothes or jewerly or cars. You can find assholes behind the wheel of any automobile...same as you can an incompetent driver.

My wife falls for the status broadcasting with cars and clothes and whatnot. Maybe most do...otherwise advertising wouldn't work. I find it hysterical and take advantage of it everytime sometime broadcasts that they've fallen for it...or not, and work it in both directions just to watch the shocked look when someone expects one version of what they think you are, and you show up as the other. It works in both directions. I get giggles out of it every time.

Quote from: K-DogBottom line, I am not a happy camper when I work four hour shifts.  I feel like I am getting screwed.  And I do not think I am wrong.

Everyone gets screwed, one way or another when it comes to costs related to work. I consider buying suits to have to do dog and pony shows irritating. Just a cost of doing business/work.