Hard Work is Now a Hate Crime?

Dear Miss Edna,

 I run a small business, and I cannot for the life of me find decent employees. I hire them, train them, and within weeks, they’re demanding raises, longer breaks, and ‘mental health days’ because ‘work is exhausting.’ Meanwhile, they spend half the day scrolling their phones and looking offended when I remind them they have a job to do.

I had one employee tell me I was ‘oppressive’ for expecting them to show up on time—because apparently, alarm clocks are ‘toxic’ now. Another quit after two weeks because, and I quote, ‘I didn’t think I’d actually have to do anything.’

I was raised to believe in working hard, showing up, and earning what you get. But it seems like today’s world thinks that just existing deserves a paycheck. Am I officially the cranky old boss, or is something seriously wrong with people these days?

— Managing the Entitled

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Dear Managing the Entitled

Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not the problem—society is.

Somewhere between participation trophies and influencers getting rich for dancing in their living rooms, we broke the human race. We raised a generation that thinks ‘hard work’ is an outdated concept, ‘showing up’ is enough, and ‘hustle’ is a personal attack.

Oh, but they can memorize entire TikTok dances, spend hours crafting the perfect selfie, and organize full-blown protests over their right to avoid responsibilities. Meanwhile, you ask them to show up at 9 AM and suddenly, you’re a villain.

Let me translate their nonsense for you:

📌 “I deserve a raise.” → For what? Perfect attendance? That’s called ‘doing your job.’

📌 “This place is toxic.” → Because we expect you to work in exchange for money?

📌 “I need a mental health day.” → For what? Filing one email?

📌 “I quit. I don’t feel fulfilled.” → Of course you don’t, sweetheart. Fulfillment comes from actually accomplishing things.

And the best part? The ones who refuse to work will be the first ones screaming that life is ‘unfair’ when their parents finally kick them out of the basement.

So, what do you do?

✔️ Raise your standards. Stop hiring warm bodies. Find employees who understand what a work ethic is.
✔️ Cut the dead weight fast. If they act like they’re doing you a favor by showing up, let them ‘explore other opportunities.’
✔️ Set expectations from day one. If they roll their eyes when you mention ‘hard work,’ escort them to the door.
✔️ Ignore the noise. If someone calls you ‘old-fashioned,’ remind them that ‘broke and entitled’ isn’t exactly an upgrade.

At the end of the day, sweetheart, you can’t fix people who don’t want to be fixed. But you can build a team of people who actually understand what the words ‘job’ and ‘responsibility’ mean.

Now, go pour yourself some coffee and start hiring people who know that ‘Monday at 9 AM’ doesn’t mean ‘whenever I feel like it.’

And if someone quits because they ‘just weren’t passionate about it’? Let them follow their dreams… straight to the unemployment line.

— Miss Edna (Who Showed Up On Time for 50 Years Without a Trophy)