What “Cat’s in the Cradle” and “Break My Soul” Tell Us about Empathy, Work-Life Balance, Quiet Quitting, and More
Burnout. The Great Resignation. Employee values. Finding your ardour. Empathy within the office. These could look like new or topical ideas. But really, these office ideas are a part of a “Tale As Old As Time” (or as previous because the final a number of a long time, as a minimum). It’s not only a 2022 factor. If music tells us something, it’s that these emotions have been round for much longer than we’ve realized. Several of those ideas have been percolating in songs that date again to the Silent Generation.
Today, there’s a excellent storm of situations (pandemic, distant work, rise in Gen Z within the workforce), such that individuals are feeling empowered to have “stickier” conversations about what they’re keen to tolerate at work or discover a new office that higher meets their wants. As I discussed in my article on adjustments within the office, youthful generations need to pave a brand new path ahead after seeing what their mother and father and grandparents went by of their work experiences. And as I talk about in my energy expertise article, human feelings are extra regularly acknowledged now within the office, which is creating safer, extra versatile, and extra empathetic environments.
But, I digress. You could also be questioning who I am.
Hi! I’m Hanan, and I’m your work BFF. Everyone wants a piece BFF (or bestie), proper? I’d be honored to be yours. As your work BFF, I’m right here to talk with you about work issues and life issues and the way they overlap and intersect. I’ll be writing and publishing my observations and insights as soon as a month in a collection known as Workplace Matters, so be sure you test again usually or join our publication.
In this text, I’ll be digging into the lyrics and themes of what I’ve dubbed the “top 10” songs about work and the worker expertise. I’ll discover what these songs say about our relationship to work and life normally. And I’ll discover how, once we look again over the a long time, lots of the matters mentioned on LinkedIn right now aren’t completely new. We simply didn’t have all of the phrases or context prior to now. The panorama was fully completely different, however the sentiment stays the identical.
Let’s dig into these high 10 songs.
Beyoncé Empowers the Workplace along with her Anthem for the Future of Work
- Beyoncé, “BREAK MY SOUL,” 2022
Themes
- Self-care
- Reprioritization
- Shift in values from hustle tradition
- Separating job from identification
- Quiet quitting
- Mental well being
Dubbed the anthem of the Great Resignation, this track speaks to what’s occurring within the workforce at the moment (reminiscent of burnout, the Great Resignation, and quiet quitting). Beyoncé is talking on to her followers and urging them to give attention to love relatively than stress and handle themselves nevertheless they should. And for many individuals, their jobs have an effect on their psychological well being.
Studies now present that almost 81% of staff face some type of burnout or psychological well being concern. And it’s been confirmed that employer help has a direct influence on the well being and resilience of staff.
So Queen B is recognizing the frustration many are feeling—both from being in a workforce that drains them or from being scared to enter a workforce that drains their elders. Many are saying, “no, thank you” to that supply and rewriting the foundations. The new workforce is demanding issues like working remotely, which, as a completely digital firm, we will admire. The intense “sleep when you’re dead” mentality from the 80s and 90s is not being rewarded, fortunately. People are craving to reclaim their time and their peace of thoughts.
Watch the video and take a look at the full lyrics.
Harry’s Emotional, Cautionary Tale for Working Parents
- Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” 1974
Themes
- Parenting
- Work-life steadiness
- Career on the expense of private relationships
- Caution!
Personally, this track has at all times haunted me and actually knowledgeable my philosophy as a working dad or mum. And it’s at all times, frankly, scared the bejesus out of me.
For mother and father, it’s a reminder that no job title replaces the job title of “parent” and these beings that we selected to carry into this world. And belief me once I say I get it—it’s arduous to not get caught up within the hustle and bustle of our careers. But the query is, once we are performed with our jobs and able to retire, what legacy will we depart outdoors of labor?
When I opened up the dialog about “Cat’s in the Cradle” on LinkedIn, I discovered that I used to be in good firm with others who additionally discovered the track extraordinarily emotional. One connection commented, “It’s very sad but it’s also a good reminder to stop the less important things I’m doing and say yes when my little guy says ‘thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play.’”
Every decade of parenting and dealing has its challenges, and each technology tries to proper the wrongs of the technology earlier than. But all of us have particular, distinctive challenges for our occasions. Today’s working mother and father, as an example, have been by so much. From navigating college closures to studying distant college for our children to dealing with social isolation, it’s been a doozy (to place it mildly). On high of all that, we working mother and father are nonetheless navigating our careers whereas attempting to maintain our psychological well being considerably intact. Good luck to us!
There may be (and must be) one other approach: by creating life-centered cultures and companies that don’t make folks select between careers and household, mates, or passions. This track reminds us to at all times bear in mind what’s most necessary and create a life that we may be happy with, regardless of the circumstances or distractions.
Listen to the track and take a look at the full lyrics.
Dolly Laments Toxic Workplace Culture in 80s Classic
- Dolly Parton, “9 to 5,” 1980
Themes
- Hard work
- Inequality
- Lack of empathy
- Toxic tradition
This catchy and iconic track talks about getting one’s concepts taken and being exploited, whereas vividly depicting a draining and poisonous atmosphere. It additionally talks in regards to the entrepreneurial drive as an answer to the poisonous office tradition of the time, advocating for the “side hustle” mentality popularized within the 80s (and reinvigorated within the 2010s).
In the corresponding movie, 9 to five (for which that is the theme track), the archetypal poisonous boss (Franklin Hart Jr., performed by the sensible Dabney Coleman) didn’t have entry to all of the instruments leaders have right now to create a psychologically protected atmosphere.
If there had been the tradition and management help that leaders have entry to right now, maybe the enduring trio of Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda wouldn’t have needed to take issues into their very own palms to repair their poisonous tradition (and torment their boss within the course of).
Fortunately right now, the method to vary a poisonous office to a wholesome one may be way more attainable than depicted in that movie.
Fun reality: Dolly is definitely taking part in her nails as an instrument and musical washboard, gaining her nails a writing credit score on the track.
Watch the video and take a look at the full lyrics.
The Bangles’ “Sunday Scaries” Theme Song
- The Bangles, “Manic Monday,” 1986
Themes
- Work anxiousness
- Feeling disconnected from work
This sleepy hit speaks to the sensation of dreading having to return to work after the weekend, also called the “Sunday scaries.” Isn’t that feeling the worst? Forcing your physique to do work that doesn’t join along with your private values or passions certain is a tricky strategy to spend time.
It’s all about office tradition for Gen Z and millennials, the youngest generations within the workforce, persevering with the time-honored custom of resisting the trail of the technology earlier than them. They need jobs that line up with their values and passions, not the opposite approach round.
Check out the video and the full lyrics.
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Prelude to the Great Resignation (Decades Before)
- Tennessee Ernie Ford, “Sixteen Tons,” 1955
Themes
- Fairness
- Looking for that means
- Empathy
- Work-life steadiness
This track relies on life within the coal mines of Kentucky. While Beyonce says “you won’t break my soul,” Ford says he bought his soul to the corporate retailer. In this occasion, Ford is referring to a system by which mine staff weren’t paid in money, however in credit score vouchers that would solely be used on the firm retailer, making a cycle of indebtedness to the corporate.
This begs the query: Why does work must threaten our souls?
Our identities don’t must be so deeply entwined with work. Ideally, we will work—and nonetheless preserve our souls unscathed.
Check out the track and full lyrics.
Burnout Anthem for a Frustrated Workforce by Johnny Paycheck
- Johnny Paycheck, “Take This Job And Shove It,” 1977
Themes
- Burnout
- The Great Resignation
- Quitting
Ever felt like this in a job earlier than? According to one of many largest surveys of the worldwide workforce, 1 in 5 staff plan to stop their jobs in 2022.
Before quiet quitting, there was loud quitting, as depicted on this track. There’s no room for ambiguity right here. The singer is completed and he’s burning the bridge, and he’s positively not asking for a advice on LinkedIn. This track helped a technology of dissatisfied staff blow off steam by encouraging them to reside vicariously by the track, if solely in a daydream. It was Mr. Paycheck’s first and solely #1 hit.
Fun reality: This track was remade and included on the soundtrack for the 1999 movie Office Space (one other basic movie in regards to the office).
Check out the track and full lyrics.
Ms. Summer’s Plea for Empathy within the Workplace
- Donna Summer, “She Works Hard For The Money,” 1983
Themes
- Women within the office
- Work-life steadiness
- Inequality
- Hard work
This track is a timeless celebration of hard-working ladies. Ms. Summer is the woman boss archangel within the track and accompanying video. The video reveals a wide range of ladies commuting to work, scrubbing flooring, waitressing, taking good care of their households, and giving up on their very own desires (reminiscent of turning into skilled dancers) in lieu of their duties.
In the video’s finale, all the ladies (nurses, waitresses, development staff, and so forth.) escape in a synchronized dance and appear to reclaim their desires. No matter what these ladies select to do for work, Summer is elevating them and honoring their sacrifices.
Fun reality: Donna was impressed by a rest room attendant who was sleeping in a restroom of a Grammy after-party as a result of she was drained from working two jobs. Her identify, Onetta, is used within the track.
Check out the video and full lyrics.
Belafonte Advocates for Workers’ Rights to Rest and Work-Life Balance
- Harry Belafonte, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” 1956
Themes
- Work-life steadiness
- Empathy
- Rest
In this conventional Jamaican track, dock staff sit up for the arrival of the individual (the tally man) who will take stock of the bananas that they simply loaded onto ships all evening. Once the tally man comes, they will go residence. As this New Yorker article explains, “‘Me wan’ go home’ is perhaps as universal a plea for freedom as we’ve got.” Freedom would grow to be a central theme in Mr. Belafonte’s life. After turning into a voice for the everyman on this track, he would go on to grow to be prolific within the civil rights motion. Belafonte continues to be an activist to at the present time, and “Day-O” stays probably the most common calypso songs ever made.
Fun reality: The track was common within the 50s and once more within the 80s because of the movie Beetlejuice, by which the primary character’s household turns into possessed and places on a hilariously creepy efficiency of this track.
Check out the track and full lyrics.
Los Auténticos Decadentes Speak to Artistic Employee Values
- Los Auténticos Decadentes, “La guitarra,” 1995
Themes
- Personal values not lining up with employer values
- Rejecting a traditional path
- Finding goal in work
This track speaks to the creative need to pursue artwork and make a residing as an artist (think about that!). The ska hit rejects the “normal” or typical path. The singer doesn’t need to grow to be what he perceives as a company robotic. He needs to stay a person and carve his personal path.
If TikTok tells us something, it’s that this sentiment resonates significantly with Gen Z, who prioritize psychological well being and who need that means and suppleness of their jobs.
Check out the video and full lyrics.
“Sleepy” Workers Commuting Home from Work
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, “Heigh-Ho,” 1937
Themes
- Virtues of arduous work
- Workers disconnected from technique/goal
The oldest track on the record, “Heigh-Ho” clocks in at simply over 80 years previous. The dwarves who sing the track —Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Doc, Dopey, Happy, and Bashful—are going residence from the mine (extra mine staff!) within the basic Disney movie, “Snow White.”
Although it’s a cute and eccentric track, “Heigh-Ho” is definitely “used typically to express boredom, weariness, or sadness or sometimes as a cry of encouragement.” While there’s an undertone of satisfaction with the arduous work, there’s additionally a disconnect from the bigger technique and the way their duties slot in. They’re not precisely certain why they’re working, however they’re working! And they’re drained. But the track and their camaraderie appear to maintain their spirits up.
Fun reality: If you thought the lyrics had been “it’s off to work we go,” you’re in good firm because of the Mandela impact, a false reminiscence shared by a bunch of individuals, normally relating to popular culture. The lyric is definitely, “it’s home from work we go.” Who knew?
Check out the video and full lyrics.
Jam to Our Playlist
Thank you for taking a visit down reminiscence lane as we dissected the highest 10 songs about work and the worker expertise.
And as my reward to you, my bestie, I’m sharing the Spotify playlist with you so you may jam to songs about work whilst you work.
Enjoy, bestie! You deserve it.
What songs about work are we lacking? Let us know in our LinkedIn put up.
Lastly, join our publication and look out for the subsequent installment of Workplace Matters by which we’ll proceed dissecting and discussing what’s occurring within the office right now and what all of it means.
The put up Top 10 Songs about Work and the Employee Experience appeared first on SweetRush.
