'Would you flip burgers for $300k a year? Yes? Then it's pay that's the problem': 24 Clever comebacks to the classic line, 'nobody wants to work anymore'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jun 3, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Nobody wants to go to work on a Monday. 

Whether you're a manager at a retail store or a lunch lady at a middle school, there are days when your time on the clock simply doesn't feel worth it. But if you were the CEO of a Fortune 500 company making thousands of dollars a second, perhaps your work time would feel a little more fulfilling–filling your pockets.

Recently there's been a scourge of 'people not wanting to work anymore', but maybe it's more than the fact that we don't want to commute to our 9-5's. I'd argue that the workforce doesn't want to scramble to clock in if it means scoring a measly paycheck and getting some quippy back-sass from our micromanaging bosses. It's not that we don't want to work, it's that we don't want to work without pay…

If you agree that you're not being paid enough for your work, keep scrolling to read some of the best comebacks to the folks who think that people just don't want to work anymore!

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  • 01
    What's the best response to the classic line "nobody wants to work anymore"? Boss keeps saying that every morning
    via _Bruzthechopper_
  • 02
    According to his mental breakdown today no one wants to work anymore and this generation doesn't know the value of hard work therefore the world is doomed and he gives up
    via _Bruzthechopper_
  • 03
    "Back in my day there was no day off or sick days we were ready to work day & night and our job was our priority"
    via _Bruzthechopper_
  • 04
    He's been divorced 4 times and disowned 2 of his 5 kids so i always find the "prioritizing our job" statement quite ironic
    via _Bruzthechopper_
  • 05
    • Gupoochamois69 · 16 hr. ago I always like the question, would you flip burgers for 300k a year? Yes? Then it's the pay that's the problem.
    via Gupoochamois69
  • 06
    effyochicken 17 hr. ago Depends on whether you want to get in trouble or not. "Nobody wants to pay anymore."
    via effyochicken
  • 07
    HotKarldalton 16 hr. ago. edited 15 hr. ago "But you gotta prove your loyalty to the Company first (even if we'll hang ya out to dry in a split second in the name of ROI), if you can prove to us with 20 years of good hard self-sacrificing service for
    via HotKarldalton
  • 08
    our "fair wage", we'll give you a nice gift card, maybe even a lame party with store-bought cupcakes and a thank you card signed by your fellow rube...I mean coworkers! You people like cup cake parties, right?"
    via HotKarldalton
  • 09
    • DirtyByrd83 16 hr. ago Well there are two separate arguments and responses: 1 - "Nobody wants to work anymore" Nobody ever wanted to work. That's why you had to pay them.
    via DirtyByrd83
  • 10
    2- "This generation doesn't know the value of hard work" It's YOUR generation that doesn't know the value of hard work, because you're the ones that are not willing to pay for it.
    via DirtyByrd83
  • 11
    LootleSox 16 hr. ago "Nobody wanted to work in the first place." 219 Reply Share sharkbiscut 15 hr. ago I'll append my line, "...that's what the money is for."
    via LootleSox
  • 12
    • chiron 42 17 hr. ago I'd go with something like "no one wants to be exploited anymore".
    via chiron
  • 13
    denimadept 15 hr. ago Yes. If loyalty went both ways like it used to, at least more often than it does now, people would be willing to do more.
    via denimadept
  • 14
    Square-Ebb1846. 16 hr. ago "Nobody wants to pay workers a fair wage or treat them with basic human respect anymore." Days off, sick days, and work-life balance are basic human respect.
    via Square-Ebb1846
  • 15
    alexanderpas⚫ 16 hr. ago • Not for that pay. • Not without a union. • Not with you as the boss. • Not when you keep rejecting them. Choose your poison.
    via alexanderpas
  • 16
    DS_Unltd 16 hr. ago Is that why my job applications keep getting rejected?
    via DS_Unltd
  • 17
    Deufuss 16 hr. ago Labor prices are as dynamic as the prices of goods and services. Places that recognize this have no trouble with staffing.
    via Deufuss
  • 18
    vampyrewolf 13 hr. ago "The problem is that when you were my age, $14/hr would buy you a home and new car. Now it barely pays for rent and groceries"
    via vampyrewolf
  • 19
    Next-Comparison6218. 16 hr. ago It's not this generation that doesn't know the value of hard work, it's the employers who don't know the value of hard work. More pay = people work harder
    via Next-Comparison6218
  • 20
    Mostest_Importantest 16 hr. ago I always respond with "if McDonald's offered a million dollar salary fr brgeur flipping, the line wwould be a mile long, just for applicants to wait."
    via Mostest_Importantest
  • 21
    And like others have pointed out, "nobody wants to pay an honorable wage." And if old a s are just wanting to hate on young people being young, then it doesn't matter what you were going to say. Then it's "ok boomer" time.
    via Mostest_Importantest
  • 22
    Vox_Mortem 16 hr. ago "That's because we have families at home who are waiting to spend time with us."
    via Vox_Mortem
  • 23
    חו josuelaker2 16 hr. ago. edited 16 hr. ago Ask them, "so, you don't plan to retire?" The only thing these actually look forward to is not having to work anymore.
    via josuelaker2
  • 24
    Serious-Eye-5426. 15 hr. ago "Nobody wants to increase the wages they pay their employees to keep up with inflation anymore
    via Serious-Eye-5426
  • 25
    MrCertainly 15 hr. ago "Who?" Who specifically doesn't want to work? And why does that subgroup doesn't want to work? Oh it's because they don't want to work for peanuts, for hilariously low pay?
    via MrCertainly

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