US Work Ethic VS Region

[72doug2,2S]

After working in Virginia (South East Coast) for ten years and moving to the Midwest, I really think these people have a much more serious work ethic, no imagination, no fun, and really not much of a life. I'm used to a work hard play hard mentality, slightly less stressed than my North East Coast counterparts, but way more fun than the Midwesterner native.

Have you noticed this in your career? Please share. Other countries included.

I am dividing up the country in geographical areas noting that large cities anywhere will make their own flavors. I may learn there that more divisions are necessary.

Where does your worth ethic come from?

East Coast (North)
East Coast (South)
Midwest
Western States
Southwest (Border states)
West Coast

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Uhm, you seem to have forgotten the Southern States! Other countries?

Texas, Oklahoma, Mountain West, Dakotas, hmmm, am I thinking on this too much?

[wdfifteen]

I grew up in Ohio. My parents taught me my work ethic.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

Uhm, you seem to have forgotten the Southern States! Other countries?

Texas, Oklahoma, Mountain West, Dakotas, hmmm, am I thinking on this too much?

I don't know where Oklahoma fits, but Texas is usually considered the Southwest. I suspect OK is too.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I grew up in Ohio. My parents taught me my work ethic.

Yep, my work ethic came from my parents.

[72doug2,2S]

Anyone move from one region to another and see the differences?

[Aggie93]

I would also say that my dad and grandfathers had the most influence. But I know where you are going.

I grew up in Iowa and then went to Texas for school followed by 15 years of work (in Dallas). I've spend the last three years in Pittsburgh.

I agree with the assessment of the Midwest of all work and no play.

Texas was a good balance of hard work and playing hard.

I think the work ethic in Pittsburgh is notably less. I notice it most in what hours stores are open and workers not doing something beyond the job description. This is not universal, but enough for both my wife and I to notice. My best guess is it is left over from the union mindset.

I think this message board will have a biased sample since there are a lot of DIYers and business owners.

[RWebb]

work ethic in the US parallels that of Europe -- high in high latitudes, low in low

sociologists have noted this also, and attributed it to either heat or seasonality (in cold areas you better get your work done in summer and fall or you will not survive the winter)

but! there was heavy migration from Europe to the US so that might explain things here

real tests would be to look at Asia and S. America to see if those in colder areas are similar

[Taz's Master]

"What's the reward for doing good work? The opportunity to do more good work." - That would be from my mother.

"Be tough." - That would be from my father.

I got it at home, regardless of where we lived.

[Rouxzy]

My parents, (from the NorthEast) brought us up that anything worth having will not be given to you, so you must work to earn it. Also, anyone that really wants to work will and those who don't want to work won't. The notion of a Union mindset is all bogus. I've worked Union and non and see both types of hard working and lazy arses in both. It all boils down to how you were brought up with expectations and standards that are set for yourself.

[DARISC]

Post #s 7 & 9 sum it up for me. Born & raised in OH & PA; now, for 4 decades +, ensconced in southern CA.

[GH85Carrera]

From a mid southwest non border state & a border state & Hawaii and the deep south.

No place in the poll for an Air Force brat that lived in many states.

I did not grow up on a farm but my parents, and in-laws had lots of farm life. Up before dawn inside at night, the rest of the time was work, except from the mother the worked all the time.

By the time I was physically able to push a lawn mower I was fighting my brother for the law mower to make money. At Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. the base has a federal prison. The prisoners mowed the yards of the living quarters on base for free. It is dang hard to compete with free. The base did not edge yards. My dad fronted the money for us to buy a gas powered edger. We had to pay him back in full. We made good money edging yards. This was before the string trimmer everyone has today.

I had to earn the money for every car I have ever owned. I did not drive my dad's car until I had bought and paid for three cars on my own.

I got my first job when I was a junior in high school. Since that day I have been un-employed only 7 days. I have never had a summer off, I have never been on vacation longer than two weeks straight.

[Joeaksa]

My work ethic comes from my Mom and Dad... and not so much from where we lived.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

My work ethic comes from my Mom and Dad... and not so much from where we lived.

That is the short way to say what I typed.

[IROC]

I don't see how work ethic has anything to do with where you live. I learned mine from my parents. My Dad put himself through college (full time during the day) while working second shift at a factory - all while my Mom raised me and my two sisters. Needless to say, we were poor, except we didn't seem to know it.

[72doug2,2S]

It isn't that people don't work, or do work so much as the question is are you creative, do you have a life outside work? Is there a balance between work and play? Is everyone preoccupied with looking busy vs being productive?

The Midwest strikes me as born, school, work, die. Where is the fun in life? It seems like all the young people want to leave for the coasts as well, leaving old curmudgeons to run the ship.

[Laneco]

My work ethic came from my Dad. It would not have mattered where I was raised as long as it was with him. I do not recall anyone, anywhere (we moved across the US several times) while I was a child who impacted my work ethic.

angela

[scottmandue]

I was raised by chipmunks so I stuff all my valuable into hollow trees...

It is not working out so great...

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

The Midwest strikes me as born, school, work, die. Where is the fun in life?

If you must, you can have it for 2 days after you retire (right before you die)...just don't tell anyone or they'll call you a selfish heathen. Now, that work isn't going to do itself, is it...

[Jim Bremner]

Native SOUTHERN Californian. Moved to Seattle in 1993. I worked up there only 9 months. The thought that Californians are laid back and lazy? HECK no. The people that I worked with up there had zero motivation to work. They started clearing off their desks 15 minutes to closing. I worked for Ralieg bicycles on the customer service desk. I was first blown away that it wasn't called the ORDER desk. The staff wouldn't put a call on hold to let another customer know that they would be with them in a minute. They wouldn't try to increase an order ! WTH you have someone spending $$$ with you and you don't ask " Would you like fries with that?"

I was asked how my orders where larger than the others. I was asked what could be done to increase sales. I printed 10 items to ask the customer if they needed as easy upsells. NOT once did I here anyone of them try. ( YES there was commision paid!) Just read and repeat!!!

[yazhound]

Mine from parents. Theirs from parents, theirs from parents etc... Polish blue collar immigrants, coal miners and through hard work will you succeed. As child was military brat and traveled world. Later in special ops unit as adult. No correlation to geographic region and determination there. Must say that my hispanic brothers as a rule made great soldiers - most determined and hard chargers (also knew how to play hard).

Lived in Moorhead MN three winters and nothing ever stopped despite extreme conditions. Hard folks there. Clean area, friendly people.