There are a lot of opinions floating around about the changing dynamics in work ethics over the past few years. The majority I hear or read about are on the side that strong work ethic is a thing of the past and mostly lost among workers, especially those who’ve recently entered the workforce. 

If you do an internet search for articles for “America’s current trends in work ethic,” the top generated responses includes the following:

Work engagement

According to Gallup, work engagement has declined among U.S. adults since 2020, particularly among those under 35. 

Work-life balance

Americans want more flexibility in when, where and how they work, as well as more time for themselves and their families.  

Four-day workweek

Most workers agree that they could be just as effective at work if they only worked four days a week. 

Ethics ratings

According to Gallup, ethics ratings for nearly all professions in the U.S. are down. 

You will also see headlines reading, “Americans Are Losing Their Work Ethic,” and, “What is Happening to America’s Work Ethic?”

I have also witnessed a decline in this area firsthand. I have many friends and acquaintances from past jobs and college that are perfectly OK striving to achieve the bare minimum. 

There are a lot of theories on why this is happening, but I’m not going to dive too deep into those. I believe work ethic, like a lot of things, is a product of how we are raised and more importantly, who we surround ourselves with. But with that being said, everyone has the ability to create their own path by the choices they make and the people they choose to idolize and collaborate with.

Work culture

Luckily, the industry has so many resources that make it possible to surround yourself with the right people. In just over a month, myself and many of you will be traveling to Indianapolis for the annual WWETT Show, an event that is practically impossible to walk away from without feeling a sense of awe for the people that work in this field. And each state’s wastewater association provides a platform to meet and converse with people that have dedicated themselves to their work.

On a smaller scale, look at the people and businesses we feature in this magazine. There are countless examples of companies that I would be honored to work for. Businesses that foster pride in what they do and reward employees for a job well done. 

It provides an incredible field for young people to surround themselves with dedicated, hardworking professionals.

Taking pride

I think a decline in work ethic goes hand in hand with many people no longer having a sense of pride in what they do. You can tell immediately when someone is proud of how they make a living. They don’t constantly complain about work and when you ask them how work life is. They give you more than a vague, “Oh, pretty good. Going well,” type of answer.

It seems for many people work is simply about getting a check. They are just going through the motions to make a living and pay the rent. This industry is different. Every single person I’ve talked to for this magazine exemplifies pride in what they do. They are eager to share their story, and you can almost hear their chest swell through the phone when discussing a business they started or are heavily involved in.

That pride translates directly to the quality of work you provide. Someone who truly cares about their career is going to put everything they have into making sure the job they perform is up to the highest standard. They don’t walk away from a job and hope to never hear from the customer again, but instead they walk away and look forward to a return call for repeat business as a reward from a job well done.

Role models

Pumpers are a picture of what hard work looks like. There does not seem to be a shortage of professionals in this industry that embody work ethic and the evidence for that is in every page of these magazines. 

I promise you that sense of pride for your work is contagious, especially to young professionals just getting started. When you show true excitement and eagerness to work everyday, the employees that look up to you will mimic that enthusiasm. 

People want to feel like they belong to something, and when someone new to the trade sees pumpers come together and form an industry like the one we have, it’s exciting. It instills a feeling that they belong and are contributing to something bigger and making a true difference.

Pumper contains countless stories over the years about contractors young and old that have put their nose to the grindstone and do what needs to be done to get the job done and keep satisfied customers. I’m proud to work in an industry that goes against the narrative that all the good workers are dying out. 

Keep on doing what you do and thank you for reading this month’s issue!