Conversations around work-life balance and burnout are once again taking over social media, with many people questioning what really counts as “hard work” in today’s economy. A recent discussion on Reddit has added to that debate, after one user argued that higher-level roles may involve long hours but are often far less physically exhausting than jobs on the ground.
The user contrasts this with physically demanding jobs, adding, “But people who do actual work? Like people in retail on their feet 8-9 hours a day? Or in health care? Or an accountant that has to do the math of 200 bills every day? They are wastet after 8 or 9 hours and can barely do a 40 hour work week and crawl to the couch.”
They conclude, “Some jobs are more exhausting than others. And the ones with draining jobs dont want to work 40 hours. And thats perfectly understandable.”
Another highlighted the long-term impact of such work, saying, “More people sell their bodies than you realise. It's just takes 10 years on the factory floor before you realise you traded your rent for that permanent back pain and pill addiction.”
Several shared personal stories of burnout and health issues. One user described working in assembly for a decade and dealing with ongoing neck and shoulder problems. Another said weekends weren’t enough to recover from a 50-hour physical job.
Healthcare workers also weighed in. A commenter said, “As a nurse, I can confirm those 12 hour shifts are exhausting,” while another added, “Health care is socially and physically exhausting. I don't want to do anything when I get home.”
One comment read, “Some jobs are much more exhausting. I would add though that mental loads can also be exhausting, not just physical work.” Another user who had worked both types of jobs said, “It goes both ways… Both have merits and drawbacks the other side couldn't understand unless they experienced it themselves.”
Others warned against turning it into a competition between workers. One user noted, “Don't turn this into a pissing contest between manual labor and mental labor… Some people are more exhausted than others.”
The thread also touched on differences in lifestyle. Some users argued that higher-level professionals often have support systems that make long hours easier, from fewer chores to more flexibility in schedules.
At the same time, a few pointed out that decision-making roles come with their own pressures. One comment explained that executives spend most of their day “talking and deciding,” which, while necessary, is still very different from hands-on work.
'It’s easy to ‘work’ 80–90 hours'
The original post makes a blunt claim about senior roles. It says, “All the CEOs and Managers who claim to work like 80 or 90 hours a week. All they do is reading reports, making decisions, directing the real actual work to someone else and attend business meetings. Its easy to ‘work’ 80-90 hours if all you do is listen,read and then telling others what they should do.”The user contrasts this with physically demanding jobs, adding, “But people who do actual work? Like people in retail on their feet 8-9 hours a day? Or in health care? Or an accountant that has to do the math of 200 bills every day? They are wastet after 8 or 9 hours and can barely do a 40 hour work week and crawl to the couch.”
They conclude, “Some jobs are more exhausting than others. And the ones with draining jobs dont want to work 40 hours. And thats perfectly understandable.”
Workers share lived experiences
The post triggered a flood of responses, with many users backing the idea that lower-paid roles often involve more physical strain. One user wrote, “Generally, the lower someone is paid, the harder they need to physically work.”Another highlighted the long-term impact of such work, saying, “More people sell their bodies than you realise. It's just takes 10 years on the factory floor before you realise you traded your rent for that permanent back pain and pill addiction.”
Several shared personal stories of burnout and health issues. One user described working in assembly for a decade and dealing with ongoing neck and shoulder problems. Another said weekends weren’t enough to recover from a 50-hour physical job.
Healthcare workers also weighed in. A commenter said, “As a nurse, I can confirm those 12 hour shifts are exhausting,” while another added, “Health care is socially and physically exhausting. I don't want to do anything when I get home.”
But many say it’s not that simple
Not everyone agreed with the original take. Some users pointed out that mental work can be just as draining, even if it looks less intense from the outside.One comment read, “Some jobs are much more exhausting. I would add though that mental loads can also be exhausting, not just physical work.” Another user who had worked both types of jobs said, “It goes both ways… Both have merits and drawbacks the other side couldn't understand unless they experienced it themselves.”
Others warned against turning it into a competition between workers. One user noted, “Don't turn this into a pissing contest between manual labor and mental labor… Some people are more exhausted than others.”
The thread also touched on differences in lifestyle. Some users argued that higher-level professionals often have support systems that make long hours easier, from fewer chores to more flexibility in schedules.
At the same time, a few pointed out that decision-making roles come with their own pressures. One comment explained that executives spend most of their day “talking and deciding,” which, while necessary, is still very different from hands-on work.
