Seven years before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the U.S. and forever changed how many Americans view their career, work environment, and true value to their employer, the Reddit subreddit r/Antiwork was born, largely as a protest against—and discussion forum about—the mounting pressures everyday workers face in a purely capitalistic society. Bad bosses, low wages, long hours, lack of overtime, dwindling benefits, dead-end positions, ever-demanding customers, meaningless jobs, brutal commutes, to name a few.
Now, nearly two years into the pandemic, the underlying message of r/Antiwork’s forums is ringing truer than ever. The subreddit is one of the fastest-growing and most-active discussion boards on the social media platform, with 1.66 million subscribers, up from a little over 100,000 at the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak.
At its core, r/Antiwork isn’t about abolishing work or people quitting their jobs—although examples of the latter can be seen throughout the feed, with screenshots of dramatic and often humorous text exchanges with supervisors at the moment of resignation. Rather, the subreddit is about empowering the labor force by any means necessary—ask for that raise, negotiate a hybrid work schedule, demand a reasonable workload. If all else fails, be confident enough to walk away for a better opportunity. Don’t settle for the norms that Corporate America has established.
While the architecture profession is not featured prominently in r/Antiwork—lower-paying, hourly jobs like retail, restaurant, and small business positions tend to be the focus—the industry is not immune to the ills that plague American work culture. Architects stand with doctors and lawyers as among the most highly educated and credentialed professionals in the nation. They work long hours, with demanding deadlines and little schedule flexibility—yet with meager pay relative to their peers in the legal and medical professions.
It’s no surprise, then, that signs of the r/Antiwork movement are starting to appear in the architecture field. The most glaring example is at New York City-based SHoP Architects. There, employees of the 135-person firm announced in late December that they are advancing a plan to form a union, citing low pay and long hours. If formalized, the effort would be the first to successfully create a union at a prominent private-sector architecture firm in the U.S., according to the New York Times. At the time of the report, more than half of SHoP’s eligible colleagues had signed cards supporting the union, which would affiliate with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The Times reported that two other prominent New York firms are following suit. I expect other AE firms to join the movement in the coming months.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Feb 23, 2022
The Beam on Farmer, Arizona’s first mass timber, multi-story office building tops out
The Beam on Farmer, Arizona’s first mass timber, multi-story office building, topped out on Feb. 10, 2022.
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2022
More bad news on sea level rise for U.S. coastal areas
A new government report predicts sea levels in the U.S. of 10 to 12 inches higher by 2050, with some major cities on the East and Gulf coasts experiencing damaging floods even on sunny days.
Wood | Feb 18, 2022
$2 million mass timber design competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon (entries due March 30!)
To promote construction of tall mass timber buildings in the U.S., the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and USDA Forest Service (USDA) have joined forces on a competition to showcase mass timber’s application, commercial viability, and role as a natural climate solution.
University Buildings | Feb 18, 2022
On-campus performing arts centers and museums can be talent magnets for universities
Cultural facilities are changing the way prospective students and parents view higher education campuses.
University Buildings | Feb 17, 2022
A vacated school in St. Louis is turned into a center where suppliers exchange ideas
In 1871, The Carondelet School, designed by Frederick William Raeder, opened to educate more than 400 children of laborers and manufacturers in St. Louis. The building is getting a second lease on life, as it has undergone a $2 million renovation by goBRANDgo!, a marketing firm for the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Feb 17, 2022
Metal roofing trends
New ideas in design and constructability are radically changing how metal systems are used as roofing for commercial and institutional buildings. Behind the investment in these new kinds of expressions and construction approaches is a growing interest in improved performance and reduced environmental impact. Metal roofing systems can cut cooling and heating loads significantly, according to the EPA.
Data Centers | Feb 15, 2022
Data center boom: How two AEC firms plan to meet unprecedented demand for data center facilities
Ramboll's Jim Fox and EYP Mission Critical Facilities' Rick Einhorn discuss the recent joining of their companies at a time of unprecedented data center demand. BD+C's John Caulfield leads the discussion with Fox, Ramboll's Managing Director for the Americas, and Einhorn, EYP Mission Critical Facilities' Managing Director.
Architects | Feb 15, 2022
Binkley Garcia Architecture and Goodwyn Mills Cawood join forces in Nashville
Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of architecture and interior design firm Binkley Garcia Architecture in Nashville.
Resiliency | Feb 15, 2022
Design strategies for resilient buildings
LEO A DALY's National Director of Engineering Kim Cowman takes a building-level look at resilient design.
Products and Materials | Feb 14, 2022
How building owners and developers can get ahead of the next supply chain disaster
Global supply chain interruptions that started at the very beginning of the pandemic are still with us and compounding every step of the way. Below are a few proven tips on how to avert some of the costly fallout should we be faced with similar commercial disasters at any time in the future.