[GuinansEyebrows]

maybe.

i think the types of environments that foster the culture of bullshit jobs are bereft of conscience (ymmv as far as how you react to that in your own job).

additionally, many people within those environments feel that scrutiny or lack of job security even when they play by the rules.

something i've been thinking about a lot lately is that i don't feel very bad being cynical about these kinds of systems when they're helmed by people who are cynical about me. if my job is at risk due to mismanagement, restructuring, "the market" or anything else that would cause my employer to see me as a line item and not a human being with needs, i have every right to view my employment as an asset to manipulate as i see fit as well. turnabout is fair play. conversely, i've also been lucky to have had some good bosses and i don't act as ruthlessly in those situations.

[evklein]

I don't disagree with your idea at all, just with the approach. I think if you exist within an environment where you can still thrive leeching off of an ineffective organization, and you're okay with this because you understand that they view you as an expendable asset, then the right thing to do isn't to just keep doing that; the right thing to do is find a better spot to work.

All of this is easier said than done, and there's lots of reasons to stay put and half-ass a good thing while you can. I can't fault anyone for making that choice, and I don't even really view it as particularly malicious. Just not something I can do and simultaneously go home feeling good about my place in the world.

[ikr678]

I get all my fulfillment from outside of work, I am ok with having a 'bullshit' job which facilitates the rest of my very nice and enriching life.

I think also that 'bullshit jobs' are a side effect of large (not even ineffective) organisations. At a certain size, you end up with roles and abstractions that take you far away from what your employer actually produces/generates revenue from, and if you are in such a cost center it can be hard to see how your individual work is meaningful to the bottom line in any way.