The Carefree Lives Of Slackers

Not All Americans Are Working Hard To Get Ahead

(CBS) 
The word "slacker" originated during World War I, used to describe draft-dodgers in particular and work-dodgers in general. It was later applied to all manner of counterculture movements. Lutz also found plenty of examples on-screen, many illustrating the essential slacker paradox: we like the idea of slacking, but do we really want to do nothing?

For some people, the ultimate slacker is Spicoli, in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." But the new movie "Clerks 2" gives us slackers who are on the job, and that creates a whole new set of issues.

Workplace slacking is all very funny in the movies, but what about in real life? By some estimates, American employees may be idling away something on the order of $750 billion a year in lost productivity.

Mark Murphy is the CEO of Leadership IQ, advising companies how to improve their management. In a survey, his firm found that 87 percent of employees say they get so tired of working with slackers, it makes them want to change jobs.

If a slacker were just one slacker off doing their thing and they were checking out to go surfing at two o'clock every day, that'd be one thing," Murphy says. "The problem is that a whole continuum suffers from this. The customer suffers from this. The rest of the team suffers from this. The high performers are forced to work even harder to make up for the work of the slacker that the slacker didn't get done."

Even the average American worker admits to frittering away just over 2 hours per 8-hour workday. Top time-wasting activities are surfing the Internet, socializing with coworkers and conducting personal business. Workers' top excuses are that they don't have enough to do or they think they're underpaid.

But whatever the reason, even Murphy admits everyone needs to slack a little.

"You know, people can only work so hard for so long. Even the Navy SEALS need R&R every so often. We can only push so hard before we start to get burned out. So it's OK to take the break. It's OK to recharge," he says.

[rotrgirl]

Jen Raynes,featured surfer on "Sunday Morning" is a real slacker in the truest sense of the word. I ordered & paid for a print from her @ The Del Mar Horse Show last May.Despite many email pleas, I NEVER received it. She ripped me off big time. So anyone out there contemplating placing an order with her.....beware. You may not
get what you ordered & could be out hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Michele Garland
Oceanside, Ca.

[mdsobota]

In viewing Cynthia Bowers' segment "Slackers!", I couldn't help but feel frustrated. I am a 31 year-old college-educated professional, as well as a long-time surfer. I am tired of the stereotype of the surfer as a lazy beach bum, which this piece only reinforced.

Plenty of prefessionals in the workplace take time off for both spontaneous and planned golf outings. This seems to be generally perceived as completely acceptable behavior in the professional world. However, if someone such as myself takes a half-day to enjoy a morning or afternoon of wave riding, they are categorized, either directly or backhandely, as slackers.

Surfing is a physical activity that requires skill, stamina, coordination, and a reasonable level of physical fitness, not to mention dedication. For it to be perpetually linked with laziness is not only an unfair categorization, it is also highly inaccurate.

Sincerely,

Michael Sobota
Newark, DE

[mdsobota]

In viewing Cynthia Bowers' segment "Slackers!", I couldn't help but feel frustrated. I am a 31 year-old college-educated professional, as well as a long-time surfer. I am tired of the stereotype of the surfer as a lazy beach bum, which this piece only reinforced.

Plenty of prefessionals in the workplace take time off for both spontaneous and planned golf outings. This seems to be generally perceived as completely acceptable behavior in the professional world. However, if someone such as myself takes a half-day to enjoy a morning or afternoon of wave riding, they are categorized, either directly or backhandely, as slackers.

Surfing is a physical activity that requires skill, stamina, coordination, and a reasonable level of physical fitness, not to mention dedication. For it to be perpetually linked with laziness is not only an unfair categorization, it is also highly inaccurate.

Sincerely,

Michael Sobota
Newark, DE