If You're Wondering Why "No One Wants To Work Anymore," These 29 Nightmarish Job Listings Might Explain It For You

COVID is by no means over, but many people have had their unemployment benefits cut short or been forced to return to an office. Surprisingly (sarcasm), some employers have struggled to get employees to come back to work, or recruit new ones, leading to the oft-repeated "nobody wants to work."

Minimum wage, part-time positions have been especially impacted, as many people can't afford to live off these salaries and still do not want to risk their health. Instead of increasing health and safety protocols, wages, and benefits, many companies have taken up this "no one wants to work" phrase.

Short staffed from recruitinghell

It's all, essentially, a way to deflect responsibility to workers rather than companies that won't raise their wages even in the face of worsening conditions and inflation. It's also largely a myth, and many people are finding it's still difficult to find a good job. Ghosting, withholding salary information until late in the game, and job offers far below someone's qualifications are common.

"nO OnE WAntS tO WoRk!" from recruitinghell

Basically, it's hard out there! And to prove it, we've gathered some utterly horrible job descriptions that offer dirt pay (sometimes below minimum wage) for roles that encompass multiple jobs, but don't offer multiple salaries.

1. This person wanted to hire an assistant, housekeeper, and babysitter with a "flexible schedule" (i.e., you can't get another job because you need to be on call) for $10 an hour only 10-15 hours a week.

So much wrong here, where to begin? from antiwork

2. This marketing job description required being able to lift 50 lbs, work tools, and run(/crawl???) for up to eight hours. I'm starting to think this is not a marketing job.

Seen in a job description for a marketing role on LinkedIn... How is this ok? from antiwork

3. This job required being Christian, which I don't think is legal.

Instant red flag when religion is mixed with an office job description from antiwork

4. This job expected 55-hour weeks...with no mention of overtime pay.

Wallethub says in job description must be willing to work 55 hour weeks. Otherwise I guess you don’t “work hard”. from antiwork

5. If a job description calls things like PTO "touchy feely"...run.

I know you all love toxic work environments! Here's a job description for a previous employer where I was an unpaid intern. (1/2) from antiwork

6. This job wants you to have a "servant's heart."

The Job Description Wasn't Horrible...Until I Read the Last Line from antiwork

7. This job description advertises signing you up for their MLM (which, of course, will probably be almost impossible to cancel) as a "perk."

Imagine working for a company that misspells on their job description *and* demands you sign up for their crappy MLM as a "benefit" from antiwork

8. This Los Angeles-based job wanted someone up-to-date on local laws despite paying lower than LA's legal minimum wage of $15.

Can we post job descriptions here? Job looking specifically for women wants to pay $13 per hour (below minimum wage for LA) and wants “strong knowledge of local laws” despite lower than legal wage. from antiwork

9. This job description proudly stated the company offers gift cards as bonuses.

The amount of red flags in this job description alone from antiwork

10. And this job thought advertising "below market rate salary" was a good idea.

And they call us "unprofessional" with a job description like this... from antiwork

11. This job listing simply forbids you from having any bad days. Also, you must "give the appearance of good and healthy vitality."

thoughts on this job description i found? from antiwork

12. This job advertised the fact that the last person was fired for "poor performance" (which definitely had nothing to do with a lack of training or large workload on the part of the company).

Definitely know it is a good work environment when the job description name drop in the job post says the last person did a bad job. from antiwork

13. This job description was literally for at least four different employees, but they were only hiring one person.

Everyone has to see this job description for ONE PERSON! from antiwork

14. These physical requirements were downright creepy.

A job description for an Administrator/Receptionist role I saw a while back while job-hunting. The “person specification” is the creepiest set of requirements I think I’ve ever seen… from antiwork

15. This job required you giving 100% at all times and started off by threatening potential employees about faking sick. (Great first impression for a company so focused on first impressions!)

This Job Description Tells Me Everything I Need To Know from antiwork

16. This job straight-up said, "Don't apply if you're looking for work-life balance."

The worst job description of all time? from antiwork

17. This internship paid $20 a week, which is totally legal (again, sarcasm).

Found this earlier today. The job description says it’s 20 hours a week. How is this not illegal? from antiwork

18. Well...at least they acknowledged their expectations (for a literal Pepper Potts) were high.

Thought I’d share the most ridiculous job description I’ve ever seen from antiwork

19. And this job description also had a lot of cringey pop culture references.

Job descriptions for Assistant Manager and Store Manager at a typical retail chain during the Great Resignation (2021, colorized) from antiwork

20. This job posting listed a law as a "benefit."

Actual "benefit" listed in job description. How sad is following the law is now listed as a "benefit" from antiwork

21. This job, that pays potentially as low as $20/hour, literally requires 25 years of relevant experience.

And from reading the job description it is very obvious that "25 years" is not a typo. Have a wonderful night from antiwork

22. This job posting contained a majorrrr red flag.

My company included this tidbit about their toxic expectations in the job description when they posted my position. from antiwork

23. This minimum wage job expected that you should be doing unpaid work outside of work hours.

so you're the receptionist. and the sales department. and the housekeeper. and a shill during your free time. because when you work at a "spa-like" California plastic surgery office, you should expect minimum wage, abstract job descriptions, and unpaid labor -- and MAYBE you'll get full-time. from antiwork

24. This job description forbade employees from refusing to do things not in their job description.

Real Job description!!! from antiwork

25. This job description pulled you in with the term "Flyer Distributor," but was actually for a costumed mascot that has to work in 100-degree weather.

Saw this job listing for a flyer distributor for an insurance company. When you read the description it says you’ll actually be a mascot. They have this worker out there even on 100 degree days. “Warmer than usual temperatures” from antiwork

26. This job posting straight up lied about the salary.

Dodged a bullet by triple checking the hiring paperwork's description of the job; this sub has taught me to know my worth and it is above that hourly from antiwork

27. This person wanted someone to PAY to be a live-in caretaker and handy person.

Pay me $700/month to be my caretaker and handyman. from ChoosingBeggars

28. This management job that required two years of experience paid minimum (or below minimum) wage.

This job posting. from ChoosingBeggars

29. This posting expected people to work for free:

To fight slavery you must first become a slave yourself from ChoosingBeggars

What difficulties have you faced in the job market recently? Let us know in the comments below!