Aaron Jansen photo illustration

 

Inspired by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who on Friday announced her surprise resignation, thousands of Americans are now quitting their jobs, telling their bosses they've had enough with mean co-workers, long hours, or whatever else comes to mind.

"I'm with Sarah -- take this job and shove it!" said Phil Davis, a 24-year-old burger-flipper at a McDonald's in Long Beach, Calif.

On Friday, Palin announced she was resigning, in part because she was tired of bloggers and reporters picking on her, and because she had other things she wanted to do. Mostly, though, it sounded like Palin was sick of her job.

"Who can blame her?" said Wendy Phillips, a 46-year-old nurse in Baltimore. "I'm tired of my job, too. I hate my co-workers and I'm sick of whiny patients always complaining about their problems."

According to unscientific surveys over the past three days, Palin has prompted Americans coast to coast to reconsider their definitions of work and duty. Quitting is no longer a dirty word. In Palin's view, good things can come from quitting. Although she hasn't said what she's going to do with her time, many speculate Our Lady of The North still wants to be president.

"Life is too short to compromise time and resources," Palin said in her resignation speech Friday. "It may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand, 'sit down and shut up,' but that's the worthless, easy path."

"Nah, only dead fish go with the flow," Palin added.

Bert Matthews, 58, and a chief executive of a major New York City brokerage, said he can relate to Palin. "I hate my job so much, plus there are so many more fun things I want to do with my life," he told AlaskaDispatch.com. "This fish wants to swim to the ocean!"

Still, Palin's words may be doing more damage than good. Economists worry that the soon-to-be ex-governor is spawning a revolt against one of society's most fundamental institutions: work. It's a movement that's so potentially powerful that it could destroy the already-weakened economy.

"Palin may go down as the 'Mother of The 21st Century Great Depression,'" one economist noted.

Palin has struck a chord with an ever-growing group of Americans who are simply tired of putting in 40-hour weeks, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. When these ex-workers will return to their jobs or look for new ones is anybody's guess. Some experts say that before that can happen, workplace conditions must first improve, such as encouraging businesses to cut down on office gossip, reduce hours, and give fragile-minded employees more positive feedback.

"These disenfranchised workers can relate to Palin," said Ernie Marke, a human resources consultant. "They've been abused by their peers. Or they don't like their job duties. Or they simply day-dream of doing bigger and better things."

"Bosses need to be mindful that not everybody likes to work," Marke added.

On Monday, Frank Coleman decided to quit his data-entry job in St. Louis. He said his "nasty co-workers" were part of the reason, including some crude remarks about his sexuality scribbled on the company's bathroom walls.

Like many disgruntled workers who gave their notices Monday, Coleman signed his resignation letter with a direct quote from Palin's own resignation statement: "In the words of General MacArthur, "We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction."