Workers in various sectors are protesting long hours, low pay, and excessive demand as businesses strive to meet customer expectations.
Employees across multiple industries are feeling the pressure of overwork and underpayment, a complaint that has remained consistent from delivery drivers to Hollywood actors and writers. As businesses adapt to an ever-demanding consumer base, workers say their jobs have become unrecognizable, with expectations for speed and convenience pushing them to the limit.
A common issue among these workers is the extended hours, with some drivers reporting six straight days of 12-hour shifts, while others, like Hollywood screenwriters, find themselves scrambling to meet demanding production schedules. This intense pressure is largely a result of companies adjusting to meet customer demands shaped by the technological advancements of the digital age.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these shifts, forcing many businesses to go online and sparking a competitive streaming market. These changes have put workers in industries ranging from entertainment to delivery services under immense strain, trying to keep up with rapid customer expectations for immediate results.
As demand surged, labor shortages have exacerbated the problem. Employees in sectors like delivery services, coffee shops, and aviation have been increasingly stretched to meet the needs of consumers, often working overtime and dealing with punishing schedules. Some industries rely heavily on part-time and contract workers to fill the gaps, leading to resentment and frustration.
The entertainment sector has been hit particularly hard, with screenwriters and actors taking part in their first simultaneous strikes in 40 years. The rise of streaming services has disrupted traditional entertainment economics, slashing pay and forcing content creators to produce shows faster, often with smaller teams. The shift to streaming has led to a massive decline in residuals—payments for reruns or continued airings of shows—leaving many workers with barely enough to live on.
Many actors and screenwriters have shared their frustrations with the new pay model. Some have received minimal residuals for their work, with one screenwriter revealing they received a check for a mere single digit amount. Adam Shapiro, a veteran actor, explained that while streaming provided opportunities, it soon became clear that the compensation was not sustainable, forcing workers to re-evaluate their contracts.
Another challenge in the industry is the growing use of “mini rooms,” where a few writers are hired only for pre-production, sometimes for a show that may never even be picked up. Sanchez-Witzel, the co-creator of a Netflix series, explained that the lack of long-term contracts forces writers to work relentlessly, often with reduced teams, to meet streaming deadlines.