Passions betrayed: The end of “doing what you love” in the workforce

Workplace observer Miya Tokumitsu on what’s wrong with the “hope economy”

Published 12 February 2016

Episode 361

Nowadays it seems that if you can’t play or pursue a passion through your work, you’ve failed in life.

But as Dr Miya Tokumitsu argues in this Up Close episode, young people “following their passion” into jobs and internships, in the creative industries and elsewhere, are more likely to be disappointed or exploited than on a path to fulfillment.

“When you have stars in your eyes as a young worker, you’re not thinking about labour protections,” says Dr Tokumitsu.

“You see lots of young people very eagerly entering these workplaces without thinking about how they can protect themselves.”

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Business & Economics