LogFAQs > #964276577

I mean, in the US there are situations that are at least somewhat comparable to slavery, you don't always have the choice of just leaving a job or not doing it.

The least forced situations are those where someone spends tons of time/money/effort to get a job, like an attorney or doctor etc, but are forced to work extreme hours (for little pay) in order to gain experience etc. There are a bunch of situations like this, but in the legal field it was common for new attorneys to be hired for a very low yearly salary and required to work 60-80 hours a week. We had some who started working at the same law office as us (luckily we had 10years exp when we started), that eventually quit because a job in water management (which they did on the way through law school etc) paid more, for less hours. Starting pay at that law firm for new attorneys was 30k, but the hours were wacked.

Meanwhile many other people allow themselves to be used because of a position etc. My first salaried position back in the early 90's payed about $24k a year, and there wasn't 1 week in those 2 years that I worked there, that i didn't work over 60 hours (not including commute etc). I had 13 people working for me and ran the whole shipping and handling department. That was my choice though, but still, when your whole life is work, that is voluntary slavery.

But it gets much worse from there, at least in those situations you have a fairly easy choice to stop at any time, you just need to realize it (and sometimes give up on a dream).

Those who have family, or worse sick family/dependants, often have no choice at all (without dire consequences). They are litereally forced to do the job or loved ones will die. While that is certainly not true everywhere, it is VERY true in the US.

In addition you have student loans, a whole nother kettle of "slavery" fish. Because it wasn't so bad for such a long time, people are still coming to terms with how predatory student loans are now, and how they can easily cause someone to end up in debt for life. Go to college for 60k, and graduate, but be unable to make more then you spend to live for 5-6 years, and watch your student loans DOUBLE. Lol...yeah, it's not supposed to work like that, in fact, even the worst % rates SHOULD take at least 10 years to double the principle, but nope, you can end up with 120k in student loans 6 years after graduation, and many jobs don't even START increasing your pay until after 5 years (looking at you teachers...no raises till after 5 years and at least a few years ago, starting salary of 30k in CA....not enough in the bay area to rent your own place, let alone make loan payments).

So yeah, it's not really indentured servatude, let alone slavery, but it's a FORM of slavery just the same, even if self inflicted or due to lack of knowledge of options etc.