Gregory Tindall

My research focuses on the antiwork movement, a loosely defined collective that rose to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social media sites such as Reddit and Facebook have become hubs for antiwork supporters. Growing interest in the subject is reflected in the popularity of the r/antiwork subreddit, which has more than 2.5 million subscribers.

There is little agreement within forums about the meaning of antiwork. Instead, members have diverse intentions, which range from seeking minor workplace reforms to attempting to eliminate capitalism. Media narratives often characterise supporters as being young and apathetic. However, it is clear that supporters differ in terms of their aspirations and the extent to which they are willing to question working habits.

Research into the movement is also topical. The pandemic has intensified discussions around work and contributed to scepticism of careerist principles. Meanwhile, phenomena such as the Great Resignation have revealed widespread dissatisfaction with contemporary employment.

My project seeks to understand which antiwork identities are being formed, and how members’ backgrounds, attitudes, and experiences inform the development of antiwork identities. The research has a digital focus, and will explore how antiwork identities are expressed in and shaped by digital spaces. In doing so, it will consider the views of both regular contributors and key informants such as forum moderators.