The keenest of workplace defenders often make pains to point out that the average work week is only 40 hours out of a total 168 we get from seven full days. Surely, it isn’t that bad to dedicate a mere fraction of our time to earn an honest living that allows us to do something with all the rest of the time that we have? 

What this doesn’t take into account is that the hours that full-time workers have that can truly be measured as ‘free’ are pretty limited once you take away those dedicated to sleep, commuting, chores, and generally shaping a lifestyle that, despite best efforts, often ends up centered around work. Arguably, work memes only contribute to having an employment-centric way of life, but if you look at them on the job, at least you are engaging in a small act of rebellion against the culture of the workplace.