What does "hard working" or "works hard" mean to you

I have no idea.
I have always considered myself to be someone who did my jobs well. I don't know if I am/was a hard worker. I suppose I could see the results if someone improved their situation in life because of my persistence, support, guidance or whatever - which always felt good to me so was a "reward" of course and made the rough stuff easier to bear. I did occasionally meet people years later who thanked me for "believing in me". I also challenged lots of agencies on behalf of others which was definitely hard work. And challenging my own workplace was hard, and resigning once over a principle was really hard...
But what is a "hard worker"? No idea.
Dragging myself to work at all was very hard some days when things were going badly. Maybe that should count?

Doing a job conscientiously and to the best of your ability.

I am not special by the way.
I think anyone who drags themselves to a job is working "hard" maybe.

it is obvious what it means on Gransnet! all these people with their perfect families

Crikey, now you're making me think!

I would take it to mean going over and above the normal expectations for the particular type of work.

So, if an office worker, always being punctual and staying late to complete anything unfinished; if a handyman, not doing the bare minimum but making a really good job of it (e.g., I have a guy who's been coming twice a week for the last 13 years, and for 10 of those I'd have said he was a hard worker, while now I find he's often left a job unfinished, or left poop in the stable when he's mucking out etc.)

Also, SAHM's - or SAHD's - who not only look after the kids but have a polished to death house and a garden to die for - you get the idea.

I would say that it means a person carries out their job conscientiously & correctly ,regardless of what the job is.

I have just had a new bathroom fitted which involved making two rooms out of one. The builder was here from 7.50 to 5, mostly single handed. He worked very very hard. It was a very physical job but he also made sure it looked perfect. He was hard working.

I worked from being 16 years old, had time off to have my two children, but went back asap, money was tight in those days.
Both my mum and dad worked.
I always had to work and enjoyed what I did.
A perfect family, no not here, estranged from one daughter and her children, for the last 14 years.
Just had to get on with it really.

I don't see it as morally superior to be "a hard worker". What matters is what gets the job done.

Bridgeit

I would say that it means a person carries out their job conscientiously & correctly ,regardless of what the job is.

Along the same lines for me really - someone who takes pride in their work and gives value for money.

I think a lot of physical jobs are hard, having to carry heavy stuff, working outdoors in all weathers, jobs where you get really dirty.

Hard working people could be any type of job really.

I think you know it when you see it and the same is true with people who don't work hard. What it involves depends on the job.

To me, hardworking is doing more than the 9-5, having a second job, or being a single parent with a full-time job.

There have been a few people on here when discussing not wanting to sell their home for paying care costs state they worked hard all their lives to own their home. It makes it sound that those that rent have not worked hard when in fact they have to pay rent all their lives.

Training a puppy. It's going on forever, with varying degrees of success. ?

My dad would have said to keep roof over your head and food on the table is working hard.

He worked really hard Grandma
So do washing machines

I can remember my initial puzzlement when I was told in my first year at secondary school that the definition of work involved moving something. Up till then thought that work was something like writing an essay or doing sums..

JaneJudge

it is obvious what it means on Gransnet! all these people with their perfect families

Bridgeit

I would say that it means a person carries out their job conscientiously & correctly ,regardless of what the job is.

I agree Bridgeit doesn't necessarily mean manual work.

?

Whatever it means, it has been turned into a cliché by politicians applying it indiscriminately to everyone they wish to portray as adversely affected by any political measure to which they are opposed.

I think I'm hard working. I try to make sure I fulfill all the requirements of my job, without being asked or prompted, and to do it well. Regardless of the amount of time it takes and the number of hours I have to work to do it.

When I worked as a full-time teacher, I was hard working but never managed to finish all of my work. That took a lot of adjusting to, because by my personal standards, I should have done. But it was impossible

My dad worked 5 full days 2 half days and two nights overtime ,and in those days Christmas day was a working day.I'd say he was a hard working man .That was quite normal where I come from .A typical working class area of Glasgow

grumppa

Whatever it means, it has been turned into a cliché by politicians applying it indiscriminately to everyone they wish to portray as adversely affected by any political measure to which they are opposed.

This...I am sick of it