Why Financial Independence Is More Valuable To A Blue Collar Worker

Jobs are traditionally grouped into two main categories, white collar and blue collar.  White collar work is generally defined as work being performed in an office setting that does not require manual labor.  For all my post-college life I’ve done white collar work.  But I did mostly blue collar work from ages 16 to 22.  Blue Collar work is defined as

“work that entails physical labor such as in a factory or workshop. Blue Collar work is more directly tied to the output generated by the firm, with identifiable intangible results”

In general people tend to associate white collar work as higher paying than blue collar.  But this isn’t always true, and some jobs do not fit the categories very well.  For instance many doctors, engineers, and architects do both white collar and blue collar work by the definitions. 

And I have a plumber friend who makes over six figures a year.  He jokes that he makes plenty enough to afford properly fitting, non butt-crack-showing pants.  

However, in general when one thinks of a blue collar job it’s typically a factory worker or a truck driver.  The latter is one of the most common jobs in the country. 

But lower pay isn’t really the reason financial independence is more valuable to a blue collar worker.

 

More Than A Mouse Finger

I don’t think many would argue that being financially independent is a good thing.  Whether you choose to “retire” or not when you reach it (whatever that means), being financially independent gives you a huge safety net in case of job loss or other unexpected catastrophe in life. 

If you lean towards desiring early retirement, it allows you to do that as well. 

Let’s face it, no one would say “Nah… I really don’t want to have $1 million in the bank.  But thanks for asking, you’re a true sport.”

For blue collar workers who tend to have more physical jobs, financial independence is even more valuable than for others.  If you’re a white collar desk jockey like I’ve been most of my career and you drop a bowling ball on your foot and break your toe, it’ll hurt.  You’ll go to the doctor and have your foot or toe put in a cast or splint. 

But you can still come to work. 

Sure, crutches suck, but there’s probably no reason you can’t do your job and continue collecting a paycheck.  Even if you break your precious mouse finger you can learn to use the mouse with the other hand.

It’s a totally different story for many blue collar jobs.  If you’re a woodworker or work in a factory where you can still sit most of the day you might still be able to work with a broken toe.  But if you’re a truck driver, roofer, or have to be on your feet all day, you’re screwed.

Thousands of blue collar jobs fall into that category, arguably most of them.  Now you’re on sick leave or short term disability – if you’re lucky enough to have those benefits.

 

Personal Risk Becomes Job Risk

I have a cousin in this exact scenario.  He works a blue collar job up in Baltimore and doesn’t get any paid leave.  He’s on his feet all day and operates light machinery like industrial copiers and shredders. 

A broken toe would likely render him without a paycheck for a while.  He knows this, I’ve discussed it with him before.  I didn’t go in a dissertation about financial independence or FIRE because I’m still an anonymous blogger and who knows, he may have read my blog before.  I’m still small but growing fast 🙂

My cousin even once asked me about my love of so-called “extreme” sports like mountain biking and rock climbing.  “Aren’t you worried about getting hurt?” he asked.  “Sure” I said, “No one wants to get hurt”.  I brushed it off.

But I thought about his question later and it was obvious that embedded in the question was an implied understanding that, for him at least, getting hurt could likely mean not getting paid.

Of course some serious injuries would prevent me from going to work and clicking a mouse.  But such an injury would have to be much more severe than a broken toe.  Maybe I should wrap my mouse finger in bubble wrap when I go rock climbing 🙂

I have sick leave, and disability benefits.  He doesn’t.  In my case, if I were unable to come to work I would still get my full paycheck or a majority of it, for a good while.  My cousin is a pretty good athlete and in shape.  I didn’t ask him but I expect he probably forgoes some activities and sports due to a fear of getting hurt and not getting paid.  That’s unfortunate.

 

In Conclusion

You may be thinking “Isn’t this when an emergency fund is for”.  Well, yes, an emergency fund can surely be handy to pay the bills and have money if you get injured and aren’t collecting a paycheck. 

But it just shows another major reason why being financially independent is more important for the truck driver. I wouldn’t have to use my emergency fund in such a case. 

In the end, we white collar jockeys do have some job risk.  Sitting all day is not good for your health.  And there’s carpal tunnel syndrome.  I had a mild case of it for a while, and it sucks.  But after those two the non-mental hazards of a desk job start to decline rapidly. 

But for blue collar workers both the on-the-job hazards and the risk of not being able to work due to an injury outside of work are way way higher.  That’s why financial independence is so much more valuable to a blue collar worker.

Being that I’m already FI and have come to really dislike spending extended hours under fluorescent lights at a desk job, the possibility of getting a blue collar job one day so I can work outside and stay physically active is definitely in play.  Doing trail maintenance in a beautiful National Park?  Count me in. 

If I ever took a job like that in the future it would be for pleasure, I don’t need the money.  And if I got injured and couldn’t continue in the job due to my injury it wouldn’t matter at all.

Another reason I’m so grateful for achieving FI, it opens so many doors.