“Nothing Matters, Boss”: An Analysis of the Impact of Nihilism on Workplace Apathy

Nihilism, the belief that nothing inherently matters, has gained prominence in popular culture. This study examines two subsets of nihilism: existential nihilism, which posits that life and the universe lack meaning, and individual nihilism, which suggests that one’s personal life holds no significance even if meaning exists elsewhere. The present study explored the relationship between these nihilistic beliefs and workplace variables, including job apathy and job satisfaction using a convenience sample of 58 adults in the work force. Four established scales were employed: the Existential Nihilism Scale (ENS), the Purpose in Life Scale (PILS, reverse-coded to measure individual nihilism), the Job Apathy Scale (JPS), and the Generic Job Satisfaction Scale (GJS). Point-Biserial correlations revealed significant negative relationships between age, income, and education with individual nihilism (PILS: r = -0.341, p =