If you're in a job that you find stressful, then you're not doing it right. Pressure, yes. There's lots of pressure in lots of jobs, but there isn't any stress. That comes from the individual.
There's a significant difference between 'I'm not sure anyone can reasonably claim to work harder' and 'these people work harder than everyone else.' I did not write the latter.
Not really. My implication was that they work as hard as anyone else who works hard does. The point isn't that firefighters or nurses or paramedics are 'superior' or deserving of special treatment, but they do clearly indicate that in our economy there's more to having a high salary than just hard work. That has far more to do with specialisation, education, and social capital.
//There's lots of pressure in lots of jobs, but there isn't any stress. That comes from the individual.//
I think that's easy to say. Stress is a natural and obvious human reaction if, say, the responsibilities of your job include another human being's life or if your loved ones are highly dependent on your earnings.
Sorry Krom, I disagree. As I said, pressure comes with most jobs. Stress is something else. I think it's the realization that a person isn't up to the job and this brings on a form of mental panic. One way of avoiding that is to have a "Plan B". Ask yourself what would you do if you lost your job today. Plan for that in whatever way you thnk is appropriate. When you are satisfied with that, stress should not be a factor.