How Work Controls You

The Dark Side of Workplace Culture
“Workplace culture” is the ultimate buzzword of the modern office. But what does it really mean when our boss organizes yet another Happy Hour? According to one preeminent French philosopher, nothing good. We’ll explain in this Wisecrack Edition: How Workplace Culture Got So Creepy.
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Written by Amanda Scherker
Researched by Jack Murphy
Hosted by Michael Burns
Directed by Michael Luxemburg
Edited by Brian M Kim
Produced by Olivia Redden
Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
#work #culture #wisecrack
© 2023 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc. / Enthusiast Gaming

[@marynatimmylucyelsaleonie1031]

We're now expected to gaslight ourselves to act happier at work while more and more is piled onto us. Too much work and stress? Practice more mindfulness while even more is piled on. Can't cope? More mindfulness etc

[@Drekromancer]

As a newly minted therapist who just left a fairly stressful position in community mental health that was pushing me toward burnout, I really feel that. For so much of the time I was there, I kept thinking I was the problem. I kept trying to improve my coping skills to a degree that would make my work sustainable. It's only now that I've left that I realize: it wasn't sustainable. No matter what I did - which was a lot - it was never going to be manageable for me. To be fair to the company, it's not a terrible place. They treat their employees well and they're good people. However, the site had large caseloads and lots of paperwork, which were very overwhelming for me as a new clinician with ADHD. I'm still mastering the fundamentals, but there was just too much for me to balance. So now I'm trying to focus on coping and looking forward to a new, more sustainable work/life balance. Thank you for making me feel seen. ♥️

[@matthewhohman]

​@@Drekromancer I went through this recently as well as a case manager. Eventually I realized it was the system itself, not me, that was the problem. The entire job was based around the insurance requirements, not the work itself. I believe the insurance companies made these rules so that we couldn't do our job correctly, as it would actually help people. My coworkers didn't seem to feel the same way. I can't believe we as social workers let this happen, I felt like me quitting my job and just doing case management for free would be MUCH more effective than whatever system is created now.

[@pathowogenempire9968]

Workers need to own the means of production ngl *leftist wink wink*

[@nooooooooope3809]

I work in the mental health field, and yep, they do it there, too.

[@fatboyRAY24]

I used to work at an Amazon warehouse and every 2 hours an automated message would stop our work and tell us to breathe for 15 second to prevent us from losing our minds. I hated that job a little bit too much tbh, but those messages may have read to me “welcome to dystopia.”

[@kylejohnson6557]

This video reminds me of a rule I learned at work, (rule #3 to be specific.) The harder you work, the harder they make you work.

[@LuisSierra42]

Yep, that's why quiet quitting is a thing

[@chinobiii]

Minimum wage, Minimum effort.

[@daemoneko]

When the reward for finishing your work is just more work You're not incentivized to do more than what's necessary

[@NWPaul72]

Competent, enthusiastic production is always rewarded with more to do. Act your wage.

[@KeithBab]

There is a motivational saying, "the reward for a job well done is more work". Which has a very ambiguous meaning.

[@JLocke0113]

The best way to improve teamwork with your fellow employees is to form a union.

[@Drekromancer]

👏 SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK 👏

[@vojislavl6665]

As the one employee in our workplace that is in a union, 100%. I've been getting their help as of late

[@basicindiebro]

I adore my union. They’re the only people in my university that have my back. I’m a graduate assistant

[@youtubesucks1499]

So form a union. The cost of labor is passed on to the consumer. Ford already said labor cost for their vehicles will increase $900 per car due to union.

[@balbert24]

I was thinking the same thing while watching this video. I have never had to do any of this nonsense at work--I work in a kitchen--but if I did I would join a union immediately so my employer could not make me do a workplace yoga session and get butthurt when I don't take part.

[@ghmongo]

1:30 - A critical thing that people in American management overlook (or intentionally omit) about Japanese work culture is that the company is supposed to care for their employees for life. Layoffs are exceptionally rare and only done if the company's survival is in jeopardy - firms that lay off employees are publicly shunned and shamed. Executives are expected to lead by example, often reducing their own salary and benefits in lean times instead of cutting their workforce, and if an executive makes a blunder, they are expected to resign without compensation for the good of the company. The culture of absolute devotion is baked into Japanese society because the rest of society holds companies to ethical standards where those companies won't hang the employees out to dry at the first blip on the earnings sheet. Contrast that to the US, where layoffs to boost stock price are the order of the day. Executives can screw up so badly they tank the company and still get a "golden parachute" severance package. Things like family leave and paid vacations are becoming increasingly rare. But the expectation of absolute devotion is still somehow expected of employees.

[@NWPaul72]

That's why they like a large, unemployed demographic and a small but visible homeless cohort. It is there for you to fear becoming.

[@Monanarchist]

This is such a big thing that western countries don't want to acknowledge, Japanese workers are loyal, because their company has their back. Even the salary difference between the CEO and the lowest paid workers is 100x times closer in japan compared to the US. Not that Japanese work culture is healthy at all. But western countries want to take the things that benefit them without the things that make us want to give them it.

[@Astro2024]

Pretty sure japanese companies invented mandatory fun but things have improved

[@PhoenixAngel429]

And if a CEO fucks up in Japan, they take the hit, not the workers as they were leading and they failed. It's a dishonor on them, not the workers

[@ndelano]

unpaid overtime pretty much nullifies that sentiment

[@shybard]

One insidious thing is constantly working with a skeleton crew, because companies refuse to hire enough staff. It makes you feel like crap when you have to fill in for someone else, since you know that there literally isn't anyone else available to do the job. When I worked in education, they used the kids to manipulate us into working weekends or evenings. It sucked and was horribly emotionally abusive, but it was definitely effective.

[@ayanabeads1614]

Hospitals do the same thing.

[@randomcdude4430]

Also they will post hiring ads that they have no intention of actually filling because extracting extra work out of a skeleton crew is more profitable than hiring someone to actually do that work. Then they can tell the employees that they are "twying reawy reawy hard to find someone, but no one wants work these days! Just be a team/family player and shoulder the burden just a little longer until one of these slackers finally passes the hiring process!" Thus setting you up to resent anyone if they actually do hire someone and making the faceless job seeking public the common enemy of you and your boss thus building a fake solidarity to further emotionally manipulate you into "going above and beyond " and "doing more with less " and "filling in" just a little longer.

[@wvu05]

Indeed. At my job in December, one worker in my unit got transferred, and another took a week off between Christmas and New Year's. We were already one short to begin with, and I just got buried. I refused to be complicit in my own wage theft, and it took me two months to climb out of that hole. In 2014, nobody _ever_ got more than five new cases a day, and now there are days when we get into double digits.

[@Findecommie]

@@ayanabeads1614 Yeah, like the practice is terrible in foodservice and retail where it originated but when it gets applied to care-work fields it's actually evil. How many have literally died due to lack of safe staffing levels?

[@robbieskids9159]

You definitely see it popping up more in industries that would be considered a "passion" like education, nursing or the arts. It's such a shame finally getting into something that feels like a dream job only to be taken advantage of.

[@ThatADHDKid]

A few years back I was let go from my management position working for US independently owned wireless retailer. For New Year's Eve 2018, they held an event that was MANDATORY at a Topgolf over 2 hours away from where I lived/worked and there was no compensation for driving. It was literally just come up here and we will pay for your food and a few beers. The night of I had to open AND close our store and didn't get off until 9:00 p.m. Everybody was going to stay up there and only I had to go back to open our store the following morning 2 hours away. Meaning I would have had to have gotten up at 6:00 a.m. after drinking and playing golf for less than 4 hours. I told them I couldn't do it because I had worked all day and I had animals to take care of. They sprung it last minute and made it mandatory a few days before. I opened up the store the next morning and about 30 minutes after I opened the store I saw a dude from the main office that was appointed our new district manager the previous night at the topgolf. The position that I should have had based off of my experience in sales alone, but they told me the reason for my termination was I didn't attend the mandatory meeting. I got that shit on My phone as evidence and when it went to the unemployment commission and we had a mediated conversation about my termination, she said she didn't need to hear anything else from me and gave me a full paid 9 months. Rahim if you're still out there, fuck you

[@snoozyq9576]

I'm amazed they cared so much about you attending that silly rushed event. So bizarre.

[@drivethrupoet]

Name the names!

[@atomkinder67]

​@@snoozyq9576Because it's the only way to show their management success: look how many attendees we had!

[@SuicidalChocolateSK]

Get paid 9 months was nice at least

[@ThatADHDKid]

@@SuicidalChocolateSK got me through until I landed another job. Far far away from retail management. Into a factory to play flesh-bot 7 days a week. I ruined my back and had surgery that made things worse! Fun stuff 🙃

[@tankionline9097]

I have seen Michael more than my own mother this week

[@dangerousd1312]

give her a call!

[@shinister9720]

Actually same

[@MrSlayerkid117]

Seen him more in the last year lmao

[@Kyler666relyK]

Every week❤️ Michael > Moms

[@captnrobvious47]

Same

[@LoveHandle4890]

George Carlin put it the best, “You have to work a 9-5 job. Put bread on the table. While all having a great big fake smile on your face.”

[@repoman182]

The rich get all the money and pay none of the taxes. The middle class pay all the taxes and do all the work.. the poor are there, to scare the s*** out of the middle class, keep them showing up at these "jobs" - Old Georgie

[@johnmcdevitt4750]

George Carlin was a magnificent philosopher. And I most certainly read this in his voice.

[@onemouthymerc]

And they'll only hire you if you put on the biggest fake smile and act like you only dream of working for them. It's so shitty.

[@biggiesmalls3096]

@@onemouthymerc few years ago when I was getting my first job I kept getting turned down in interviews. I only got a job when I went and faked my personality to some weirdo in my eyes 😂. Game is the game

[@NihilistZealot]

Except now it's 9am-11pm, flex weekends, oh and could you cover an extra shift? We're also going to need you to come in on your day off. Did you remember those TPS reports "That's not even my jo--" THANKS, we'll circle back in an hour!

[@andrewsaul2497]

Watching this video from the work parking lot feels dystopian I must say

[@CJx37]

I refused to take part in spirit week in high school and I'm sure as hell not taking part in it at work

[@BellalisDope]

The social conditioning starts young. I also hated all the stuff.

[@realdavebob]

I’m in a fast-food chain and management just announced spirit week 🙃

[@naazahs9045]

​@@BellalisDopeschool is basically prepping you for corporate slavery for the rest of your lives.

[@alimclean560]

Big same. I think the only few times I participated was when it was ‘80s day.

[@Hedgehog3342]

Big same. I never like spirit week in highschool because i rather not be in highschool. So "work fun" no, i don't want to be around my co workers. I go to work to get money and go home. Im not wanting to be attached to work. I find no purpose at work. Work itself is just propaganda anyway to get people to be distracted.

[@One_Pun]

I am fairly introverted and this kind of environment makes me very, very nervous. I can survive about 6 months in such workplace, then I go "crazy" (my filter and mask drops) and I usually get fired or leave on my own.

[@hittingyouoverthehead]

I'm introverted too but when I first entered the workforce, I rather enjoyed these company fun activities but that's mainly because all employees there were my age, fresh out of college. Now I'm slightly older, switched a couple of jobs and now the workplace is full of people of different ages. There are brand new employees who make me feel like a grandpa and there are actual grandpas who make me feel like a kid. I really really don't want to go on a "fun" activity with this group. It's just gonna feel like going on a family tour with someone else's family.

[@hotarubinariko]

I feel this. I have ADHD (diagnosed only about a year and some change ago) and a habit of people pleasing, so the expectations get unreasonable quick, and then I can't suppress my frustration and burnt out. Not that I'm mean but I'm not the "happy to help" cheery person anymore. Plus the RSD that comes with it makes it so painful to be in these environments. They're always so manipulative, and nothing is ever good enough. I also end up breaking down in a year or less. That's why I'm working for myself now but damn it's hard to make ends meet sometimes.

[@Riven0x]

I don't believe in introversion. I believe we shut ourselves away because we want no part in a sick society full of toxicity and deception.

[@JamGoller]

Same lol

[@deimosaraimos2144]

Going through it right now lol

[@Cryzark]

I was graduated because I didn't wear a Christmas hat when working with Christmas trees in late November last year. Apparently not wearing the hat means I wasn't a team player and was immediately let go on the spot. Gotta love it.

[@WisecrackEDU]

My god.

[@LuisSierra42]

Good riddance, that workplace sounds toxic af

[@Cryzark]

​@@LuisSierra42Actually, every worker there was amazing, except for the guy who fired me. No one liked him when he was around because he had a typical micromanaging management style where he insisted on doing things his way and made you feel like you were always wrong. He would even tell you to come in half an hour earlier the next day, two minutes before closing, and never give you a chance to say no before rushing off. The worst part is that he's the owner's son, and his behavior could never be checked when his dad was not around.

[@makelovenotwar2467]

@@Cryzark sounds like he did you a favour by firing you. Hope you'll find a better job

[@Zeppelinschaffner22]

How is this not wrongful termination?

[@jroden06]

As a professional, I’m never going into an office again. I have no need to commute to a building I didn’t pay for to be around people I didn’t choose. If I can’t do the job you need from where I am, you are not hiring someone who performs the role that I do as a network engineer; you are bolstering ego. And my rate for doing that is unaffordable to everyone because it’s simply never worth it to sacrifice a second of your limited time to serve anyone else’s ego.

[@stephenhowes6509]

I second that. I worked a remote job pre-covid and my current job became remote for covid. No reason to waste time commuting anymore ... for any job.

[@JamesTDG]

If I am forced to work in an office, I'll leave a sign that says "Unless it's really important or can't fit in an email, don't disturb."

[@shakenbacon-vm4eu]

Also cuz like being happy, resting (naps!!), and relaxing are thing never to be done in COMPANY TIME. That should all be done on your own personal time. Which is why companies want to get rid of work from home. You need to be constantly unhappy, stressed, and terrorized at work cuz the opposite cannot be done on COMPANY TIME. Also a big shout out to all of us who have found time to game or watch movies/tv/KZbin at home while getting paid on company time.

[@RocketLR]

I went from Network engineer to cloud engineer.. so im in the same position as you. However, I do like going to the office sometimes to change the scenery. Getting a bit tired of working from home and not interacting with colleagues who are basically friends as well. That being said. I don't think going back to the offices should be a must. Offices should be complementary like a cup of coffee. It's nice to have but should be forced down everyones throat and not everyday.

[@SinHurr]

Absolutely based

[@nagimori4418]

It's kinda depressing that we live in a society where we need a stock video of a man constantly banging his head to the wall 5:56

[@DasIllu]

I bet there where even bronze age pictograms and graffiti of people banging their heads on walls and tables. It's intrinsic to the human experience. There are idiots, people that can tolerate idiots and people who can't tolerate idiots, but are subjugated by them. Thus headbanging ensues.

[@Argysh]

... at least we live in a society in which he's wearing a hard hat? progress!

[@Jay-kx4jf]

That's a negative way to look at that Imo. I mean, why would you not want depressed workers experiences to be represented in stock videos? Sounds like a pretty uplifting that people are finally able to think about and represent it so well through stuff like stocks.

[@ndelano]

being a stock actor sounds like a sweet gig. unfortunately id imagine ai is about ready to replace it because we live in hell

[@OzwalR]

​@@ndelanostill needs to figure out how to create convincing looking hands

[@onaraisedbeach]

Feeling this big time right now. Due to various mental health issues and my work chronically failing to be realistic about what one person can do, my 9-5 devours every ounce of mental energy I have. It leaves nothing for creative fulfilment, relationships, or - ironically - looking for another job. It's a half-life, and I don't understand how anyone can function this way and feel, well, human. My job isn't just not central to my identity, it's actively hostile to it.

[@kaiite]

I'm chronically ill and work full-time and I feel this

[@HLmilkcarton]

Just man up there's no such thing as mental health issues

[@Riven0x]

@@HLmilkcarton sadly my boss says this despite him crying in a corner being coddled by his young impressionable servers because his wife and job sucks.

[@finntownsley5144]

To be honest, I find my soul being linked to work crushing. It doesn't help that my last few jobs before going back into education were things I believed actively made the world a worse place or were at the very least pointless shit no one needed doing. I'm co-opting work place Atheist for how I felt, because the disconnect was very much like being forced to pretend to have faith in a god you could not reconcile with your reality.

[@pif5023]

Yes! I feel exactly the same way! Like I am made to swear for a god I don’t believe in!

[@NWPaul72]

I work on a family farm for very little money, but I don't hate myself for what I do to feed myself anymore, and that's... pretty valuable.

[@finntownsley5144]

@@NWPaul72 Yeah I completely understand. There is something uniquely horrifying about having to trick yourself into believe what you do matters, no matter how much they pay you. Taking a pay cut to be doing something that you feel is at least worth doing on some level is a great thing if you can.

[@onemouthymerc]

Yes! I used to think I could find a great company and feel like I was contributing to something greater than myself. Turns out that "greater" thing is just the CEO's bank account.

[@codentia___4369]

Workplace atheism…man, I felt that on deep level

[@Inscriptions37]

Colin Robinson's line from What We Do In The Shadows really nails it: "At every office I've worked at they always say, 'We're a big family here,' and it does motivate people to work harder and neglect their actual families and put up with all sorts of degrading shit."

[@tantris8685]

I work a remote IT job, and when I started they would ping me every week to go to the Friday "Social Zoom Call", which was basically guys just sitting awkwardly trying to talk about their weekend plans, but the fact that they [management] would message me directly and ask if I was going definitely made it feel like it was required.

[@ComradeDt]

Well what were your weekend plans?

[@LuisSierra42]

I never go to those and i've stopped caring about consequences

[@mega1283]

they had that at my work as well and we weren't even remote workers ( it was job that involved both cleaning and fixing things in the building but at the time they had us at home doing online training ). They called it thirsty Thursdays and I refused to go to those zoom calls

[@tantris8685]

@@ComradeDt To recover from a week of working a job with people that suck lol

[@ThisOldSkater]

Just don't reply. It's not work related. Show up or don't. Set that expectation.

[@poopsled]

Any time our company gave us beer at work it meant layoffs were coming within a month. Management got confused how people figured it out by the 3rd round of layoffs. Makes me very distrustful employers being nice

[@naazahs9045]

How the f**k were these people so dumb ?!

[@Saint_Ada]

These extra curriculum activities always bugged me, i'm not considered a "team player" cuz' i don't take part in the monthly barbecues, friday night bars, mid office hours coffee breaks, the thing is, my living expenses doesn't leave much for me to spend in things i don't wanna do, i have my friends and family to spend time too, i have other things i wanna save money for, i can't afford to give back the money i woked for back to my job

[@jonathanhill6064]

I know a lot of people do not have the luxury, but just outright quitting a job, no two weeks, just "fuck you fuck you you're cool i'm out who's coming with me?" is almost as good as an orgasm

[@NWPaul72]

"I don't think I work here any more. See you when my check is ready." Still makes me smile, and screw the NW Blvd. Subway.

[@ThisOldSkater]

This is why I've always told my son to save, save, save, so he don't NEED unemployment to survive until he finds a new job. His first couple of jobs will probably straight up own him, but if he can get that security, he' have all (ok, most) of the power.

[@JamesTDG]

"but you have to send a 2 weeks notice!" I don't see that as a me problem, shoulda hired enough people to stay afloat

[@K4R3N]

I quit a a job once on the spot. Best feeling ever. The key is not to join the bad groups/places in the first place. Ask around. Now I'm in a good place, 3 years completed

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

The "Jerry Macguire" vibe is with SO many people in this thread...

[@RetroCrisis]

I've just finished my shift at work....and now I'm watching a video about work....

[@TreesPlease42]

Gotta heal from the trauma

[@jememesus8588]

Oh yeah? I'm working while watching this

[@MisterCynic18]

​​@@jememesus8588 the panopticon is real my friend, careful what you say and where...

[@TvGunslingeRvT]

I work at hotel as a minibar attendant, and l love my job.

[@MisterCynic18]

@@TvGunslingeRvT this guy gets it

[@edawgrules]

I'm a teacher and my first year at a new school, there was a "staff wellness day" that involved workshops on aromatherapy, Zumba, photography, etc. Many tenured teachers did not attend, but I felt somewhat compelled to go. What would have really helped my wellness was being able to get my grading and planning done.

[@kaiite]

It's funny because a lot of the time improving working conditions is actually free and this other shit we don't want costs money

[@wormbo2]

​@@kaiite"look, if we DON'T spend this budget, they'll cut it down next quarter! So... pizza party and personal Yogi's for everyone!!"🤑🤑🤑

[@kaiite]

@@wormbo2 maybe budget in some bonuses kthxbai

[@robbieskids9159]

Teaching is such a hard issue to tackle. My wifes a teacher and we have this conversation all the time. She says the only that would help working conditions in her school is more teachers or smaller class sizes, both of which are a pipe dream.

[@girllittlemorbid]

When we were coming back from 2020 & had all these new responsibilities they added a module to our mandatory training about burnout & stress. It was sooo helpful to have to stress about fitting in a lecture about mindfulness & not getting stressed out.

[@gunnasintern]

exactly why i’ve always prefer remote work, it gives you a more flexible schedule and actively discourages overwork. the only people who are going to remember you working so late is your family

[@DasIllu]

I was, until recently a decommissioned electrician. I am chronically ill, only able to work part time. I found a job in a mid sized company and i am treated extremely well. I have good pay, flexibility in working hours (when my body says no, my boss has no problem with it) The work i do is what the rest of the staff isn't trained for. And the company is holding that little i can do in high regard. Now that is what i personally award with more engagement, going the extra mile, coming up with solutions in my spare time. But it is not exploitative. I feel... satisfaction in doing my job well. This is, what i think work should be like. If management wants productive people, maybe management should focus more on what people need to thrive than what's looking good on linked in.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@naazahs9045]

Most management comprises of incompetent people who are devoid of any imagination and real managerial skills, and rely on just herd mentality on what's going on in other management circles and what's the current trend/norm theses days so that their upper management is satisfied and happy with them. They don't give a sh!t but pretend to do so and end up making a lot of people miserable and resentful of their job and everything associated with it.

[@WexLuthor]

Your timing is impeccable Michael. Yesterday I declined an “optional” company field trip to the local roller skate rink and I’m getting all the passive aggressive shit for it. Thanks for the perspective and reassurance man, I appreciate you

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@jobnieloliva5358]

That’s a sign to start looking for a new job

[@OMGASL]

Credit to the team who had to look through stock footage of actors trying to have fun or meditate in an office.

[@Skipping2HellPHX]

I think the most insidious "mandatory fun" for me occurred when I was in the military. Showing up to dress mess galas and "volunteer" events was tied into the ability to be promoted, and if you were married your spouse had to join the "spouses club" (which was headed by the LtCol's wife) and also participate in activities. I saw people be passed up for promotion, get written down in performance reports, and have retaliatory additional duty assignments for not participating. Also, this was a dozen years ago so we were actively fighting two wars at the time...

[@Rodprz73]

Whenever I think of work before and after work. I tell myself, "I'm not getting paid to think about 'em." Work don't get to live in my head rent-free.

[@Pandaemoni]

Once, when I was working for a big company where the turnover rate was extremely high, they held a mass meeting of everyone of the junior people. They asked us to give them ideas for how they could improve everyone's job satisfaction, but with the caveat that they only wanted suggestions that wouldn't require them to pay us more or spend any money. Suggestions would not be anonymous, so they got almost no suggestions. The rumor was that one person who was quitting anyway suggested they use HR to "help us with our job search" and I wish they were true.

[@Wahinies]

Even supposed anonymous suggestions are not because it's easy to figure out the author. Got to love management that needs to be told how to do its job.

[@BalasielVOD]

I feel exactly the same way as you: started a career in software development because I loved coding and almost everything around it, got a 3 year education, even tried to study it (didn't work out), but the culture in IT and workplaces in general crushed my enthusiasm and love for it so hard that I now have a job where I don't code anymore, and I can't even bring myself to do it in my free time, because even thinking about it gives me anxiety attacks.

[@katetoolate234]

Ive been with my current job for almost 4 years, and just today, I put in my notice. I don't have another job to go to or anything, I just wanted to take some time off and explore other activities and possibilities for myself and who I can be. And HOLY CRAP was it a tough decision to justify to myself. There's no reason I shouldn't be able to pursue what I want in life (I have plenty of savings) and yet I feel SO bad for leaving my teammates and coworkers. I've spent so much time lately thinking about this decision, though, that I have absolutely noticed how much I've tied my sense of self into this job and the degree to which I've internalized what my company wants from me. It's like having these invisible threads that tug at your heart strings and sense of self. Anyway, I do think I've made the right decision. But geez was it insanely hard to make.

[@joshuaharris3039]

I feel you! I was pretty much in the same boat as you at the end of September of last year. I’m still looking for a new job and it’s starting to become a real desperate situation but I feel like I made the right decision to find better work and more time to help my family 😊

[@angeladawn805]

If you can master a more frugal lifestyle, you'll be opting out of the consumerist capitalist life style (which is better for your finances and better for the environment). 18 months ago, I was helping my son decide on career options, and while he did another year at school- I gave in my notice, and did a trades course (for free). I'm all about getting tangible skillsets. Work kept me on as part time, but I have knowledge, 13 years experience, and no fucks to give!! Instead of thinking as Work as linear- trudging to retirement/death. Think of it as gaming, up-skilling and leveling up on a lader, each step building on previous experience

[@Drekromancer]

@@angeladawn805 Brilliant advice. I'll be thinking of this for a long time. Thank you for sharing.

[@jamesdean5095]

Awesome decision to make! I just did pretty much the exact same thing, and like you said, sometimes you need that distance to actually get clarity on who YOU want to be, for yourself, without influence.

[@TheRaven8]

This was great. At lowes they use the slogan “This is our house” To make us all feel responsible for their lack of provision for their environment. Always cracks me up. I pushed back to my manager once on it and they asked why. And I said because it’s bad boundaries. It’s not my house. It’s my employer. It’s theirs and they need to own it and provide us what we need to take proper care of things.

[@adrianguzman6563]

Very good! 😊❤

[@Zeppelinschaffner22]

For me it's the exact opposite: All of my colleagues are remote, and even the few that go to the office, don't really work with any of the others in the office. So once or twice a year, when we all meet up and do something fun is something i look forward to

[@DrumWild]

LinkedIn has mandatory fun, but it's even worse with their "Corporate Positivity Cheerleaders." One came to my desk to have a talk with me because I wasn't smiling. They expected me to have a freakish smile on my face. I just had my resting focus face on. She tells me that I look angry. I tell her that I am not, and the conversation continues until I get angry. I told her that I do NOT have to be happy all of the time, that being happy all the time is what crazy people do, and WHY CAN'T I JUST... BE? Probably landed me on a list. Got downsized along with everyone over 40 who wasn't in management.

[@tcdoesstuff]

This feels relevant since I’ve been sinking in literal uncontrollable tears while filling excel sheets in my room bc my supervisor gave me extra work that I have to finish before tomorrow which was out of left field… I’m not even full time and have a dozen side projects I’m doing myself…

[@carpo719]

Anything having to do with paperwork or Excel sounds like torture to me

[@christophermalone6313]

Sorry for your experience. Your plight brings up a great point. With the work culture mindset there is actually no such thing as a part time job...except for your decreased pay and benefits. I got a "part time" job in college so I could make some food and gas money...ended up working as close to 40 hours as possible every week. Any request for reduced hours was frowned upon as not doing my fair share for the team.

[@Brannon1009]

Tell them no. It’s a secret they don’t want you to know. They won’t fire you for saying no and honestly they won’t know what to say. They will work you as much as you let them.

[@onemouthymerc]

I'm so sorry you're going through that. I spent an entire weekend working on a project I couldn't say no to or push back on and cried the whole time. It was awful. Any chance you can find something else?

[@tcdoesstuff]

@@onemouthymerc Job ends late June and I don't feel like continuing. I just realise I didn't even sign a contract :D My superviser was a upperclassmen from school so I'm pretty they will at least pay me. I'm pretty sure. The job is in the feild I want (thus I'm explaining it as vague as possible) just not the exact job, so tbh I'm slightly pressured to not make any negative impression since everyone here knows people in the industry.

[@Miss_Tatti]

Gotta love how this channel always manages to throw me in the middle of an existential crisis over everything lol! But seriously, as someone who's battling with letting go of a "high performer" identity at work, this video this reminded me why I decided to look for more meaning in other 'life' things like just sitting in the late afternoon sun basking with nothing to do and nowhere to go and just being happy

[@K4R3N]

ever try playing tennis during lunch break or a 1 hour outdoor bike ride? It's the best part of my work day 😉

[@Miss_Tatti]

@@K4R3N sounds envigorating!

[@K4R3N]

@@Miss_Tatti yeah I think if these companies expect us to work funny hours then I'm going to sprinkle in my own life during "working hours" as well. The grocery stores are very fast at 11am and the gym is lightly attended at 2pm

[@naazahs9045]

The last four lines, God ! How I miss such days.

[@robertochacon5338]

I loved a study of mindfulness that showed that mindfulness training turned employees less productive. :) if you teach people a bit to look inwards, they realize they can start a road to find themselves

[@JetstreamGW]

From what I understand, damn near every single thing that offices have tried to do in the last 30-40 years to increase productivity have had the opposite effect. I know I found open office space distracting as _fuck._

[@Berutoron]

@@JetstreamGW There's studies out there that show that open offices have the opposite effect to what you would expect. So, counterintuitively, coworkers tend to communicate LESS when they're in an open office situation. The reality is that open offices don't necessarily exist to make you more productive - that's the byproduct execs hope for -, but to 1) let managers exert more control, and above all, 2) save money. The whole spiel about open offices being good for workers because it's more social and more fun is just BS. It's always about money and control.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@JeffCaplan313]

Less productive (in terms of volume of bullshit), but more efficient (in terms of 'doing the work')

[@Daniel-yy3ty]

@@Berutoron but if you produce less, they need more workers to get the same amount of work done... how is hiring more people cheaper than putting up some flippin walls and have people actually concentrate on what they do?

[@RichardServello]

This is why I LOVE work from home. None of this bullshit.

[@britipinojeff]

I work from home, the company activities just moved to zoom meetings. Feels like a waste of time to force everyone to awkwardly talk or play games, but maybe I'm just a grumpy introvert

[@RichardServello]

@@britipinojeff I’ve never had to do activities. Just meetings. And I usually work thru them and listen for my name.

[@K4R3N]

I work from home but occasionally it is nice to go into the office and meet and chat with folks. Usually I do very little work in the office, I instead socialize. I think there's value in work socializing. I "see" these people more than my own kids.

[@williamg780]

Well I think one of the points of this video is that workplace culture is increasingly blurring the boundaries between work and home. Don’t get me wrong, I’d take any opportunity to work from home if I had it. But there’s still some boundaries that should be had

[@RichardServello]

@@K4R3N I find that to be a problem tho. I saw my kids an hour in the morning and on weekends (when I didn’t have to work) back before Covid. Now I’m a constant presence in my children’s lives. I drop them off to school and pick them up. If I’m working I’ll take five mins to get some hugs. I make dinner and read bedtime stories. They are my favorite coworkers. No need to spend the day with strangers.

[@Unknown-jt1jo]

I worked at Facebook, and while "kool-aid culture" existed, you could pretty much ignore it. I just came into work, sat at my laptop, and did my job. Nobody ever gave me any grief over it.

[@StephenLeGresley]

This is why many places are finding it hard to attract workers and why Europe doesn't have this problem to such a degree. Work is how you pay for your life, it shouldn't BE your life. We work so hard so that when we are old and sick we can live 10-15 years on a fixed income while we deal with our health issues. It's insane. In many European countries people go home around 2-3pm, they don't work 8-9 hours out of their day. And they have time to enjoy actually having a life. We are not simply drones to work and buy things (as much as America's hyper-capitalist system would think otherwise). Wages are stagnant while prices shoot up every couple of months now. It's out of control and it's causing societal decay as a result. Homelessness and poverty are at record levels, crime and theft are up almost everywhere. Our approach to work and the marketplace needs to change or this system will just continue to spiral towards collapse. I once met someone who worked in a factory and stated they were proud of having leg and back pain due to the work they did and I could not stop thinking what a fool they are. Like the millionaire or billionaire who owned the company would care about that. A friend of mine who works at a Walmart regularly sees people shoplifting and he's stopped doing anything about it because he's paid scraps to work there and treated like garbage so why should he care about the company? This is also why so many young people are turning to social media to make money rather then minimum wage jobs. Like I said the system needs to change or much like the environment it's going to keep disintegrating.

[@Triggernlfrl]

It is called slavery wich profits a few parasites...

[@RucazevedoBtK]

I don't know where you're getting that 2-3pm idea. People in Europe usally work 35-40 hour weeks (officially, some professions do lots of unpaid overtime), not including lunch breaks. So if you go in at 9am you're usually only clocking out at 5-6pm

[@StephenLeGresley]

@@RucazevedoBtK No they don't, people in Italy for example go home around 2-3 everyday. I've seen interviews that back that up.

[@RucazevedoBtK]

@@StephenLeGresley For the record, I'm not saying it's not better than the US, because it is, but it's still not good enough and we as working people should demand much better

[@LNYuiko]

If you think Europe has it better, then you did not understand the point of the video at all.

[@treyshaffer]

This video perfectly describes my experience working as a software engineer at Google. From the outside, friends and family thought I had my dream job, but for me it was an experience rife with constant anxiety and depersonalization -- i.e. feeling distant from who I was and what I cared about in life. Sure there were kushy benefits (laundry service, barista, masseuse, catered breakfast/lunch/dinner, etc), but you were still doing it through work meaning not only more time within the panoptican but also a stronger sense of personal commitment to the company and its ownership over your time, well being, and personality. I can't even imagined how much worse it was at the HQ, as Mountain View is such an isolated suburban walled-garden that (at least from my few weeks training there) must feel impossible to escape the all-seeing eye of the tech giant panopticon. I think some of my coworkers were better able to regulate the separation between themselves and the workplace than I was, but I also definitely saw many that fell into the "new religion" trap as described by the sociologist in the video.

[@story3877]

When i hear "we're going to have a teambuilding exercise in today's meeting" i find myself going, i wonder if they'll believe me if i pretend to throw up in the bathroom and take a sick day? lol. I DETEST mandatory fun. Thing is, i bond so much better with my coworkers when i'm allowed time to sit about and just chat with them. If we had a ten to fifteen minute snack session before a meeting where we all just talk about whatever the hell we want to talk about, I'd bond far better than tossing a stuffed animal in the air and shouting something i like "Star wars!" and then any coworker who also likes that thing has to step into the circle and pick up the bear....seriously it was the dumbest thing i've ever done, other than once watch grown men have to feed each other a hot dog while the VP laughed (don't work there anymore) and pick a card from a deck and answer the trivia questions on it "when and where was the first time you rode a bike?" wtf? Idk i was like 4? People, let people just interact the way they wish. If they're getting work done and aren't causing drama in the break room, then we're good! I don't need to be siblings with these people and invite them to my kid's graduation. It's ok to shake their hand and say, "i enjoyed working with you." then never seeing them again (equally ok to find out that you get along with one very well and do invite them to your game nights lol). It's all about control. any doubt i had in that left when i worked for a college where they forced the new hires to sing the school songs on a stage in front of everyone while people laughed that they didn't know the lyrics (left that toxic hell too).

[@onlyghosts7152]

In the immortal words of Thomas Matthew Delonge “Work sucks, I know.”

[@WisecrackEDU]

I might've fought to put a screenshot from that music video on the thumbnail . . .

[@onlyghosts7152]

@@WisecrackEDU How did putting one of our greatest modern day philosophers on the thumbnail not happen??

[@voswell3292]

I used to care very deeply about work, and poured a lot of myself into it from early career to about early mid-career. I had, let's call it, a 'cold shower' moment where it became clear that the amount of care between myself and my employer was mostly one way. I kept my overall performance high, and started to care less - that is to say I untangled me from work me. I also created an fall back option which helped in relieving the financial side of things should I find myself on the corporate chopping block. Oddly enough, my career has done very well and continues to grow. Being less attached can bring good things! [not advise of course - folks need to run their own..]

[@Wahinies]

I am going through this right now. Employers prey on ignorance. Boy do people get angry when you start to have boundaries you never did before.

[@bobstar2683]

"Mindfulness".... We underpay you, overwork you, control every aspect of your existence but if you feel bad about it, it's down to you to change your thinking.

[@1997CorvetteC5]

I think Millennials and Gen Z rebelling against corporate and office culture is a byproduct of the control that said culture exerts over people. I think it's why you're seeing more significant pushes for a 4-day work week because work/life balance is now a higher priority for people. I also think people are rebelling against "doing what you love" as a career specifically because doing what you love as work is a great way to strip all the joy out of whatever it is that you love.

[@fireassassin1688]

100 percent this👆 very underrated comment

[@enkaramessi10]

Work done = Force × displacement

[@EmperorPilaf04]

I found that working from home, the time I saved on my commute (let alone picking out and putting on "work clothes") far outweighed any extra time I put in due to having my work PC right there. But that's just me 🤷‍♂️

[@pkendlers]

I work 12-hour shifts 3 days a week, so I can have the rest of the time off, and I work from home. Three 12s back to back is tough, but the rewards are infinite. I've bought my time back - my Freedom! The company gets a loyal, hard-working employee as a result. Win-win, I say. One more thing. Elon Musk demands all his employees work at the office just like all the factory workers have to work on the factory floor. I say respectfully to Mr Musk, working at home is part of my benefit package. If I had to drive into the office to work, I would expect a much higher rate of pay to replace the benefit that I am losing and the extra incurred costs that going into the office implies. Elon has his priorities which I understand. I have mine. Please don't belittle working from home. In lieu of money, this is the benefit package I have chosen.

[@NickRedstar]

Fun on the job for me is. Being perpetually under staffed. Doing three things at the same time. And I’m under constant threat of being demoted.

[@holleighgram]

I just started a new corporate job, and it is terrifying how you hit the nail on the head with all of this. I've had so many panic attacks from the "open office plan" and being told I have to commute and hour each way because being under constant surveillance and physically oppressed to a space that is not allow to be my own because it's part of "our culture" . I want to send this video to my coworkers so bad, but I know it will only ostracize me from them even more and I'll have to live in that tension 40 hrs per week

[@PanthroSamah]

The funny thing is that when americans studied zaibatsus, they thought that the dedication was because of "company culture" and not that when you're in a zaibatsu (wich is very hard to enter), you will never get fired, so you can plan your entire life considering that you will still be working for the same company. You want to invest in your career? Do it, because every course and relationship that you develop will work for you through your entire life. If you can be fired at any moment and go to work in a complete different job with different people doing different stuff, why bother?

[@drjay182]

I literally had to fill out a survey / questionnaire by HR yesterday about "how to improve workplace playfulness" and "teamwork" something like that The part of not wanting to be forced to socialize definitely hit home. I like my coworkers, but I don't want to spend my free time playing games in the office, or forced to go to the coffee / drink socials we have Unsurprisingly, those who go to all the events are on track for more promotions, despite their actual work output being the same, or lower. It is what it is Great video and great timing lol

[@carpo719]

The whole office world is like a big joke. People know it's unnatural to work in that kind of an environment so they try to make it fun, but it just makes things worse much of the time

[@drjay182]

@@carpo719 totally agree!!

[@ronnyskaar3737]

I have worked all my life within arts and culture. I can't even go to a theater or a concert without feeling I am at work. It's a tragedy.

[@marnenotmarnie259]

i remember being like eight and realizing i spent more time with my teacher than with my parents… i guess school does prepare kids for work in at least that way

[@jameskent5347]

Immediate example came to mind. I used to work for a construction company in the office. They would schedule monthly company trips to laser tag or mini golf. There were also the occasional conferences we had to attend. Whether it was a company trip to laser tag or a conference I had to attend. My thought was always “I’d rather be home with my wife”.

[@caylynmillard76]

As a teacher I would work on the weekends just to stay ahead and I never was. Also, my job had signs in the break room that read “appearance IS reality”. Which is a pretty funny saying.

[@wilberwhateley7569]

I literately cannot do this - my work isn’t a source of identity to me because it’s never anything more than a mere paycheck. I’m fully aware that for all the talk of “family” and what-not the corporate goons will fire anyone at the drop of a hat and thus my loyalty to a company is never greater than the last paycheck I get from it: the moment the checks turn up light is the moment I prepare to move on.

[@onemouthymerc]

I worked at a company that expected us to reply to Slack messages within 15 minutes. One of the VPs messaged me while we were actively in a remote meeting together and had tagged someone else to try getting the information they wanted from me by the time we were out of said meeting. This was all during the pandemic and I was also taking care of my dog after she'd been diagnosed with cancer. They expected all of us to work as if everything was normal because of their own bad business decisions from the past. It was a pretty traumatic experience and definitely contributed to my need for therapy and antidepressants after they laid me off. I'm afraid to work for another tech company.

[@momoneyinvesting]

I experienced the same once but with client emails. It wasn't even my job to be answering them to begin with. Really makes starting a business or even being a contractor way more appealing

[@jonathanandrew2909]

The good news is, if you weren’t productive enough they laid you off. Now you’re free to do something else.

[@onemouthymerc]

@@jonathanandrew2909 I did start my own business! It takes a while, but I'm happier trying that.

[@kittybailey672]

Same Michael! Honestly, I have so many side gigs. I have a 9-5 job, and I'm afraid of making my side hustles my income source because I'm afraid it will make me enjoy the work less and lose the sense of security I've built. My day job is boring but it has amazing benefits, healthcare, etc. If I made my artistic/creative pursuits full time, I might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. For years now I've fantasized about moving to Europe, lately Montreal, for a more European lifestyle. I dream of being connected to better quality food, free healthcare, solid public transportation, a stronger art scene, and a cultural value system that aligns closer with my own. I have concerns that I'm looking at the idea of moving with rose colored glasses. I'd still carry all my current problems with me if I moved and would have to build a social and professional network from scratch in my mid to late 30's. Michael, there's a movie for creative burnout, watch Kiki's Delivery Service. I'd also bet money you've watched many a Ghibli film though.

[@newagain9964]

Bruh. anime??

[@vibesmom]

“Let’s be honest with each other.” Awesome statement. Great video - lots to think about.

[@sunnyrainbowLTA]

As a teacher, if you don't work outside of your contracted hours to do all of the things, like grading (and many other things), that are required of your job, but they don't give you enough time to do, you get punished and sometimes the students suffer. I tried this year to say no to spending my weekends doing stuff, and my evaluations suck because I'm not planned far enough ahead according to my principal and I'm struggling to finish my IEPs on time. I'm really good at working with students and I LOVE it, but I hate spending my free time doing work. So, I might have to give up teaching.

[@noseboop4354]

Maybe you should think about quitting your job, but continue teaching as a tutor or private lessons. There's also corporate training who likes to hire teachers.

[@Drekromancer]

I'm sorry to hear that. Teachers these days are under an impossible crunch. I had a similar situation as a therapist for kids and teens. Great work, but not enough time to avoid having to take the work home. And that was what was killing me.

[@vylinful3198]

Once again, great video. Working in HR at a large corporation, I was encouraged to encourage other new joiners to immerse themselves into the company culture through off-hour 'mandatory' company drinks and through company events that would harken back fun school trip feelings to all employees. I've since quit my job as I despised being the enforcer of corporate culture. What I find terrifying is that all these activities were not pointless as they were excellent tools used by the company to drive up engagement and give token ownership of the company through a vague feeling of belonging that tied our personal identities to the company brand.

[@ryanvandalinda12345]

Fantastic video. Love this channel. I wish every video came with a supplementary reading list correlating to the philosophy topics discussed in each video. After watching your content, I often want to go out and read the books mentioned in the discussions.

[@jaimedeleon1194]

I'm always cautious of when a workplace wants us to be a "family" organization. I see my perception of continuance becoming more positive, but I'm always aware of emotional ties to one's place of profession

[@newagain9964]

Work is Family? Nah. RUN. Don’t walk.

[@richardfield6801]

Yep, I experienced some of this here in my workplace in England. And this wasn't in the tech industry; it was in a local government office, normally the starchiest of old fashioned office spaces. Under the Blair government many local government authorities set up ALMOs (arms length management organisations) to manage their housing stock (Council Housing here in the UK; Social Housing in the USA). This happened where I worked and a new management team were brought in to run the ALMO. The new Chief Exec had been studying all this and together with the Human Resources team she introduced a new regime. Massage and Shiatsu sessions were offered to staff in work time, together with a whole raft of in-house classes which included desk de-stressing techniques, speed reading, self-help, work-life balance, and a load more; a table was set up in the open office with jigsaw puzzles, where staff could go and unwind if they felt the need. There was subsidised membership of the gym opposite for anyone who wanted it. There were team awaydays with cooperative games, and staff conferences with mass bongo playing and motivational speakers. Dressing down days became regular. Staff organised lunctime talks and entertainments for themselves in the larger office meeting rooms. At the same time, management systems based on the work of Dr Deming (regarded as responsible for the Japanese "industrial mircale" after the war) and Myron Trybus were introduced, and staff at all levels were consulted for the first time on a multitude of issues particularly improving processes, procedures and customer services. Management became generally more hands off. And it worked. The mood in the offices lightened and people became much more committed to their jobs. Working unpaid for longer hours was not uncommon. This continued for several years until the ALMO was taken back into the main council structure. This was post 2008 when local government finances were being squeezed. The old guard shut the whole thing down fast and found ways of getting rid of all the new managers and the entire Human Resources team. Sticks replaced carrots, stress rocketed, and the entire regime came to a close.

[@realdavebob]

Shame.

[@jonathanandrew2909]

TLDR.

[@westvirginiaglutenfreepepp7006]

She left me roses by the stairs

[@WisecrackEDU]

say it ain't so

[@johngaunce]

I used to work selling luxury appliances. Outside of the scheduled workday, training sessions weren't uncommon, and often were much more brand cheerleading than actual training. They'd feed you and give away swag, and the high end companies would often have pretty nice/expensive swag. One such brand decided to hold a weekend long "training" session at a world class resort, hosted by a professional chef. I understand how to many people, this would sound like a wonderful thing, but to me it sounded like I have to work over the weekend. I did my best to decline as politely as possible, but this declining triggered a series of events that directly led to my dismissal. I was one of the more successful salespeople there, and they dismissed me without cause, so they ended up paying me out over $100k in severance to go away, all because I didn't want to give up a weekend to experience corporate propoganda about a company whose products I already sold lots of. Over ten years later, and I'm still not over that, and I'm pretty bitter about the state of corporate culture as it applies to labor.

[@thevikingbear2343]

After they hired a new manager to be my boss instead of promoting me, I stopped working after hours (unpaid labor) and this new boss after a month put me aside and told me that I should be a team mate and live by example, work extra hours, and stop complaining because "you are the guy with the most experience, and the team depends on you. You need to give the example and do the extra mile so they follow you." Man, sounds like even the new manager is unwillingly implying I should have been promoted to manager. I am not doing overtime if having done them for over 5 years got me in the exact same position I was hired in, and everyone else around me has been replaced due to the people quitting over the years. It is time for me to start thinking on other jobs as well

[@Adbgdry]

This video really made me think, since I found myself without a job now for a few months already and I noticed madeleines wishing for a job in my life. I wanted to have a routine, a meaning, collectivity. Being without a job nowadays feels lonely and I never thought I would feel this way when I was a teenager…this really makes me think! This video is very much mich appreciated!!! ❤

[@n.mdavis]

Very insightful!! I am currently transitioning out of my startup job (contract wasn't renewed because of financial troubles in the company) and I am now realizing how the schedule of my "flexible schedule" had a toll on me. Because I was able to choose my hours, I noticed that my entire life became scheduled. If I was out drinking a glass of wine, I was not paying attention to whether I am enjoying that glass of wine, but rather if I would get another or whether I would leave, etc. etc. It's insane to me as I am transitioning out of this job. I have been job searching and I am taking my time to not land another job like the one I am leaving. Thanks a lot for this insight, it made me aware of why I don't want that type work culture again!!!

[@codymuller5744]

I work for a small company and I have no real supervisor, so my boss and manager just sit in their office and look at the cameras that are setup throughout the workplace. They don't even try to ACTUALLY supervise and make a lot of assumptions based on what they think they see on the cameras, it's extremely frustrating

[@jacquelinejones7787]

Does wisecrack need a researchers, writer, or editor? This video reminds me of everything I've been trying to change at my workplace that just doesn't budge against corporate, and I'm rather tired of being the only one who advocates with accountsbility

[@dansamarco1610]

Frankly, get a union job or try to unionise your workplace if there's others who also feel the same way and are willing to stand in solidarity with each other. "Corporate" will never actually listen to a single worker out of the kindness of their hearts, rather, they are a barrier to be overcome.

[@NarutoFreak47]

It's interesting. I'm 30 and just got my first career-oriented job as a B2B marketer less than a year ago. My degree was in journalism and I love to write, but couldn't put it to use financially for some time after graduating. I finally found my current job and it's given me a creative writing outlet for pretty okay money for where I was at before (50k salary at the moment which I know is not the number it used to be). It helps that the workplace is one I legitimately enjoy. Coworkers and boss have all been phenomenal. I don't know if I'm still just in a honeymoon phase because I'm finally putting my stronger skills to use, but I haven't yet had to suffer through the video's main points. Not yet, anyway. Time will tell if that changes. Still, good info. Appreciated!

[@celenahill3468]

Love watching your videos while I’m working. Prepping food doesn’t feel like a drag hearing Wisecrack videos auto play.

[@kendallkhoward]

You know, the point that was brought up about how when we get into a career field that involves the things we love and how it makes those things seem like work, hit me. Watching a basketball game can make me think about work. Sometimes, my mind switches from my working brain to a fan brain. I often fear letting my work make me fall out of love with my passions, but luckily I haven’t gotten there yet. I try to take steps to avoid that by occupying my mind with my other passions or just clearing my mind with everything. Very interesting video.

[@seanwood5550]

In the American military, (and other militaries I suspect) there’s a concept called mandatory fun, which seems appropriate way to describe it.

[@dusk2308]

the beatings will stop until morale is improved

[@quasilesbianghostkiller]

Going corporate during the pandemic with an untreated bipolar disorder gave me so much paranoia to the point of hallucinations bc of the feeling of being watched lmao

[@juanmanuelpenaloza9264]

It kinda reminds me of the HMAS Bounty, and how Bligh would make his crew dance at the end of the work day. In his mind it was a way to keep the men's spirits up during a long voyage and avoid a mutiny. But for Fletcher Christian and the rest of the crew, it was part of the reason they despised Bligh and mutinied after leaving Tahiti in 1787.

[@TwoPairSA]

I work for a small company that's mostly pretty nice but as we've grown I've seen a lot of these elements/this culture seeping in and it's made me increasingly uncomfortable about where we’re heading (both my company and society as a whole).

[@Wahinies]

Same. The small company I am at risked and burned out multiple people to try to develop an application and after two years the project is shelved. All of it for nothing.

[@beebot3476]

Wow. This really cast a shadow on the perks I was lapping up at my job. Feels kinda like the company is trying to artificially instil the same sense of identity that "Smith's" and "Cobbler's" had centuries ago that made them take their profession as their last name. Probably why people (me included) feel unfulfilled despite having a decent career pathway/job. They've convinced themselves that their career is who they are and what they really want. ...I think this video has been too eye opening for me (ಠ_ಠ)

[@cheyennemorrison4107]

My old summer job (when I lived in the rust belt) was in a machine shop. There was a lunch room, but honestly I didn’t super fit in with the vibes and just ate in my car, I wasn’t the only one either. It was really nice in hindsight, like when I clocked out I didn’t have to think about work at all, I had that time entirely to myself. I also worked in a very corporate-culture-y place for a bit, and like while a lot of the stuff sounds more fun in theory, like lunch time wasn’t mine anymore. I felt social pressure to spend one of my lunches every week at a yoga class, partially because I was given the explicit career advice of networking with some of the people who went. There were definitely tons more things, like a walking challenge between departments where the group with the most steps at the end of it got like a catered lunch, or like the company did a lot of charity 5Ks and stuff that employees were encouraged to participate in. If I had to choose based on vibes alone, I’d pick the machine shop. Unfortunately the skills I provide to the corporate world are more valued, so straight up I’m going back to that corporate job this summer, to make some actual money to my career in education 🙃

[@dansamarco1610]

c a p i t a l i s m

[@deadcard13]

Didn't just watch this while working, but also did it while remote and collecting OT pay.

[@OrinSorinson]

Looking back at how we evolved and at the lifestyle people have had until the every recent history, I'm surprised we're not more damaged and dysfunctional than we are.

[@Dman9fp]

Most people don't even seem to realize they could have a thriving, wild, functional soul (mine is shaky again, damn no morale low paying job... but as expensive as it is to maintain- It is Worth it, especially with no true friends (is worth it for me) & could very easily fall into despair/ life apathy) ^probably largely because they either never had one in adulthood, or assume/ buy into that life is about the destination at any cost, more than the journey. All destinations become stagnant dead ends if you stay there (at least without some movement mentally, spiritually, physically). The joy is in learning /connecting the dots, & true living/ laughing/ enjoying it in general

[@karakask5488]

I had a job that once told me that I wasn't emotional enough at work. Also my boss said I should stop being smart. We also had to follow The Five Dysfunctions of a Team system, which wants you to dredge up your emotional stuff from your youth, or whatever. We had whole meetings devoted to this thing. Basically trying to psychoanalyze each other, without having any skills, just worksheets. It was the worst.

[@newagain9964]

Yikes. Sounds like a cult.

[@CampingforCool41]

That sounds like hell on earth

[@gossipgirl9508]

wow that's terrible. I don't want a therapy session while at work

[@ethanetn]

That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen

[@chriswardwell5170]

I enjoyed always being really good at my job but I also was never well liked by management cause I also got my thrills off by knowingly talking openly and loudly about the shit they didn't want talked about like unions and yes it's gotten me chewed out and fired on many occasions but it was and still is with it

[@noseboop4354]

Yes, please speak up about unions and compare salaries with your co-workers. Any management that hates that kind of talk is not worth being loyal to.

[@Drekromancer]

@@noseboop4354 Based and extremely true.

[@Erlaxis]

Very interesting video. I have never been one to participate in mandatory fun work activities, even though I worked for 8 years in a place where they were incredibly insistent on people participating. They organized a 'fun' weekend to some beach around the country (I live in Mexico) and they eventually even convinced people to pay for their own plane tickets. They acted like those events were mandatory, but I never attended once, and I even told the HR head to her face the truth ('I rather spend that weekend with my family, even if it is only a single weekend a year'). When I finally quit that company for a better one, I later heard from some former co-workes how HR was supposedly 'just about' to fire me for not being part of the company culture XD Now I have a work from home job, much better paid and with much better benefits.

[@MXF5700]

I'm absolutely "work to live". I've been working in my field for decades now and am good at what I do, but if I could stop working today, I would. In fact, I don't want to have to work anymore badly enough, that I decided to never get married or have kids so I can retire as early as possible. I have found happiness in other ways. FIRE movement for the win!

[@legerdemain444]

Dude same here. I started as the gifted kid, as in top 3 in maths and sciences in the largest school in my country. Did all the right things, got offered all the jobs. I'm 30 now and so burnt out, I quit the industry I worked in and now just work a completely brainless but easy job that I'm utterly overqualified for. But I'm done, I don't want to work. I'm not marrying or having kids so I don't need a lot and have my projects that keep me happy. Wish I'd done it years ago. I only work part time now and the company keeps trying to promote me/use my skills but nope, I don't sell myself anymore. Never been happier

[@noseboop4354]

@@legerdemain444 Thanks for sharing that story, I feel like I'm in the same situation, always trying to satisfy my employers but the harder I work the more they demand out of me. I'm seriously considering moving to a cheaper area and just work part-time, to be able to spend more time resting and on my hobbies.

[@ryanbrink4390]

Excellent vid, Michael & the Wisecrack team. My only criticism is that there were zero clips used from Apple TV's Severance - would have been perfect for this video! Love the idea of being a "workplace atheist". In fact, I work remotely and finished this video during a meeting. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to spend my afternoon taking a hike in the sunshine while listening to some Dead jams and Rose City Band all before my work day is officially done.

[@kaiite]

Severance is literally about the workplace as religion, so it would have been a great choice. I thought the same thing!

[@Chromemargielas]

The part about stealing Time from the man hits different when you’re stealing Time from the man, great video!

[@womp6338]

This was much more insightful than I expected

[@keshavnandhan1234]

The videos on work that wisecrack puts up are the best

[@9000ck]

Mindfulness classes at work pervert the teaching of the Buddha. Work as religion exists; 'workism.' I fell for it and I thought I was a strict agnostic. Also; read David Graeber's 'on bullshit jobs.'

[@westvirginiaglutenfreepepp7006]

Just watched a great video about that today from Elliot Sang

[@Impzhahaha]

watching this while clocked in from bed

[@Impzhahaha]

also i hate that enjoy getting drinks with my coworkers now

[@WisecrackEDU]

KING

[@DirtyDan892]

​@@Impzhahaha You gotta have that inner circle of like-minded "fuck this job" people

[@chaseowen2998]

I hear you on the increased bluriness between work and life when working from home, but also, I will never set foot in a another office building again if I don't have to.

[@kmysamaXX]

Thanks to this video now I realize how my workplace even encourages this "fun office" nonsense with a private website where employees share pictures of their "fun" times at work or outside of work hours. I've felt bad cause my office isn't like that, we don't have this cheerful attitude, mostly the opposite. But this video gives me a new way to look into it, its all made up to keep our mindset in "work mode" even when off the clock, people keep taking pictures and thinking "ill share this later to day at work" "im gonna make it into the front page" F that S... work isn't my life, I work for a living, yes but not viceversa.

[@thevoidlookspretty7079]

Best job I ever had was at a meat packing plant. Because all day, I couldn’t hear anyone talk, and I just did my one task in the freezing cold.

[@feliperobles2797]

The worst thing you can do in a job is be a free soul. There’s so many policies/rules/implications that are clearly against the human experience in the hospitality industry; its incredible. I personally believe in creating foundations that embrace individual greatness vs. having everyone behave in the same manners.

[@hackcubit9663]

Having kombucha on tap and a Lego play room are things that feel like red flags, like "what are you doing to abuse your employees that you have to compensate for it and/or distract your victims?"

[@edhoover42]

I haven't checked yet to see if you did a video on the brilliant series Severence yet, but so much of what you are talking about is shown in that show (one character's personal shrine or alter to work, work "fun" activites like Waffle Parties, etc...).