The Office: Is The Workplace A Family?

Why Michael Scott's management style might be darker than you think.
You love, and we love, The Office. We've watched it, rewatched it, debated which Dundie we would each earn, and more. But today we're wondering about Michael Scott. Specifically, why is he so weird, and does it say something bigger about the way we all do our jobs? We'll explain in this Wisecrack Edition on The Office: How Your Boss Tricks You.
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=== Watch More Episodes! ===
The Office: How Nonsense Conquered the Workplace ► wscrk.com/2NWzrOE
Dwight K Schrute: Genius? ► wscrk.com/3qeeeyt
Space Force: What Went Wrong? ► wscrk.com/2OjZJaB
Written by: Amanda Scherker & Alec Opperman
Hosted by: Michael Burns
Directed by: Michael Luxemburg
Video Title Card Design: Amanda Murphy
Motion Graphics and Edited by: Jackson Maher
Additional Production Assistance: Matias Rubio
Produced by: Evan Yee
#theoffice #michaelscott #jim
© 2020 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc.

[@jamyangpelsang3099]

I was always under the impression that Michael Scott simply wanted his workers to like him simply for the sake of liking him. Rather than using that likability as a means to produce more productivity and motivation. Michael's central theme is being constantly lonely and lacking any real friends which has apparently been an issue since childhood (revealed in footage of him in a children's tv show). He seems to genuinely want to create a family within his office and not solely as a method of retaining employees and creating an efficient workplace. Or maybe that's just me having been somehow manipulated by Michael's management style...

[@jaymelendez1131]

This! This is mentioned briefly in the argument but I believe it is a foundational piece: Michael Scott wants to be loved, he wants friends, and from the beginning he’s been a known “incompetent” employee. I feel like this video is trying to place The Office in the cultural / historical context of productivity and work place management... I’m following up reading the book referenced out of interest but the video posits it as “Michael Scott wants people to like him so that they are productive,” but I think it’s more like, “Michael wants people to like him and he over compensates at work trying to do so.”

[@thegreenrobby7402]

I think there's very much a potential argument to be had her as to whether or not this is deliberate. Michael Scott could potentially be using these kinds of tactics to get people to engage with him already, and maybe that's part of why he landed the job as a manager at this company, despite not seeming very competent. He's got the "team-builder spirit" taken up to 11.

[@BluScoutBonk]

You hit the nail on the head. This video is just capitalist propaganda.

[@davak72]

@@BluScoutBonk Wait, capitalist how? Do you mean socialist, literally the opposite? And how is it propaganda? Genuinely interested in understanding why you think it’s capitalist

[@thegreenrobby7402]

@@davak72 Yeah, lol, this video is a CRITICISM of contemporary capitalist practices. Definitely not capitalist propaganda.

[@grega8875]

Very odd that there wasn’t even a passing mention that overall productivity in the US has been outpacing wage growth since the late 70s

[@bengallup9321]

Exactly. I noticed the same thing.

[@MrMiLLeR495]

computers m8

[@xpkareem]

Two words: Auto Mation

[@teteteteta2548]

@@xpkareem robots can do our jobs, but we still need to eat, the people need a higher wage, or at least, a lower rent and less insurance fucking

[@ulizez89]

Company: What do you want? Employee: a salary and schedule that will allow me to have the same standard of living my parents had at my age Company: pizza lunch! I hear you loud and clear!

[@Dayvit78]

"Purpose... A fat paycheck wasn't enough." Wrong, it was precisely because employers don't want to give fat paychecks, that they push purpose. If you believe in something, you'll do it for free.

[@DA-nk6gx]

Purpose and feeling appreciated/respected is a huge motivator for people. Managers and or businesses who can provide that will get alot out of workers for less money and keep them with the company longer. Most people don't leave their job for more money. Most leave on principle. Usually it's not feeling appreciated or feeling like they dont have a purpose or are unhappy. They feel like they are stagnant. General respect and providing purpose goes a long way in retaining employees. Pay and bonuses only go so far, its half or like 1/3 of the equation to keep employees. Plenty of small businesses stay alive for this reason. Realistically many if not most people working at small businesses can go work a corporate job and be paid more but they value the relationship with their boss (that fosters purpose, respect and a sense of community) or small business owner more than the extra cash or benefits they can receive from a big corporation.

[@iansteelmatheson]

yep, and this partially explains the explosion of interest in things like yoga and "wellness". these help over-productive people who should have gotten pay raises years ago to remain content so that they don't get ground down by their jobs and descend into depression and/or strike.

[@vsssa1845]

@@DA-nk6gx yes, the "purpose" and caring employer is definitely important. What differentiates this and corporate style "caring" is that you KNOW it's not real.

[@DA-nk6gx]

@@vsssa1845 Yeah that's mainly why I was using the small busines example. In a big corporation, you may have a boss or a coworker that actually cares but everyone that's not an executive is just a drop in the bucket, heck even some executives are just as interchangeable as the lower ring employees. It's one thing for a corp to say they care, most give the lip service, but it's a different thing to actually show it and mean it. It's rare to find a corp that says it and actually means it.

[@therebel1375]

I must be different im solely motivated by my paycheck, don't really care about the rest. Pay me more I'll work even harder

[@CottonCandySharks]

We've forgotten that jobs don't have to be our everything in life

[@AR-so6ch]

Yeh buy i always kinda forget cuz im there 40 hours a week

[@ultraatari9298]

They don't have to be. But what friends or lovers do you have anyway? We both know the reason wagies wagie is because they don't wanna be the homeless or the ghetto gang bangers. Anything of greater criticism to the capitalist mode will label you a communist. Until the communists turn away too because God forbid you do something different than everyone just says incel.

[@orderneo]

They don't but life sucks without a paycheck---> a paycheck sucks when you hate your job--> when you love your job it becomes your everything.

[@brittanychase9885]

It's also hard to forget when you're living paycheck to paycheck.

[@zacharywalker524]

I've never felt "connected" to work. It's always been nothing more than a means to an end. I need money and no other reason am I working for an employer

[@jsonitsac]

I agree with most of what this video says. However, what you left out is the fact that Michael was attempting to use work to substitute for an empty personal life. I don't recall ever seeing an episode where we encounter his family. For most of his tenure he's either single or in miserable relationships with women who treat him horribly. Either he's not smart enough to realize how neo-management is used to manipulate his staff or he genuinely believes that these techniques will fill what's missing in his life. That, combined with his narcissism, is why he blatantly crosses work life boundaries - such as inserting himself into Pam and Jim's parenting. What gets him to end this? He meets Holly and moves to Colorado with her. Now he finally has somebody filling that hole and no longer needs Dunder Mifflin. So the important message of the show is that work can never truly take the place of things that we know bring happiness, fiends, families, and community

[@irjoes]

The joke is that corporate has no idea what they are doing and their management style fails. Thus the dysfunctional office run by Michael is actually their best regional office and they cannot fathom why. Michael, the boss who is obviously terrible, cannot convey what it is about his staff and management style that makes them successful. Y'all need to listen to office ladies

[@Taijifufu]

I thought it was that they're adults who don't need full time supervision like when Andy was gone on his movie-deal/boat.

[@dennisaskeland7603]

Cmon its probably Dwight that singlehandely keeps that ship. Affloat and nothing Else

[@TheMelonFarmers123]

@@dennisaskeland7603 lol for real. It’s Dwight, Oscar, and Angela. Everyone else is just running out the clock 😂

[@jfridy]

I worked retail at Half Price Books for 13 years. We actually had a manager who seemed to be the perfect fit of a friendly, helpful , mentor, who also WAS the manager, not part of your family. The store took real pride in itself, good numbers, employees stepping up for each other, and frighteningly good retention (this was a retail store where the average employee had been there for over 4 years.) When COVID hit, they partially shut down, but everyone was told we could just use sick days and vacation days while a skeleton staff worked. Then on one day, the boss got to call the top and bottom quarter of the staff to tell them they were all fired. Corporate jumped at the chance to purge the older employees like me, who were at the pay ceiling and had lots of benefits (like a surprisingly good health plan, just the thing you want during a pandemic.) The new employees were fired and replaced with part timers who were paid less and got fewer benefits. He had no choice, even on who to keep. My boss was a wreck. The employees who remained saw him crying. Everyone was fairly sure he was drinking between the termination calls. When my mother died the next week he sent me a letter of condolence, despite me having been fired. Since then I've been told he just doesn't care about the job like he once did. Everyone on staff knows the store could be closed at any time, and no one really puts in a strong effort like they once did. I have to assume that was the goal at corporate, because the leadership seems happy about it, they even launched a campaign about how they were standing up for their workers, and of course made a big thing about "Black Lives Matter." So don't shop at Half Price Books.

[@diogomaxteixeira]

i'am actually slacking at my job right now to watch this video, great

[@WisecrackEDU]

Nice

[@dangeldoll]

where do you work?

[@seanwarner9893]

Nice try, Corporate!

[@nero3901]

@@dangeldoll a nuclear power plant

[@dangeldoll]

@@nero3901 I seriously wana know what kind of job does allow you to slack off, I was always flooded with work

[@thefakebanette3483]

Don't forget about how Managers will make your job harder on purpose to make you feel like leaving will make life harder for your other co-workers thus making you not want to leave. They also make the idea of coworkers do tasks together to make them less likely to want to leave their "friends" in a bad spot.

[@jayburritos]

As a kid, the office was just a funny show. Now at 28, it hits just a liiiiiittle too close to home. 🥲

[@wendel5868]

Specially if your`re unemployed in 2020. Too close.

[@06silverfire]

the office isn't a comedy, its a documentary.

[@hrishiv27]

@@06silverfire *mockumentary

[@Firmus777]

Now try watching the British version and feel sad.

[@Cucumber-ej1pm]

Nooo kidding

[@bengallup9321]

Nothing mentioned about how overall productivity has consistently risen while worker pay has stagnated and unions have been under constant attack.

[@robertkidnley93]

Start your own company be the change dont complain

[@juvedoo99]

@@robertkidnley93 Yeah that would be nice if most people weren't living pay check to pay check for the same reason OP stated. This is a circular argument. Complain-someone says start own business-cant because of wages being too low to have financial independence- repeat.

[@robertkidnley93]

@@juvedoo99 I was making 14$ an hour I moved back with my parents work two jobs saved up and started my own company I dont see a argument sorry you're just lazy

[@mandisaw]

@@robertkidnley93 So you were subsidized by your parents, had little/no debt (student loan, house/car), and had no family obligations preventing you from working 2 jobs & saving most of the money. That is the very definition of privilege, please count your blessings and STFU

[@robertkidnley93]

@@mandisaw lol I'm blessed because I joined the navy saved up my money dint put my self in debt and have parents that live in a house wow check my privilege i will Madison i will lol white liberal Chek you're self

[@joen5302]

This describes my current job. Always bringing in treats and trying to get info about your personal life. Then when I asked for a raise I was attacked and called a taker.

[@juvedoo99]

I really despise my supervisor/managers asking what I did during my weekend. It's so unsettling and creepy. The hard attempt at being friendly when I know at the core is to have me lower my shields and get more work out of me for the same pay seems predatory. It's not a genuine sign of friendship.

[@SpaceWizardCosplay]

@@juvedoo99 I agree 100%. Its just a means to an end to survive. (the job, that is) When they ask me the same thing, I say I was catching up on my sleep all weekend. And when I asked for a raise last year they said they couldn't afford it. And yet they just opened 3 more stores in our area. Yeah, they 'can't afford it' yet they have more stores now. Smells like BS to me.

[@sabin97]

i really liked my last job. great team(i'm still friend with all of them), and great manager. the only manager i've had with whom i felt comfortable enough to talk about politics. i have a personal policy of not talking about either religion or politics at work, but rules are made to be broken once in a while.

[@josueamericanistarv]

It's good that you can recognize when they are trying to take advantage of you.

[@pascalsimioli6777]

@@sabin97 I have the same rule but also 0 patience for hypocrisy or people showing their religion to my face

[@marcelourrutia4911]

Thought of sharing this on facebook... then I remembered my old co-workers and boss is on there

[@cynderellylastname6060]

Professors also do this type of thing but it's more obvious. There's manipulation happening all around you, all the time. Not really a new concept but it is creepy when you think too much about it.

[@feathero3]

This is why I have trust issues, with everyone.

[@bartz0rt928]

I like when my boss appears genuinely interested in my well-being during a long illness. I don't like it so much when job adverts say things like "we have a cool bar at the office!" Yeah great but I'd like to be able to afford an apartment at some point, I don't really care that I don't need to leave the building before getting drunk on Friday.

[@watchdealer11]

It didn't backtrack to show Michael's competence; it was making a statement about how performance is often unrelated to management. For example, Scranton might just be a better market, but David still thinks it's attributable to Michael's management.

[@malikshakur1306]

great point

[@FredEdeXIII]

I think the show definitely, or at least implicitly, gave credibility to Michael's management style. Whether or not it's realistic is a different discussion.

[@watchdealer11]

@@FredEdeXIII When the show did comment on the efficacy of Michael's management, I felt it was more a pro-laissez-faire commentary

[@FredEdeXIII]

@@watchdealer11 The "laissez-faire" behavior is what I'm saying his management style is. The show moreso acknowledges that Michael is a good boss (which I'm equating as good management in this scenario) through how his employees ultimately display legitimate concern and care for him, despite also expressing constant annoyance. It sorta felt to me like it's implied that their comfort leads to better productivity.

[@watchdealer11]

@@FredEdeXIII Yes, but the overarching theme.of the David-Michael scene was that David was trying to.find the special sauce that allowed Scranton greater productivity, but it was actually just market conditions..

[@DearDextra]

0:58 Michael is not incompetent, Michael is a brilliant salesman, it has been proven multiple times. It can also be debated that he was a great manager, as he didn't do any managing, he let his employees work.

[@mesektet5776]

Doesn't matter. In a world where a business owner can fire an entire department, and be fine, assured 20 more people will sign up for less pay, it doesn't matter how hard you work. Fact of the matter is, whenever your employer gets a visit from a fast-talking self-help empowerment life-style coach, or just picks up a copy of Atlas Shrugged, they have decided to really only do right by them and their workforce is just a means to an ends.

[@Mr_Case_Time]

What a wonderful country, where you have so many options when it comes to employment. People used to either do what their parents did, or marry someone with some wealth. There are still places that have an absolutely tiny job market. Thankfully we don’t live in those places, am I right? Heh. And by the way, the people that you mentioned that would work for less money, it’s good that there are jobs for them right?

[@mesektet5776]

@@Mr_Case_Time Yup. Take away one person's job to give someone more desperate for a job for less, letting the new people know they have neither job security, nor qualify to be paid as much as the last people despite doing the same work. Great system for all parties there.

[@Mr_Case_Time]

@@mesektet5776 to which industry are you referring, where people are constantly being let go for cheaper labor? And if most people are being paid minimum wage, how are other people going to get paid _less_ than that to work? Please name a business that is consistently letting go of their staff for cheaper labor.

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Corporate America is kinda like a cult run by "fast-talking self-help empowerment life-style coaches and Atlas Shrugged".

[@y4rdkat]

@@Mr_Case_Time That boot must be fucking delectable my guy

[@hello987b]

Always preferred the boundaries, did not like having to hang out with my bosses after work

[@IfWeRanTheWorldXers]

I agree! What bosses also do is try to enforce this boundary-blurring exploitation is by saying you have an "attitude" or you're "difficult" when you refuse to go along with it to the point they'll fire you for being a "bad fit." IOW, they'll threaten your very job--and the life you have that depends on it--with this, what I call "emotional fucking."

[@mandisaw]

@@IfWeRanTheWorldXers It's just old-fashioned manipulation & gaslighting. Just because it's your job/boss instead of a partner/spouse doesn't make it less abusive

[@QuickQuips]

I learned about neomanagement today. Just after a company meeting. Time for self reflection.

[@mooselove]

My last boss was VERY Michael Scott. Dumb, cared too much, thought other people cared as much as him, had privileges and power and couldn’t see everyone else didn’t. It’s not so funny when he’s actually your boss.

[@jacobcook6921]

This makes me hate my job even more.

[@stugeh]

And this is why I want every company to be a co-op.

[@jacob_massengale]

yep. its called socialism

[@stugeh]

@@jacob_massengale I'm aware.

[@stugeh]

@TK Wallace not on a short time frame without a straight up revolution and I don't see that happening. However on a long time scale through incentives like grants it's possible. In the UK there was a push for legislation where any time a company would be to be merged or sold off for example it would first have to be offered to the workers to purchase and the government would subsidize the cost or most of the cost. I can also see how in a smaller company of say 10 or less employees it might be more practical to have a more traditional company structure but as far as larger businesses go I see it as borderline criminal that a small group of people holds absolute power over hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of people and where the only goal is to create share value at any cost they can get away with. And if you were asking about the feasibility of co-ops they're absolutely feasible. The largest co-ops currently employ tens of thousands of people and rake in billions in revenue.

[@jacob_massengale]

@TK Wallace if you get government support through subsidies, you could make a lot of progress.

[@lindashrugemoji9351]

i wish i had a job where i could think things like “hmm i get paid a lot but i don’t feel like i have a purpose ☹️”. that’s the mindset of ppl who are financially stable.

[@rahcollier7006]

I don't get paid a lot and I don't have a purpose at work. I get paid enough to survive, which is why I keep coming back, but I'm looking for something that pays greater or equal that I actually give a shit about.

[@mcsmaria28]

This is why I’ve been keeping a distance from my over-enthusiastic colleagues.

[@jacob_massengale]

you rock!

[@micsulli19]

Bring back Thug Notes!!!!!!

[@funma2353]

Definitely!

[@nathantrujillo471]

Meh

[@alexjulia4870]

Nooo please don’t

[@Ares_gaming_117]

no!!!

[@mooselove]

My last job switched to “unlimited vacation” and while most didn’t take even what they used to be allotted- I took weeks and weeks. That tactic still isn’t enough to make a shitty work place tolerable.

[@ElleKelsheimer]

I had a boss that would constantly say "I care about you as a person." All while turning around and screwing me over, yelling at me, and not listening to a damn thing I said.

[@jacob_massengale]

:'(

[@kendavis8046]

Crap, I used to do crossword puzzles in a cubicle to amuse my co-workers, because on Monday, the NYT puzzle had to be done in less than five minutes, and on Friday, I was allotted 20 minutes. Now I'm retired, and still do the crosswords. But surprisingly, the work got done even back in the day. And like everyone else who worked (or works) for a salary, I've had both really good managers and some horrible managers (the latter of which is why I retired early - bad manager when you have enough resources to quit are the best revenge.)

[@joeldeakin2003]

Literally finished The Office for the first time 2 days ago, I haven't recovered yet :/

[@larrythehoverfish3745]

Now watch breaking bad

[@joeldeakin2003]

@@larrythehoverfish3745 that was what I was watching before I started The Office haha. After struggling to recover from that finale I decided to just push myself straight into another extremely long TV show for another 2 months lmao

[@KrisGabby]

@@joeldeakin2003 What show did you end up getting into?

[@mrobbins5]

This analysis reveals either the cynicism of Wisecrack, The Office, or both.

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Realism not cynicism.

[@ratboii7656]

It just seems like anti-worker propaganda.. "No no! your job isn't shit, the problem is that you're just not working hard enough! Motivate yourself."

[@ribbleslap]

I'm interested in why you think this video is in any way cynical.

[@jaymelendez1131]

@ribbblerap When Does the character of Michael Scott ever talk about profits and worker productivity seriously? Every episode is him stalling and finding ways to put off work.

[@marshall4439]

...or it reveals the cynicism of ruthless greed aka corporate capitalism

[@Bandstand]

Here before the title/thumbnail change

[@RedAnalog]

I'm glad you brought the point of neo management up, looking back on my career so far I can see the difference in leadership types I have experienced and how effective it can be

[@nothingofCal]

2019: dissatisfied with pointless job 2020: just happy to be employed

[@Sweetwildflower]

The office is everything that is wrong in a office.

[@MoneyGist]

Wisecrack: "The Office debuted in 2005" Ricky Gervais: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@iansteelmatheson]

in case you didn't notice, they're talking about the US office.

[@MoneyGist]

@@iansteelmatheson Oh really? It didn't occur to me at any point in the 18-minute video. Thanks for your astute observation. You must be a true scholar.

[@janwouter5215]

Wisecrack: "yes"

[@ClarenceEwing]

I always thought of the character of Michael Scott being an excellent example of someone being promoted to their level of incompetence. As was shown many times in the series, Michael is a brilliant salesman who genuinely cares about people. But since he's been there so long, they promoted him to Management, a job he sucks at. I've seen this IRL over the years. Instead of keeping people where they work best, companies find it easier to to give out titles based on other things like seniority. Then when the person fails, they get fired or stuck in a position where they do more harm than good.

[@luismedeiros7139]

This is was the weirdest anti union ad I ever watched 😂

[@mandisaw]

More like an argument for why unions are important. Play social-manipulation games all you like, but pay/promotions/hiring are all explicitly outlined in a *legally binding contract*.

[@AbjectPermanence]

It's really weird the way they bend over backwards to avoid criticizing capitalism directly.

[@BluScoutBonk]

@@AbjectPermanence Yeah it ruins the video when they describe the exploitative coercion of workers solely in the past tense and in a jolly tone.

[@DA-nk6gx]

This wasn't anti union at all.

[@spaztron5000]

Right?? I stopped watching after that bit.

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Literally deal with this daily as an IT Program Manager. Ugh. Makes me tired. Honestly I just want to do my job and be done but if I don't encourage or team build or set up one on one discussions someone is always upset. The larger the group, the harder it is to provide connections. I want to be a good boss, I'm not trying to always drive more productivity, I care about my employees and end up thinking about them a lot and it is exhausting. Because just like KZbin comment sections, no matter what you do or how much you try, someone is going to be unhappy. Great video though and very thought provoking.

[@h00b00]

Also featuring in the modern management's playbook: Stockholm Syndrome and Positive Reinforcement.

[@Nathanatos22]

Good job releasing this in the middle of work hours lol Edit: (obviously I was referring to myself as well as those of us in the timezones and/or occupations for which this comment is relevant)

[@edwartvonfectonia4362]

It's evening in Europe. That's perfect for us.

[@radkovicbe]

Early morning in Australia... almost like you aren’t the centre of the universe @muggerfugger

[@Nathanatos22]

@@radkovicbe I keep forgetting this is the Internet and that which goes without saying must be said. Comment edited.

[@lbradshaw316]

As a working manager, I found this to be as insightful as it was entertaining

[@chriss7604]

Damn, i started recently to see The office, im gonna save the video and watch when i see all seasons :D

[@gravethestampede3454]

"How You're Boss Tricks You" eh? Not gonna let you run from the past.

[@Enfirnity]

as a boss myself this is more than true, before i had this deligating job and was a worker myself i never realized why stuff is so important which seem non existing for the people who are not responsible for it .... but after i got the tasks upon me it was all more clear to me that i ignored all the stuff my boss really does. and its actually quiet hard to get people to see this without being a dick. just remember, your boss is also just doing his job.

[@rashkavar]

I watched a thing on core economic theory the other day - was comparing the benefits and pitfalls of the extremes of lasses-faire capitalism and communism. In the discussion of capitalism, one of the pitfalls mentioned was that it has a self-defeating ideal of economic rationality. There's this idea of an economically rational person that's kinda held as the standard as what most of the market will do: try to increase their own wealth. One of the ways to do this is by not wasting effort on non-economical activities. This includes things like keeping leisure time to a minimum level that keeps you functional without lingering on it, but also includes the concept that if you're putting more effort into work than is required to get your paycheque, you're technically putting too much effort in. The bar set for keeping your job (for most jobs) is actually fairly low - you do need to show up on time, do the job, etc, but you don't need to do the 110% thing where you're running yourself ragged. (You do if you're one of the people in a high pressure corporate office, but most jobs are not corporate office hell.) Thing is: companies benefit from you doing the hyperdedication thing. Customers like people who actually try to help them, they want products that were crafted by someone who gives a damn about making a good product, etc. So the company can make more money, retain customers, etc, by having these workers. All of which boils down to increased profits over what would be there. And the worker gets nothing extra by being one of those dedicated employees, at least with most pay schemes. (Bonuses are a thing many companies use, but usually only at the upper echelon; commission pay is another, but only really makes sense if you're in a situation where a single employee is selling someone on a product. But hourly and salary pay alone aren't going to cover it.) From that perspective, at least, neomanagement is a pretty cynical, manipulative sort of practice, trying to con workers into working harder than they have to so the company can make more money. But this is also the distorted lens of hardcore lasses-faire capitalism. From a more human perspective, it's a practice of making work - an activity that accounts for nearly as much time week to week as sleeping - a bearable experience, one where you can have needs met beyond just that of money in the bank to pay for necessities. I've worked under both approaches, and I definitely prefer a supervisor who actively tries to be a "friend" of sorts rather than one who sees themselves as the lord and me as the dirty peasant. But still. It's interesting that the problem of older style management is outright predicted by the capitalist model that seems like it would support the direct, hierarchical system over the soft touch of neomanagement.

[@shawniscoolerthanyou]

Yeah, interesting angle. I did that sort of cost benefit analysis and determined that there is a min of work I can do without incurring much of a financial penalty. I got a decreased bonus one year and when I calculated out the value of the bonus and the time I would have needed to make the full amount worked out to around $4/hr. I think part of the drive for extraction via management techniques is the growth economy. Businesses are expected to grow continuously which of course is impractical in the long term. There are only so many knobs to turn, labor being one of them. Hence the offshoring of jobs and questionable material procurement practices.

[@lethalmuffin101]

Since Jared has left I feel like the bar has been lowered for the topics covered. Almost all the videos for the last month have been about TV sitcoms and general "cultural trends." While this may be a smart financial decision (expanding viewership by pandering to the lowest common denominator), I really miss the discussions of 'serious' masterpieces that used to populate the channel's new videos.

[@DA-nk6gx]

To me, a long time viewer of wisecrack, this is right in line with what Jared has done from the start. Cultural trends and pop media is what wisecrack built their viewer base on. Jared is the guy who made a whole podacst about Rick and Morty. And really their script writers are pretty much the same. Most hosts on wise crack even have most of the same vocal inflections when presenting the script.

[@Giraffinator]

I'll probably never watch The Office but I'll watch videos analyzing The Office all day

[@nikulmmadhu6566]

Your loss

[@Giraffinator]

@@nikulmmadhu6566 I can deal with that, i'm very good at losing

[@watchdealer11]

@@Giraffinator Clearly

[@ramahan21]

Watch The Office asap as possible

[@juvedoo99]

Any shows you'd recommend instead?

[@jamesjones8956]

One unforseen side effect of the whole "work as family" is that you care a LOT more about what family does than a boss. Say, if you worked for a company that runs a cloud platform and they want to do business with someone questionable. All those people for whom their job is their religion,family, and life will get real mad real quick. Not to go into how much worse unemployment is for people like that.

[@tannerhagen774]

Zizek said something similar regarding the workplace and management’s “postmodern” approach to work relations. He gives an example of a parent telling their child to visit their grandmother versus asking their child to visit while reminding them of how much they love him. The latter is much more powerful and forceful to the worker and difficult to refuse, perhaps a cynical outlook, either way visit pay your grandmother a visit!

[@naddarr1]

I've heard money is a great way to motivate employees. When I worked night shift making $11 an hr I really didn't care about getting fired so yeah I only did the bare minimum and was on my phone at work from time to time. Now after a series of opportunities that I seized and worked hard to get I've become lead welder and make twice as much money I work pretty hard all the time. Who would of thought that paying an employee almost 60 grand a year and more vacation time then they can use would cause that employee to do a good job and not do stuff that would risk them losing that job. It's all about giving good workers good compensation and I am so sick of companies thinking free water bottles and lunch a couple times a year is the solution. Thank goodness all of those people in the 90's bitched about wanting purpose instead of money. Now employees get to hear annoying bullshit about how their job is changing the world while they are figuring out how to pay all the bills. We don't need stupid titles like logistics engineers/experts for forklift drivers they need to make more then $12 an hr.

[@mandisaw]

Welder? :cheers dude: #UnionProudUnionStrong

[@marmaladymalone3931]

I'm watching this while avoiding taking calls at work. Couple years ago we had a friendly manager who threw birthday parties and potlucks and I, and everyone else, liked out jobs and did solid work. They've cut all of that, even our Christmas bonuses, and everyone hates it here and im watching KZbin videos when I should be working.

[@lyn1337]

I KNEW IT

[@FragmentJack]

I hate office jobs (or any other menial job at that), because of the fact the bosses and CEOs attempt to do more for employees that are pointless. They’ll try to do things outside of work as a reward, but I already spend 40 hours a week at work (sometimes more) - so why would I choose to spend my downtime with my co-workers? The 40 hours a week also introduces other things I’d otherwise enjoy outside of work. Pizza, catered lunches, birthday parties, etc. isn’t satisfying at all at work, because I’m, well, still at work. And it’s hard enjoying things after knowing you’ll have to repeat the same things day in and day out. I’m not saying we shouldn’t work, but you’d be surprised how much more accomplished you feel when you create something for yourself. Try it if you haven’t. Gary Vee once said he doesn’t expect his employees to care as much as about their jobs as he does because he knows at the end of the day 90% of them view it as a stepping stone and/or a means to an end.

[@vincentbuscarello1357]

Its a messy question, but we should consider the idea that meaningful work might be worth more to us than money, even if we don't ask for it. What we should do as employees is press companies to give truly meaningful work.

[@MasterAdam100]

That's less than the bare minimum we should ask for personally.

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

I’m obsessed with the office & wisecrack.

[@Bone_guy]

Setting up universal basic income for not useful people and paying useful people to work would be cool, but "working" is a requirement for corporations.

[@AgentFlea]

I don't understand what you're saying. Of course working is a requirement for corporations. Working is a requirement to have a life.

[@Bone_guy]

@@AgentFlea alot of "work" is time wasting for the sake of it, like the people who bother my boss with emails because that is their "work"

[@jayazoriginal4879]

@@AgentFlea being born is a requirement to have a life. Nothing more, nothing less. If you don't wanna workc you shouldn't have to. Otherwise it's slavery

[@beansfebreeze]

@@AgentFlea So people that didn't have a choice in being born into a capitalist country have to be forced to give up the majority of their lives so a corporation can make money and that's just fine to you?

[@gur1363]

@@jayazoriginal4879 I don't think stuff should be handed on a silver platter. It isnt slavery for someone to work for what they want

[@Radio-Phil]

ohhh this episode hit way to close to home xD

[@jgreenbelt]

I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!!!!!!!!

[@Cj3asy]

The only perspective I disagree with is giving workers management tasks.The whole job is to get my people promoted. At least for my time in the matrix giving stretching opportunities would let you know where people are professionally, add to their resume, possibly expand their network. Also moving work strategically from higher cost centers to lower cost centers makes good sense.

[@Kisarez]

The point was getting more responsibility and work; but not earning more. You're doing more for relatively less.

[@samsartore4407]

Why did nobody on the entire production staff make you pronounce words correctly

[@geoffreywinn4031]

Cool video!

[@chalkeygas93]

Really enjoyed this video! Thought could’ve mentioned the UK office did all this before (and better in my opinion). I am English for full disclosure

[@user-ns7dn4if2e]

You know, I think that this neomanagement you've been talking about has been expanded. Of course, you made videos about "wokeness" of brands and so on. Let's just say, that I feel it can get even more sinister, when a certain company has the resources to make it's image more and more appealing by satirizing dehumanisation in modern companies, without reforging itself to be the alternative. You may think, that I'm being too skeptical, but your collab with Amazon and the way they showed "Vought" in "The Boys" got me considering this. I mean, they express certain "wokeness" by dealing with people of your reputation and creating a satire on modern capitalism in their show. But is it because of the principles, or maybe it's just because the changes in the market demand it?

[@joeyjoestar472]

100% this is the case. That's why you have a company like Nike "supporting" Colin Kaepernick and the BLM movement while selling Jordan's made from child sweatshops in China.

[@patrickblanchette4337]

Why wouldn't you show up to work? How else are you going to pay for your expenses? Don't you worry about pissed boss effecting your future opportunities? I can understand sleeping past your alarm clock, asking for time off, or wanting to switch jobs, but not taking your PAYING job seriously has always sounded dumb to me (especially quitting on the job).

[@GODtheSniper]

This is exactly my job. I work at a large public firm (over 250K people global). The hierarchy is there, few managers at the top with more than 50% of our employees with less than 5 years on the job. Team building events, "creativity" and "job purpose" signs everywhere. Obscene hours, no OT pay, but some free coffee or lunch here and there. Thanks for sharing, gonna take this in mind when I'm being forced into some training about our job purpose..

[@darkdudironaji]

Personally, I think the best way to manage is to make a team that doesn't need management. Hire people that all like and respect each other. Make their jobs dependant upon each other. In this way, everyone will get done what they have to so that everyone else can continue working. That's how my current job is. The thing that messes is up is actually our boss trying to tell us what to do. It breaks everyone's flow. Whenever he's on vacation, everyone is more productive and has more down time. I wish he'd just retire already.

[@mandisaw]

That works up until your organization is more than about 4 people in size. After that, it's impossible to guarantee that everyone is super-compatible without some kind of management, even if it's just who handles what tasks. Also, what you describe is a big red flag for discrimination - anyone who is "different" would be at a marked disadvantage in hiring/retention, because they don't closely mirror the rest of the group.

[@darkdudironaji]

@@mandisaw We've got about 20 people. All different races, religions, political opinions, etc. It's a system that makes it obvious who is at fault, because of where the work on a project stops.

[@mandisaw]

@@darkdudironaji Well good luck to you then, that sounds like a very carefully balanced setup. That sort of thing can be great, but fragile/highly susceptible to people leaving.

[@darkdudironaji]

@@mandisaw It really sucks whenever someone leaves, but everyone gives their 2 weeks. We're usually able to fill the position within a week and they get trained by the person leaving for a week.

[@fryphilip7474]

Micheal Scott relationship first approach to sales is why his branch over performs

[@NotShowingOff]

Never judge a job or opportunity by its upside. Always judge by its downside

[@joenathan8059]

They had a bingo thing at my job were workers could win a 10 dollar card...in a expensive store

[@ulizez89]

lol, this reminds me when my previous company gave us the "perk" of "accessing" a very fancy gym in the city. Why all the quotation marks, well..... we still had to pay the full gym membership if we wanted to use it. The same for parking at the office's building, we just had access to it, we still had to pay for parking.... at the same rate as everywhere else and more expensive than street parking.

[@amp4105]

psuedo gifts

[@Mr.OBrien]

A perfect example of this video is when Michael talks to the kids about making paper and one of the kids responded, "Doesn't Staples sell paper?" Which is halarious cause when Michael explains the system how it works he even still has trouble explaining it, its tough to give reason to our jobs till we retire at age 65. But Michael still tries and makes it happen which makes the office so unique.

[@uhhcallmejefe]

Ok. .

[@MakiPcr]

This reminds me of the call center so much; they would give us gifts but not say, paid vacations as required _by law_ The best example I can think of, is that day that they were giving out candy for a holiday or something, but us in the night shift didn't have food for lunch

[@cheyennenelson3484]

I'm a manager of a department that i worked 2 years in. My associates/Co workers love me. Reason being I don't treat them any different than when I was one of them, even though I am their boss now. It is difficult being friends with people you have to manage. But I think I manage it well and I love all of them dearly.

[@Kevin-cy2dr]

Every Michael Scott thinks their employees love them when in reality they despise them i.e their boss. Your case could be different.

[@seanc1094]

That intro beat tho 😍

[@camdenscarborough1942]

Man I loved watching this while sidetracking at work

[@CateB9]

I feel like quiet quitting is partially the realization that you won’t get purpose and fulfillment from your work. Just get in, get your paycheck, and clock out so you can do the things that will give purpose and meaning.

[@jaspermcminnis5538]

My English teacher back in high school was kind of like Micheal Scott.

[@mattskin1991]

This is an amazingly accurate video goddamn it 🤣

[@JohFuchsluger]

Oh god, my "team leader" is a Michael Scott.

[@user-mz5by7wf1e]

Bestvid, Mike!

[@zaczane]

"Military Intervention" aka the Pinkerton's

[@mandisaw]

Extra Credits did a great video on the Pinkertons in their Extra History series

[@BluScoutBonk]

Or a specific example like the Haymarket Massacre

[@danieldomen2057]

At my last job (salaried), we were contractors for financial compliance departments for various financial institutions (sorry for being vague, i signed NDAs). They would move us between clients as needed and occasionally clients would leave resulting in handfuls of workers having nothing to do. In some cases, we would be reassigned quickly, but in most instances the other clients didnt need more people or the credentials and background checks were taking longer than expected. With that preface, I spent 2 months once literally sitting at a computer not doing much. I get an email from HR inquiring how much experience I had in computer programing, etc, as I had mentioned in my onboarding paperwork that I had a claim to some IP regarding a computer program I wrote for my undergrad research. I told them not much, but that can change quickly. I then spent the next three weeks teaching myself VBA (visual BASIC for Applications) as this would be the most useful in the company. I was also "drafted" into taking inventory on all the electronic equipment in the building. At the time, as each client and their various projects/workloads had their own management teams, I had just come off working with a very close team with some amazing managers and team leads (not all were great) and had previously been on a team that I would voluntarily work 12hr days to help my managers because they were willing (or had to) do the same. I really felt this video because even though I knew that I was basically being manipulated, I would still stay after and write an add-in to for someone because they mentioned it would be useful to have that functionality, etc. I will bend over backwards to help someone that treats me right or that haas earned my respect by showing respect, etc.

[@jordans.3814]

i would love it if y'all could do an episode on ted lasso there is so much to unpack for that show!

[@giaelie3283]

At least Michael Scott meant it when he said his workers were Family. Every job I've had tries to push that Family narrative without doing a single thing to reinforce it. In fact, in an instance when an employee needed the support of the company for example, a manager had hot coffee thrown in his face when he caught a customer shoplifting,his CVS "Family" instead of showing concern for a devoted employee chose to engage in the tactic of victim-blaming; making him feel as if he'd done something wrong defending company property. I remember how sincerely hurt he was by this. He confessed to a shift supervisor; "I believed them when they said we were a family." His morale in the toilet. It was less than a year later that he quit and found a better job.

[@jpittmon1363]

Philosophy of Tenet please!

[@dianegoodreads]

Most of our waking hours are spent with your coworkers, so it’s important to connect with them on a personal level. But at the same time your job shouldn’t be the center of your personal life because it will keep you from moving on professionally.

[@themissinggene]

I remember my corporate middle manager boss. He was looking for people to blame for low productivity, so a few people finished their work and moved on to assist one of the older employees get his work done and we were all written up, the note he left us was "This isn't a team sport, don't help each other."

[@edo5407]

We had a Michael Scott CFO before, super chill, never really had any promotions but the raises were constant if you worked hard. Then the company went corporate. He quit and we got a Jack Donaghy CFO. Hired his own managers and is now systematically firing all the old workers and installing temps and promoting ass kissers... time to find a new office...

[@ZenZoneASMR_]

3 mile mark!

[@LoganLS0]

"a quality assurance rep who seems more down for crime than white collar work" What's the difference?

[@angustin6590]

this reminds me of knowing betters latest video and how the US military realized they could get away with more shit if they give metals to soldiers

[@henryp9671]

Not a US thing friend people realize that centuries before our great nation was around. Men will die for ribbon as Napoleon once famously said

[@DA-nk6gx]

@@henryp9671 Exactly. The sense of being honored and respected is a huge motivator. Every society or organization uses this in some way because social creatures need it. The ribbion is a tangible representation of the effort an individual put into a goal or movement larger than ones self while paying respect to the individuals contributions. It adds acclaim to the individual while reinforcing the overall goal of the organization.

[@henryp9671]

@@DA-nk6gx eloquently put I don’t think I could’ve said it better myself

[@zakkattakkable]

Cold-brew and Kombucha be expensive thou!!!!

[@ikeekieeki]

thank you for talking about how jobs have changed due to neomanagement and lack of growth/promotion opportunities in the modern workplace

[@TheRepty818]

I work in middle management and the only time I get any enjoyment out of my job is when I'm trying to come up with ways to make the workplace more fun... This episode hit way too close to home... Oh God I think I'm having an existential crisis.

[@rachumsmcone9184]

Depends on the type of job being worked at. The office is mainly limited to an office environment consisting of paperwork, beauaracy, keeping records, and a bit of customer service. Working in other lines of work can be similar, but different. How does a manager motivate a stock person at a retail store or a worker in a lawn care business? Creative pursuits cannot always be filled by a job either, that's why we should have adequate free time and resource soff the clock to pursuit hobbies. Work of any kind shouldn't be absolutely dreadful and mindless for certain though. Doing small things like celebrating birthdays or passing around get well cards goes a long way in establishing good relationships between employees that have to work together on a regular basis forming that inner sense of work family/community.

[@kaptrap19]

There’s a sliding scale of how involved a boss is versus how productive the company is. The most productive branch is when there’s no boss (see the week between DeAngelo and interim Dwight where Jim basically says this as well as the three month period where Andy is away sailing - he gets a bonus check for the successful quarter even though he was absent). When there is a boss there, he’s more successful the less involved (in work activities). That’s why Michael’s branch is super successful when all the other branches are failing - even though they have “good” managers like Karen.

[@AGuyNameDash]

Where can i get that very nice WISECRACK merchandise?

[@GenderIsAnIllusion]

I feel like that's more true with corporate jobs. Because I work at the lowest level of a fast-food chain and I'm pretty sure there is no one over 30 working with us. And the managers feel like just that, managers. They don't pass off their jobs onto other people, except for those who are qualified for those jobs. Idk, just feels like it was aimed more towards corporate managerial practices.

[@petarhrsak]

love watching this baked asf