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Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

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Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#21

Every time I take a can of soda from the fridge, I replace it with two. I exhort my colleagues to do the same. However we have yet to reach my goal of 2^64 cans which makes me suspect there are some bad apples.

That doesn't make sense, if everyone done it you would run out of fridge capacity within few hours, why not take one, replace one?

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#23
post #2

How jokes are reacted to. Jokes can be unfunny or tasteless, but when someone argues big concepts that a joke must not be made, its a big red flag.

All within reason, I assume? Or would you be OK with jokes about skin color and such? I'm not humoring you, I'm genuinely interested in your answer.

> would you be OK with jokes about skin color and such?

No, I'd never take the piss like that..... not even out of gingers.

(BTW: Quality piss taking is expected in the UK, to the extent a US HR department would probably have a fit, and probably the moderators of this US dominated forum for the above joke!)

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#24
post #2

How jokes are reacted to. Jokes can be unfunny or tasteless, but when someone argues big concepts that a joke must not be made, its a big red flag.

All within reason, I assume? Or would you be OK with jokes about skin color and such? I'm not humoring you, I'm genuinely interested in your answer.

You can make sexist or racist jokes as you want if you are the butt of the joke yourself. It still makes other people laugh.

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#26
post #21

Every time I take a can of soda from the fridge, I replace it with two. I exhort my colleagues to do the same. However we have yet to reach my goal of 2^64 cans which makes me suspect there are some bad apples.

That doesn't make sense, if everyone done it you would run out of fridge capacity within few hours, why not take one, replace one?

“Whoever fills the fridge needs to buy a new fridge”

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#27
post #18
post #7

In a small growing company, when someone starts leaving the toilets in a mess, there is a bad hire. Knowing you work with at least one uncivilized person changes the feel of the company.

What about when you sit on the toilet and look at the stall door, then see a bunch of buggers stuck on the door?

Then you need to ask the principal if you can now please use the teachers toilets.. Or start teaching the kids not to be gross little bastards, but that's probably a lost cause ;)

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#28

The difference between plebs' and bosses' seating arrangements. If plebs get second hand, barely functional chairs/desks, hand-me-downs as computing equipment and insufficient lighting while bosses get a corner office and a $10K desk, it's pretty clear who they value and who they don't, which normally also extend to how seriously the plebs' opinions/suggestions are taken.

Corner offices are where individual motivations go to die.

Re: Ask HN: Work Culture Canary?

#29

Every time I take a can of soda from the fridge, I replace it with two. I exhort my colleagues to do the same. However we have yet to reach my goal of 2^64 cans which makes me suspect there are some bad apples.

Self sacrifice by emptying the fridge of soda might be someone who cares deeply about his colleagues' health.
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