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Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

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Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#91

Post by gmueckl »

SyzygistSix wrote: post #86
mathattack wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s amazing how many people don’t realize that the Beyoncé concert in the office comes from the same pool of money as compensation. (The company only does it because it’s cheaper than bonuses) And everyone showers Instagram with photos of the show.

Was that a real thing or was the Beyonce concert hyperbole?

Don't know about Beyonce, but it's pretty common for big companies to organize private concerts with big names for their employees. I guess it's a case of just spending enough money to make this happen.

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#92

Post by cjrp »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #83
granshaw wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me tell you, delivery pressure exists even right at the very top. You think there’s no pressure as a CEO/COO beholden to 30% top line growth this quarter? I sometimes think about being in that position and it seems pretty scary too

Delivery pressure increases as you go higher in the management structure. The most stressful part is that as you transition from IC to manager and work your way up the org chart, you become more abstracted away from actual being able to do the work and influence the outcome yourself. More responsibility, less direct influence. Some managers struggle with this pressure and resort to trying to make their teams feel as…

> you become more abstracted away from actual being able to do the work and influence the outcome yourself

You're definitely less able to do the work yourself, but ideally you can still influence the outcome by getting the right people to do the work and making sure they're not blocked, etc.

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#94

Post by elliekelly »

lepton wrote: post #32
b0rsuk wrote: post #14

> The real problem with workplace wellness initiatives, according to Katie—beyond being inconvenient and vapid—is their obvious attempt to make up for the company’s poor employee benefits. ‘ The real problem is, wellness seminars are an attempt to push the issue on the employees. Just like "plastic recycling" initiatives push the guilt and the effort onto the consumer. It's a redirection strategy.

I think my wellness is inherently my issue, and I'd prefer that my employer stayed out of it.

We’re all responsible for our own wellness but we’re also responsible for the wellness of those with whom we interact. The “wellest” person in the world could only tolerate a toxic environment for so long before they’d become unwell, through no fault of their own.

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#95

Post by the_real_me »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #73
b0rsuk wrote: post #14

> The real problem with workplace wellness initiatives, according to Katie—beyond being inconvenient and vapid—is their obvious attempt to make up for the company’s poor employee benefits. ‘ The real problem is, wellness seminars are an attempt to push the issue on the employees. Just like "plastic recycling" initiatives push the guilt and the effort onto the consumer. It's a redirection strategy.

Same with "Self-care" - are you burning out at your job? Do you need a break? Clearly it's because you are failing at "self-care", not because your job is stressful or unreasonable. It pushes the onus back on the worker to put up with whatever the job demands and frames the worker as the one failing.

Whenever I see advice for "self-care" or "mindfulness" I can't help but think of a pimp telling a prostitute to use more lubricant and use antibiotics if she complains about infections and pain.

It's not a genuine attempt to solve the root cause; so much as a way to alleviate symptoms just enough so they can keep ruthlessly exploiting the employee.

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#97

Post by Graffur »

Rompect wrote: post #45
craig_asp wrote: post #5

Every time someone (usually someone from HR) tries to point out how great a company is because of its great perks like awesome couching sessions (not actual training), great team-building events, the best coffee machine ever, table tennis, etc. and how these somehow compensate for a subpar salary offer, I tell them: you just pay me well, give me more time off, and I'll handle all that myself.

I agree completely. As someone who is a "loner", these "perks" of a workplace are actively an argument against it. Just let me choose how and with whom I spend my time, thanks.

Do you have a method of seeking out companies that don't do this?

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#99

Post by joefife »

granshaw wrote: post #67
barrkel wrote: post #57

Wellbeing, even when it's sincere, is a top-down effort - as in way up the tree-tops - and usually raining down diagonally from a different org. Meanwhile, down on the leaves of the org tree, you have delivery pressure from users, peers, and so on. If the pressure is high, no amount of messaging about wellbeing will make any difference. Taking time off, whether it's some kind of leave or for some wellbeing meetings o…

Let me tell you, delivery pressure exists even right at the very top. You think there’s no pressure as a CEO/COO beholden to 30% top line growth this quarter? I sometimes think about being in that position and it seems pretty scary too

Of course there is. But I'd hope the CEO revives compensation to make that worth while.

Re: Workplace Wellbeing Is a Scam?

#100

Post by ultrastable »

on the subject of pointless employee "benefits": I recently started working as a courier for a big food delivery platform. the agency through which I'm "employed" emailed me the other day about the benefits they provide, which consist of a link through which I can _buy for $15_ a phone app which gets me a small discount at a selection of participating retailers.
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