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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
There was very little that’s applicable to marginalised people at work that is not already very very well known (mindfulness, exercise etc). For example, authenticity is obviously not an option for many of us.
It’s big on toxic positivity, compulsory corporate “fun”, humour (without saying anything about avoiding punching down and discrimination in your humour), team building, vulnerability, anuthenticity and socialising at work. It’s probably good for people who fit in well.
The author claimed that kindness is advantageous at work, without caveats. Your boss noticing that you disapprove of them bullying or discriminating will almost always be career limiting and threaten job security. Kind people think discrimination and bullying are bad. Therefore, kindness at work needs to be limited - to be compatible with job security, it must be primarily directed up the hierarchy.
The examples of workplaces he perceived as facilitating happiness sound incredibly toxic, and workplaces I’ve worked in that do the things he suggests were the most toxic in my career, with the highest rates of bullying, harassment and discrimination and in the most extreme case the longest hours. He seemed to think that sending people home for not being positive enough was a sign of a happy workplace. PwC was held up as a positive example, even though they are renowned for long hours.
However, his recommendations could be useful as a list of red flags for toxic work places. It could also help with understanding the perspective of the proponents of these measures, to avoid accidentally undermining their impression management activities and therefore limit their aggression.
It’s big on toxic positivity, compulsory corporate “fun”, humour (without saying anything about avoiding punching down and discrimination in your humour), team building, vulnerability, anuthenticity and socialising at work. It’s probably good for people who fit in well.
The author claimed that kindness is advantageous at work, without caveats. Your boss noticing that you disapprove of them bullying or discriminating will almost always be career limiting and threaten job security. Kind people think discrimination and bullying are bad. Therefore, kindness at work needs to be limited - to be compatible with job security, it must be primarily directed up the hierarchy.
The examples of workplaces he perceived as facilitating happiness sound incredibly toxic, and workplaces I’ve worked in that do the things he suggests were the most toxic in my career, with the highest rates of bullying, harassment and discrimination and in the most extreme case the longest hours. He seemed to think that sending people home for not being positive enough was a sign of a happy workplace. PwC was held up as a positive example, even though they are renowned for long hours.
However, his recommendations could be useful as a list of red flags for toxic work places. It could also help with understanding the perspective of the proponents of these measures, to avoid accidentally undermining their impression management activities and therefore limit their aggression.
Content Warnings
Repeatedly presents toxic workplaces in a favourable light