Corporate Stockholm Syndrome

[poster342002]

The majority of workplaces are like you describe I imagine (non-unionised).

This problem exists even in unionised ones where the union is pecieved as a quasi-seperate entity, with pseudo-permanent officers doing most of the casework and nigh-on zero participation from the (totally passive and submissive) membership in the workplace.

 

[gorski]

That's Fromm's characterization, btw:

XIXc prevailing character - competition, hoarding orientation, exploitation, authoritarianism, aggression and individualism

XXc prevailing character - receptive, market oriented, the need to adjust/conform and get the recognition, homo consumens, whose primary goal is no longer to own things but to consume ever more and in that manner s/he compensates for her/his inner emptiness, boredom, passivity, spiritual and emotional laziness, loneliness and anxiety

The Q is, for him: where do passivity and masochism take root?

 

[KeyboardJockey]

The corporate world has known since its inception that fear is a great motivational tool for quieting the workforce. Fear of loosing your job, fear of "others", fear of the unknown etc. When Burberry were going to close their Welsh factory moving production to China they threatened the workforce with a swifter relocation should they take industrial action. Thankfully the workforce ignored Burberry & took action, unfortunately it did not save their jobs which did move to China.
It is not only the workforce the corporates use fear against. Government is threatened that if taxation rates are raised or if or there is further regulation they will move the corporate tax base to an off shore/low tax country. The most obscene example was the non-dom tax issue when non-doms stated that they & their capital would leave the UK should they have to pay £25k on their income. Until someone said that the show is in London & their bluff should be called for where else could they go Dubai..??
To quote Roosevelt "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.."

Sounds like my place. Many of us didn't strike in the past as we were frightened of getting it on our records. Didn't make a blind bit of difference even those who refused to strike in order save their jobs got made redundant.

 

[KeyboardJockey]

This problem exists even in unionised ones where the union is pecieved as a quasi-seperate entity, with pseudo-permanent officers doing most of the casework and nigh-on zero participation from the (totally passive and submissive) membership in the workplace.

I recognise that scenario.




<waits for a torrent of abuse and comments about 'no its all brilliant'>

 

[dennisr]

Sounds like my place. Many of us didn't strike in the past as we were frightened of getting it on our records. Didn't make a blind bit of difference even those who refused to strike in order save their jobs got made redundant.

now there is lesson for you - one you missed obviously

 

[poster342002]

now there is lesson for you - one you missed obviously

I suggest you tell that to the hoards of people who keep refusing to heed the strike in his and other workplaces.

 

[dennisr]

I suggest you tell that to the hoards of people who keep refusing to heed the strike in his and other workplaces.

what like him, the scab??

 

[poster342002]

what like him, the scab??

No - stop singling him out and have the balls to visit a worklplace where mass-scabbing is endemic and tell them ALL to pull their socks up.

 

[dennisr]

No - stop singling him out and have the balls to visit a worklplace where mass-scabbing is endemic and tell them ALL to pull their socks up.

troll, troll, troll troll ... troll, troll, troll troll

 

[poster342002]

troll, troll, troll troll ... troll, troll, troll troll

When all else fails, fall back on the "troll" thing.

Go to a workplace where everyone always scabs and see if you can change their mind and not just end up totally pissed off with them and with the people that continuallly deny it occurs.

 

[dennisr]

When all else fails, fall back on the "troll" thing.

Go to a workplace where everyone always scabs and see if you can change their mind and not just end up totally pissed off with them and with the people that continuallly deny it occurs.

troll, troll, troll troll ... troll, troll, troll troll

 

[KeyboardJockey]

When all else fails, fall back on the "troll" thing.

Go to a workplace where everyone always scabs and see if you can change their mind and not just end up totally pissed off with them and with the people that continuallly deny it occurs.

Some of the posters on here who deride those of us who have realistic view of the culture in a lot of workplaces hide behind one word comments such as 'troll' and 'scab'. Its like if they shout these words loud enough then the bad workplace culture will go away as if by magic.

 

[poster342002]

Some of the posters on here who deride those of us who have realistic view of the culture in a lot of workplaces hide behind one word comments such as 'troll' and 'scab'. Its like if they shout these words loud enough then the bad workplace culture will go away as if by magic.

They also seem to try to misrepresent speaking of the existance of such a culture as endorsing it.

How many times has my posting about mass-scabbing been deliberatly misinterpeted as saying "there's nothing we can do, so we should all scab" when what I'm actually saying is "this problem exists. It will not go away by ignoring it for the sake of convenenience. How can it be changed?" ?

 

[Das Uberdog]

You have to wait and pick your opportunities carefully.

Wandering into a workplace with the sole intention of unionising the joint will almost undoubtably get you fired (done that one before too ;P). If not, it'll probably alienate you from the rest of the workplace at least - many of whom won't see the employer/employee divide so clearly as they should... Seen that happen before too.

Wait until a specific dispute arises, then go for it.

Alternatively, do you think there's any appetite in your workplace for some 'out-of-work' lefty cultural meetings? Not specifically on your own workplace issues, but on international events, music, film, etcetera? You never know - and grabbing people through that alternative environment might be more effective.

 

[mk12]

You have to wait and pick your opportunities carefully.

Wandering into a workplace with the sole intention of unionising the joint will almost undoubtably get you fired (done that one before too ;P). If not, it'll probably alienate you from the rest of the workplace at least - many of whom won't see the employer/employee divide so clearly as they should... Seen that happen before too.

Wait until a specific dispute arises, then go for it.

That's very sensible and chimes with my experiences.

Alternatively, do you think there's any appetite in your workplace for some 'out-of-work' lefty cultural meetings? Not specifically on your own workplace issues, but on international events, music, film, etcetera? You never know - and grabbing people through that alternative environment might be more effective.

Not sure why this is worth it?

 

[Das Uberdog]

If you had a successful showing of something like 'Bread and Roses' you'd soon find out who else in your workplace was game for activity... These cultural activities are good for making connections and getting people together outside the workplace, and they're also MUCH easier to publicise in your office (managers will, by and large, have not the slightest clue as to the significance of the international events/culture you're putting on).

 

[Das Uberdog]

Though you might be abit hard-pressed to find people who didn't just want a trip down the boozer...

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Though you might be abit hard-pressed to find people who didn't just want a trip down the boozer...

Thats the approach that I'm going to try to take to try to get the refuseniks to get some union cover.

 

[mk12]

If you had a successful showing of something like 'Bread and Roses' you'd soon find out who else in your workplace was game for activity... These cultural activities are good for making connections and getting people together outside the workplace, and they're also MUCH easier to publicise in your office (managers will, by and large, have not the slightest clue as to the significance of the international events/culture you're putting on).

I just think that focusing on issues in the workplace is more important than talking about international issues.

And going to the pub without management is a good chance to air grievances. You don't get the chance at work, except via email (which is monitored).

 

[dennisr]

Some of the posters on here who deride those of us who have realistic view of the culture in a lot of workplaces hide behind one word comments such as 'troll' and 'scab'. Its like if they shout these words loud enough then the bad workplace culture will go away as if by magic.

Which would be a valid point if not somewhat qualified by the simple fact that many of those very same people who sympatheticaly wasted time again and again and again with you - going through options, putting forward alternatives - even getting you in contact with useful individuals who could have assisted you.

It would also have some validity if you had not gone on to try and legitimise scabing - not once but again and again, if you had not trolled every discussion on trade union work with your tedious moans and then even tried to legitimise your vote for the tory boris.

People like you are a perfect example of 'bad workplace culture' and selfish attention-seeking individuals like you are the reason we are in the situation we are in. So piss off with your attention seeking lies.

you are a wanker of the lowest ordr - you don't even have the self-respect to shut up when exposed by your own idiotic comments

 

[belboid]

whilst this copuld be an interesting thread, discussing a rtelevant topic, it isn't ging to happen when there's a reknowned scab popping up perpetually to sneer, and when the original poster simply throws in a bunch of things which simply aren't true in order to justify his hopeless failures.

 

[poster342002]

This thread is a pure example of why the left hasn't a clue and is going nowhere fast: whenever they hear of an inconvenient reality that doesn't chime with their wishful thinking - or, even worse, flies in the face of doctrine - they just go into a paroxym of frothing rage.

 

[Das Uberdog]

I just think that focusing on issues in the workplace is more important than talking about international issues.

And going to the pub without management is a good chance to air grievances. You don't get the chance at work, except via email (which is monitored).

To have a good Union you really need workmates imbued with the actual ideals of Unionism and the workers' movement. Lefty culture plays a distinct role in inspiring that kind of mindset, seperate to that of the everyday business of actively being a lefty.

btw I agree on the pub thing - but sometimes a little event can give some focus to things - and, as said, serve slightly different purposes.

 

[poster342002]

And going to the pub without management is a good chance to air grievances. You don't get the chance at work, except via email (which is monitored).

Yes, although this can prove difficult in workplaces where the managers outnumber the workers and you get the "yes, this compnay policy is shit, but as a manager I think it's actually quite good" and then there's the usual sort who'll agree with you on one level but then enforce the management doctrine with the excuse "yes, but I also have to do my job - part of which is enforcing management issues on 'my staff'" .

 

[belboid]

This thread is a pure example of why the left hasn't a clue and is going nowhere fast: whenever they hear of an inconvenient reality that doesn't chime with their wishful thinking - or, even worse, flies in the face of doctrine - they just go into a paroxym of frothing rage.

no frothing rage failure, except from you. Simply pointing out you are not telling the truth.

 

[poster342002]

Whatever, dearie...

 

[belboid]

We note you can't deny it. Good luck justifying your failure and acquiescence to yourself tho

 

[poster342002]

belboid - you make me think of an empty bag of crisps. All crackle but no content.

 

[belboid]

I couldn't give a flying fuck what a worthless turd like you thinks, you're a failure and a fibber.

 

[Hoxtontwat]

Just read the link: Excellent analysis. I'm glad my work place isn't like that.

I think the poster that described some work place cultures as organisational mental illness is right on the button.

The sort of thing described in the link goes beyond your normal worker/management struggle because neither side are capable of acting rationally any more.

I think Key Board Jockey's instincts on another thread about socialising are probably correct. People need to be taken out of that environment and talked to where they can have their own feelings validated.

With group-think taken hold people are probably suffering but telling themselves that they are weak for feeling that way. They need a good drink outside of the office to come back to reality