this post was submitted on 31 Jan 2025
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
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I don't get this at all. I understand that some people like working in the office, but remote work improves the mental health of a lot of people, and it seems like you'd want to keep workers rather than exercise dominion over them.
But what do I know? I only watched dozens of people with decades of experience leave for remote work after my own company tried to force everyone back (only to walk it back and go to hybrid work).
They don't want to keep workers. Most of the RTO operations are pseudo-stealth layoffs. Companies want to reduce headcount and this is a way to make people leave without having to pay out severance or unemployment insurance claims. So this is cheaper for the company.
I should remind everyone that this is one of the most unethical ways to handle the people who have made money for the company they served for years. Any company that uses this strategy deserves to be bankrupt, and their leadership be made poor.
If they can't treat their employees like human beings, they deserve no future success.
It’s also worth noting that pseudo-layoffs like this often lose the best people first. Those who have the most options
The sad thing is, for companies on the scale of Dell, performance of individual workers (those who actually create value, maybe their direct superiors) is almost irrelevant.
There's so much red tape, so much "aligning", meetings, pointless communication and pointless rituals that hardly anyone gets anything done. And in those 5min you're doing actual work, it's almost irrelevant how good you are.
I hadn't considered that. My company, though large, is private and doesn't have to appease shareholders, so they still see value in keeping skilled employees.
Making wage slaves uncomfortable is the feature of this trick
The trick only works if they can convince you that you are trapped with no alternative.
Indeed... Mid level paper pushers are in demand right now tho esp competent ones.
They will exist and get another job.
For most people, the alternative is unemployment with the bonus of not eating.
Maybe. That's certainly the fear they're hoping you give into, and it's the same rationale they'd use to disparage a union forming.
I worked with the most toxic managers on the planet. They don't want you to have any kind of mental health. They are crazy, they have money, and power.
Bodies in buildings.
Real estate.
I hate how much this resembles current US business culture.
I think it's about depressing wages more than anything. Companies know WFH works just as well. But they also know people like it quite a bit. They have it away for free, by making in office default they can negotiate lower wages for people who really want to work from home.
Or hire people who are willing to work for less in the office, under the thumb of a micromanager