#1 ·
I was reading about some recent labor disputes in the arts sector, and it really got me thinking about the line between being a "productive employee" and just being treated like a machine. We talk so much about productivity metrics and efficiency in the modern workplace, but we rarely talk about the absolute bare minimums that should be non-negotiable.
It’s wild to me that in 2024, people are still having to organize formal strikes just to ensure they can meet their basic biological needs during a shift. I worked a retail gig a few years back where the supervisor would literally time our bathroom breaks with a stopwatch. It felt dehumanizing, like I was a piece of equipment being serviced rather than a person with a body.
When companies start squeezing every last drop of "efficiency" out of people by restricting things like water or breaks, it feels like a massive red flag for the culture of the whole organization. It’s not even about the money at that point; it's about dignity.
Do you think these kinds of hyper-rigid workplace policies are becoming more common as companies try to automate or optimize everything?
It’s wild to me that in 2024, people are still having to organize formal strikes just to ensure they can meet their basic biological needs during a shift. I worked a retail gig a few years back where the supervisor would literally time our bathroom breaks with a stopwatch. It felt dehumanizing, like I was a piece of equipment being serviced rather than a person with a body.
When companies start squeezing every last drop of "efficiency" out of people by restricting things like water or breaks, it feels like a massive red flag for the culture of the whole organization. It’s not even about the money at that point; it's about dignity.
Do you think these kinds of hyper-rigid workplace policies are becoming more common as companies try to automate or optimize everything?