It’s playing into the 2010s culture of workplaces being “cool hangouts with beer taps,“ and acting like that’s all millennials care about.
What they never understood is yeah, that stuff could be nice I guess in certain contexts, but that’s not why we went to work. None of us forced those companies to do that shit. And some of us even didn’t like it, because those places could often blur the lines between a place of business and a place for socializing, which often led to women being sexually harassed.
Agree, but I’ll say of those gimmicks on site subsidized food places and gyms are genuinely nice. Like I don’t want to play ping pong at work, but if you’re saving me a few gym and food trips a week I’m down.
And some of us even didn’t like it, because those places could often blur the lines between a place of business and a place for socializing
To be clear, this was always the goal. If an employer could have you work 80 hours a week and sleep under your desk, they would. The goal is to give employees things to do around the office, so they don’t feel the need to actually leave work. Because if you’re playing ping pong in the break room, you’re immediately available for your manager to go “hey, we have a project for you.” Even if you’re not clocked in while playing ping pong, you’re essentially on call.
Oh definitely. And companies like Google loved when you hung around and workshopped ideas because then you wouldn’t take it for yourself, you would give it to them. And if you didn’t give it to them, they would show how you worked on it at work.
Those were gimmicks from that boom time, when wages were generally high and sooner folks switched jobs within weeks. Perks mattered in that period. Then wages dropped but the mindset that these perks mattered remained.
It’s playing into the 2010s culture of workplaces being “cool hangouts with beer taps,“ and acting like that’s all millennials care about.
What they never understood is yeah, that stuff could be nice I guess in certain contexts, but that’s not why we went to work. None of us forced those companies to do that shit. And some of us even didn’t like it, because those places could often blur the lines between a place of business and a place for socializing, which often led to women being sexually harassed.
WeWork anyone?
Agree, but I’ll say of those gimmicks on site subsidized food places and gyms are genuinely nice. Like I don’t want to play ping pong at work, but if you’re saving me a few gym and food trips a week I’m down.
Food and gym could be sweet. Cold brew on tap too.
To be clear, this was always the goal. If an employer could have you work 80 hours a week and sleep under your desk, they would. The goal is to give employees things to do around the office, so they don’t feel the need to actually leave work. Because if you’re playing ping pong in the break room, you’re immediately available for your manager to go “hey, we have a project for you.” Even if you’re not clocked in while playing ping pong, you’re essentially on call.
Oh definitely. And companies like Google loved when you hung around and workshopped ideas because then you wouldn’t take it for yourself, you would give it to them. And if you didn’t give it to them, they would show how you worked on it at work.
Those were gimmicks from that boom time, when wages were generally high and sooner folks switched jobs within weeks. Perks mattered in that period. Then wages dropped but the mindset that these perks mattered remained.
Yeah the only “perks” I give a shit about are healthcare and PTO lol