Category: Labor

  • Theory Y Promises

    Theory Y Promises

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    by

    Leo
    in

    Douglas McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y highlight two management styles: authoritarian control versus participative collaboration. While many organizations champion Theory Y values, they often enforce Theory X practices, prioritizing control over collaboration. This disconnect, amplified by modern workplace technology, erodes trust, rights, and wages. Performative “organizational Kabuki” masks these realities, leaving workers to misplace…

  • Quiet Quitting is Nonsense

    Quiet Quitting is Nonsense

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    by

    Leo
    in

    I have lately received numerous notifications about articles and media describing something called quiet quitting. I first saw this term on a Linkedin notification several weeks ago. Then I saw quiet quitting videos showing up on my YouTube feed. Now it appears to be quite a news item. So I looked into it. The media…

  • Knowledge Work and Outdated Management Theory

    Knowledge Work and Outdated Management Theory

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    by

    Leo
    in

    I am a knowledge worker. What I do at work is based on my knowledge of law and regulations and processes for dealing with very specific and ultimately common events. I do not think that what I do is difficult, but it took me many years to get to the point where the job I…

  • Organizational Kabuki

    Organizational Kabuki

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    by

    Leo
    in

    I am employed by a large government agency and I was recently given the opportunity to participate in what I like to call participation kabuki. Participation kabuki is when an organization desires to make a show of soliciting input from throughout the organization. Typically a committee is formed to organize the desired input. The committee is…

  • My Thoughts on COVID Vaccination

    My Thoughts on COVID Vaccination

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    by

    Leo
    in

    I have in the past year and a half had to talk with numerous people who are averse to taking the COVID vaccine. During almost every meeting I have been a part of there have been one or more people going on harangues about the COVID vaccine. The typical official stance is that the vaccine…

  • Getting Out of Bed is a Bad Idea

    Getting Out of Bed is a Bad Idea

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    by

    Leo
    in

    Most days during the week, getting out of bed seems like a bad idea. Sure, I will have to get out of bed at some point to go to the bathroom or because I am hungry, but that is a natural progression. I am talking about getting up for work in the morning. Getting out…