12 January 2012
Nanny Workplace?
At first I was outraged, watching this. It's really pretty dehumanizing to go to work and get weighed and measured. I have to wonder if any of their workers are over 6 ft 2 tall that they really expect a waist size of 33 inches to be even remotely, remotely practical. You know it has to be discriminatory toward tall people (read: African- and European-ancestry people... you know... racism). It's just outrageous. But honestly? It would be nice if some workplaces didn't expect employees to work 10 hour days, work through lunch, give their employees projects and deadlines that make exercise difficult to impossible if sleep also has to happen that day, weekend work... and so on and so on and so on. Somewhere there is a balance of you taking care of your work and your workplace and the people at work taking reasonable care of you. No, not nannying. But maybe not shipping in pizza and donuts to meetings. Maybe getting rid of the 12-hour workdays and the vending machines and offering your employees an apple and granola bar, maybe some cereal each day with a badge swipe in the cafeteria. And not because anyone told you you had to, but because you want to save some healthcare dollars and have employees who have a sound mind in a sound body.
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Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
Sheesh, I can't believe how some people have to work such crazy hours. I've always told Charles that if he can help it, only work 40 hours a week. No guy should have to work their life away. I will (and have) downsized our standard of living to accommodate that.
ReplyDeleteWell the Japanese culture is different; conformity being the key element. The rule at our companies was that employees all wore the company uniform and worked until the boss went home..when ever that was. But that didn't apply .. And I don't think could ever be effectively applied .. to the US. As for me, 30 years of 7 days a week at 12 hours a day let me retire early.. And play the last 20+ years. Great!
ReplyDeleteStill, having to maintain a certain weight, waist size, etc per Government edicts like this ... or have your employer fined .. is way outta line!
The US Army does this...
ReplyDeleteAnd, at a promotion board, each evaluator has 90 whole seconds to review your record and make recommendations about whether you make the cut. So, your photo on the front cover (complete with fitted jacket) is more important than anything else you have done while on active duty.
I was much thinner when I was on active duty.
And,
~ Going for a run was a legitimate part of my work day.
~ The cafeteria had a healthy choice line.
Virginia, I don't generally have a problem with working long hours for a few weeks' stretch to finish a project or what-have-you. I find it problematic that many American employers give salary wages and then OWN the employees' entire days and weekends, too. Union people seem to have it way too cushy, but not working for zero pay is probably a great idea they have going on there...
ReplyDeleteDad, the only sad thing is that you retired after I grew up and we didn't get to spend that much time together when I was little. Tell ya what though, the company you worked for seemed to treat you pretty ok until I was in college. :(
Julie, I think that's awesome that they give you time to run if you enjoy that and that they gave you good choices at the cafeteria. I had heard tales of forced exercise in the Army though and forced bad haircuts too. Maybe it is not true, but I don't want to find out. :)
I think it's sad to expect your employees to work their life away for you. It's one thing if you don't value your family life or being with your children when they are growing up, but it's another when your job requires it of you regardless of how you feel. Sure, there are those out there who would place the almighty dollar and 'glitter' over spending precious time with their families...but those ones are rare I hope.
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