I’m a low-level Account Manager at a really successful start up company. I do not make much money but need to feed my family. Each week, all 50 employees have to login to Zoom for a “Win / Gratitude Meeting.” The owner calls on each employee, who has to name one work “win” for the week, and one thing they’re grateful for. Usually the gratitude part is like a God damned Oscar speech where employees dole out endless drivel about how great so and so coworker is. It’s really fake and corny, not to mention no one is ever thankful for me. I just sit there listening to everyone circle jerk one another while I sit there and try to think of whatever b.s. I’m gonna say that week. I look at everyone’s faces perplexed that they can really enjoy or be into this. And then the owners literally cry each week when it’s their turn because they’re so proud of how the company’s grown and basically how much money they’re now making. The whole thing is degrading and culty, and I just want to unmute myself and say “IS ANYOBE REALLY BUYING INTO THIS CRAP OR ENJOYING IT?!!” Am I that jaded that I feel like this forced gratitude crap is the opposite of true and genuine gratitude? I mean maybe once a quarter, but every week? You know what would be a real win that I’d be super grateful for? Enough money to pay bills and have a few dollars left over to actually enjoy this crap life I’m leading.
I just wanted to get that out and remind everyone that there’s always some sort of corporate nonsense your fellow American capitalist worker is enduring.