Management always claims to respect the work-life balance sentiment, but then go around telling everyone that they’re “like a family around here.” You can’t have both. Would you lay off the least productive family member if things started to get tough? So, basically get rid of the youngest kid once food prices soar too high. No. Only in a work environment is that acceptable. When times get tough in the family, mom and dad will make sure their kids get feed before they feed themselves. Does upper management ever do this when times get tough for the company? No. In fact, they tend to eat more when times get tough and take extra away from their subordinates. You see what we’re saying here?
Basically, the “we’re like a family here” is an instant red flag in a workplace these days. So if you hear that during an interview, might I suggest: Run.
A veteran teacher posted on Reddit an interaction she had during a staff meeting. It was the first meeting since summer break, so they were also onboarding new hires. The principal kept repeating all day that the faculty is like family. Over and over again. Finally, OP just couldn’t take it anymore and blurted out, “but we’re NOT family, we’re coworkers.” Apparently, the upper management and new hires were aghast by that, but the other veteran teachers had her back. She followed it up by explaining that she “loves and respects” the people she works with but she thinks it’s “unhealthy to relate [work] obligations to their families with their jobs.”
On the Reddit post, commenters readily agree with her and share many different examples and explanations on why it is toxic to work with a staff as if they were your “family.” See for yourself below!
