How did we as a society get a point where people cater to and bend over backwards for companies ?

Question

We’ve become slaves to companies and corporations to the point where people feel bad about calling off because of health issues or family emergencies and those situations are so much bigger than your job and the company you work for. Time is something that you can’t ever get back or replace. I work for a grocery store company where people in my corporate office are arrogant and think they’re something big in life like sir you work in a corporate office for a retail company, you got a degree just to work for a lame company. I’m in college because I want to be something much bigger than a retail ceo or retail manager. The management at the retail companies treat the jobs as if it’s like life or death emergency open heart surgery. My company in particular has a very high turn over rate to the point where the number of employees that quit out weighs the number of people being hired and even fired. My HR manager is begging people to apply for the jobs at the company I work for. If you have something serious like cancer you shouldn’t feel that you’re inconveniencing the company, it’s your health, it’s your life, you’re no longer an employee or manager for that company when your dead and six feet under. In fact they’ll just replace you the next day and forget about ever working for that company. What’s the grocery store management at the grocery store that got shot up in Colorado yesterday going to do about the traumatized workers who witnessed and survived the shooting?

? · Answer

This is sad but true!

Billy · Answer

Be nice.  The Supreme Court ruled that corporations are "persons" just like you.  Maybe what you said is "hate" speech.

LindseyS499 usetobe LINDSEYS · Answer

You chose to work there, you learn to deal with the company and their benefits. Retail hasn't been the best industry to work for, I know I've worked in it but not in a grocery store. 
I work for a company that treats their employees way better then that. 
I refuse to believe that I'm a slave, because I have to work to cover my expenses. Speak for your self when it comes to being treated like a slave.

curtisports2 · Answer

How did we as a society get to a point where everyone else was responsible for our lives but us?

The Oracle of Omigod · Answer

It is certainly not your fault that you have family emergencies and other issues which prevent you from working, but realize that it is also not the company's fault.  No harm, no foul - but the company is not obligated to provide work for undependable employees.

A Hunch · Answer

You aren't a slave to the company.  You are a slave to a paycheck.
You are afraid to call off work because you are afraid you will be seen as unreliable and you will be replaced with another employee who is reliable.  Thus, eliminating your paycheck.

"Time is something that you can’t ever get back or replace." True, but as humans most of us don't get to do whatever we want, whenever we want.

If you don't respect the job you are in, why do you work there?
Good luck with your grandiose ideas.

You work in a retail environment that likely has over 100% turnover which is standard for the industry.  Without looking at the details of your specific employer and location, there is no way for us to determine if they are better than their competitors, on par, or worse.

If you don't want to work, but have the ability to work, if you have cancer or another serious health problem that's your choice.  You can't dictate that everyone will make the same choices as you.

King Sooper is owned by Kroger.  It would be surprising if they didn't have an intervention team available within 90 minutes of the incident starting.  They are also likely working with the employees to get them short term leave and workers compensation to access counseling services for the employees.  No different than when there was a shooting at YouTube headquarters a few years ago.

Anonymous · Answer

It's ok.  We understand that you are young and have limited life experience.

Be careful of your use of the word "slave".

Kieth · Answer

When the companies began paying the unions to see things their way. When was the last labor strike you heard of? It used to be when the airline mechanics went on strike, the pilots and flight attendants went on strike too. Now most mechanic jobs have been outsourced to other companies, which aren't union.

busterwasmycat · Answer

Long story.  Proximate cause was the Reagan Revolution followed by Gingrich.  Earlier cause was military-industrial complex of WW II.  Earlier cause was absence of any controls and the robber baron period.  Earlier cause was feudalism.  It all leads to here and now.  One step at a time.

How did we as a society get a point where people cater to and bend over backwards for companies ?

9 Answers