How do you deal with repressing rightful anger in the workplace?
How do you deal with repressing rightful anger in the workplace?
I just had to sit through an hour long presentation at my workplace by a top manager at a privatized public utility. This Boston Consulting-bred mf who probably makes six figures was talking about "reshaping the cost base" as a euphemism for major job cuts, while in the same breath bragging about being acquired by a Private Equity firm. He literally had a fucking bullet point about a highly unionized workforce being one of the main challenges facing the company.
I was struggling to even sit still, it was maddening. I made an effort to contain the rage, but even the few angry comments I made about it afterwards with my colleagues seemed to fall on deaf ears. I might have already jeopardized my job if rumor of them reaches the wrong people. Unfortunately my rent doesn't pay itself, and this is a relatively good job as far as they go.
How do you deal with the rage? How do you manage the anger internally when expressing it might genuinely lead to losing your job? I really tried to keep my mouth shut today, and I still kinda failed.
I treat the workplace as hostile territory. I am an infiltrator, and my mission requires me not to out myself.
I feel this, that's my usual attitude. This time I didn't manage to keep the anger under control I guess.
honestly this. and I try to find co-conspirators. misery shared is misery halved, etc, especially after sitting through an insane presentation/meeting.
I've sat through talks where I wondered if maybe the way to fight evil is to go straight at it and burn its house down with it trapped inside.
it helped to talk to a fellow insurrectionary colleague later about how fucked these people are morally.
unironically good advice! that's exactly how I treat my college
By constantly reminding myself that I'm looking to shape outcomes, not express myself. Not that it's easy but for me at least it becomes more natural with practice.
As another commenter mentioned, you can think of it like a hostile space you're infiltrating. I also think of it in comparison to how I act at actions when there are people telling heinous things at left crowds, trying to disrupt, or with cops present. I want to yell things back and insult the cops. But I instead try to adopt a role that improves outcomes for the action and those participating, which means deescalation and avoiding talking to cops at all. If someone is being made uncomfortable, try to get attention on me instead but via distraction and conversation, not being aggro but smiling.
Your power in workplace organizing comes from people liking and trusting you and being able to see the necessity of organizing. This is why the best first steps are often small and popular things like a little petition to keep coffee free or let people park in some lot or something. When management accedes, you are trusted as an organizer. When management balks, they start to see the necessity of organizing. Obviously there are ways this can be derailed and there's more to it in terms of organizing conversations but this is what success ends up looking like.
You're right, the shaping outcomes part is especially well put. The dispiriting thing is that as long as we're not the ones being fucked over I don't see my colleagues giving much of a shit about organizing. They're generally happy about the company. The problem here is the effect our work has on other people.
Expressing does not mean "with your mouth honestly".
Remember that action is more satisfying than words; a little goes a long way, and if you open your mouth you can't do shit.
Like wearing black at a protest.
Cut the dude's brakes in gran turismo
Don't rage, organize
Oh, wait, highly unionized workforce? Are you unionized? If not, try to talk to one of the union reps for the folks who are, ask them how you can get started forming one. They'll have resources.
Unfortunately we're not the highly unionized workforce in question. We're the tech contractor they want to replace said highly unionized workforce with. We're not unionized and I don't see the majority of my colleagues giving a shit except for a couple likeminded people. It's bleak
I steal something and maximize my slacking off
I honestly don't..I just let it out and let the chips fall where they may.
Probably not the advice you were looking for but I've always felt that if they're paying me, they will get my opinion on things until they tell me they don't want it.
I do try and keep it professional but I'm not always successful. It's never about people it's always about the situation.