This Is Your Brain At Work . . . Any Questions?

[peristaltor]

Over two years ago, I read Thomas Geoghegan's Were You Born on the Wrong Continent?, a somewhat rambling collection of observations about the differences between the United States and Germany. In it, he noted that, quite unlike the American experience, German broadsheet newspapers were thriving. Yes, in a country that also has the intertubes,

Comments

[anfalicious]

My first observation is that in 2007 Greece was the third longest working nation.

So many lulz in that :P

[htpcl]

This has never been my impression whenever spending time around Greece. :-D

Just try to find a working shop, or any institution to that matter, during the afternoon hours, around any Greek town/village/city.

[anfalicious]

It's like how everyone in Viet Nam works 18 hour days, but 16 hours of that is sitting in the shop watching TV.

[htpcl]

Here's how we work:

[sophia_sadek]

One of the big differences between Germany and the US is that Germans have greater degrees of freedom than Americans. Americans are still under the thumb of British investors. This is why a good number of people need to work two shifts just to pay rent and put food on the table. Yes, there is a level of political independence in the US, but not as much as people would like to think.

[peristaltor]

Americans are still under the thumb of British investors.

. . . . ?

I'm going to need to see a reference before I take that tin-foiled hat observation as anything more than a tin-foiled hat (probably Rothschild) slam.

[sophia_sadek]

The Rothschild clan is only one of a whole tribe of British investors.

[peristaltor]

So now they roam in tribes.

[harry_beast]

we don't demand much of our employees
Creative, free thinking, innovative employees would upset the status quo, making it harder for management to maintain their control. So, employees are encouraged to show up and shut up. The same holds true for citizens. Governments give the people bread and circuses, and hide behind bureaucracy, obstruction and obfuscation.
labor movements ... anti-American
In many cases, the practices of Big Labour are very similar to those of Big Business, though instead of show up and shut up, it is pay your union dues and shut up.

[peristaltor]

I think it's actually worse than simple management "control" issues. We have here a culture of top-down direction from school ("Shut up and learn") to work ("Shut up and work") to civics ("Shut up and vote"). Never mind the "creative, free thinking, innovative" out there. The larger threat is simply having an employee show up the boss by simply being right

[harry_beast]

There are some good managers out there, but a large number seem to be insecure when it comes to employees who show talent, initiative, or heaven forbid, ambition.
Have you ever read the book, The One Minute Manager? It's about a boss who does no work, makes no decisions, emotionally bullies and manipulates employees, but is held up as a model manager. It fits in with the image of management as ruling class. I always hated the book. It's a best seller, and has gotten a fair amount of praise.

[musicpsych]

That's a great point.

[telemann]

A music publisher here in NYC has several job postings for " Summer interns." They want someone with all these credentials (college advanced degrees in music), lots of experience in accounting and Microsoft Office, good references. For all that, they will get 4.00 an hour PLUS....*drum roll*......MTA fare. For the Summer time. I know there are differences of opinion about internships, but 32.00 a day in NYC is pretty meager. I hope the students get SNAP benefits included because with food prices in this city, the interns could blow their salary on food requirements.

[peristaltor]

Nice. Even better, it should be calculated based on the gap between his and his executives' pay and the pay of the lowest paid company member, contractors included. Otherwise, lowest pay would be gamed to target just above assistance levels, and nothing would be done to staunch the grossly out-of-control upper level pay increases.

Lowering executive pay would therefore enable executives to keep more of their earnings.

[gunslnger]

Most jobs are designed so the person shows up, shuts up and gets the work done. Thinking is discouraged, let alone voicing any opinions based on such thinking.

That's why we need more robots/computers doing those jobs, so people can do the jobs that require thinking. Like designing those robots/computers.

[peristaltor]

Some would argue that exactly this has caused the last few recessions. I don't necessarily agree 100%, but they make a strong case.

[gunslnger]

And? What's the problem?

[peristaltor]

The problem with your statement, or the problem with their theory?