We always have been.
Corporate virtue signaling needs to stop. (Spoiler: It won’t.)
Pessimism is on the rise. (Google it and you’ll find plenty.) That’s not a good thing. But pessimism breeds skepticism. And people questioning what they see and hear is not a bad thing, unless you take it to the extreme where you think the Earth is flat. (I seriously can’t believe that’s a thing.)
Geopolitics and media aside, it hits on an everyday level: our jobs. The things we spend half of our waking hours doing.
People can only hear how amazing a company is (according to their employer branding) and find out it’s the opposite so many times before they assume everyone is full of sh*t. Based on the tone of LinkedIn comments these days, we’re all there.
The need to self-promote workplace greatness was a ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ thing. Your competitors-in-hiring did it, so you do, too. Even when you’re not special at all.
Peer pressure to cut corners. At scale. That’s the current state of culture initiatives, employer brand, and Office Dork life.
As snarky as I can be at times, this may shock you: I’m an optimist. In my <number redacted> years on Earth, everything has gotten better: the economy, technology, entertainment, medicine, travel, education, etc. (Only exceptions being music – which peaked in the ‘90s – and feral childhoods. Team Latchkey.)
As for work culture, all is not lost if you remember two things:
1. Everyone’s just here to get paid.
And that’s ok! There are other great reasons to work and stay at a job. But they’re *other* reasons. Not everyone has to be a cheerleader. Nor should you want them to.
2. If you want people to know what it’s like to work at your firm, have them ask your team.
What’s it like to work at Hirewell?
Don’t ask me. Ask our team. They’ll tell you.
Tdlr – Yes, you should strive to make your work environment great. But shut up about it. The word will get out.
Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.
