Hmmm.. I haven't had any "bad" experience with any of my bosses. I guess I'm just lucky. I guess playing golf together regularly helps.:)

Mike ,sorry about my last post. I didn't mean to sound like I was lecturing you.


>I have noticed that, actually ;-) Big problem with authority. Some people are much better off working for themselves and I am one of them. Not that I haven't had some good bosses. There have been a few whose approach is to empower employees -- basically, this is what I want you to accomplish and for the most part I will let you take care of it. That's win-win. The boss and the employee make each other look good. The other situation, though, which I believe is far more common, where the boss's approach is "I'm the boss and you work for me and you'll do what I damn well tell you even if it's dancing an Irish jig" -- fuggedaboutit.
>
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>>Run like hell?
>>You have to face reality. You have a boss who basically tells you what you need to do. If you can't handle the boss-to-subordinate and subordinate-to-boss relationship, you can't function in a company.
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>>
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>>>I have seen that and do find it creepy.
>>>
>>>One thing some (American) companies like to tell potential employees is "it's like a family here." That's when I run like hell. What they're really conveying is they're the parents and want me to be one of the children.
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>>>>If you think that's creepy you should try working in Korea or Japan. See what they do in the name of company spirit.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I agree with you that employment at any company is voluntary. If we agree to take a job, we agree to the whole package, and it's up to us whether it's worth it or not. That said, don't you find an enforced company cheer a little creepy?
>>>>>
>>>>>>No one is forcing them to work at Walmart. If they don't want to do the cheer, they can go work elsewhere. Really, you act as though it is cruel and unusual punishment. What is illegal about requiring your employees to cheer? It's a JOB. A voluntary job, not a job the government picked for them and is forcing them to do. Next you'll be claiming that the cleaning company shouldn't be expected to clean toilets (a much worse job in my opinion that having to cheer) or mop the floors if they don't want to. Thank god this is still America.
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>>>>>>>>You are implying that those working at Walmart have absolutely no other job available to them and also that somehow clapping at Walmart is not part of a job but cruel and unusual punishment or something?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>If there are those among them who think that the rite is humiliating, they should have the option to stay out of it, without repercussions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Or is it a part of the incentive package for them to do something with their lives and get away from it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>You know, maybe this aversion towards these types of rites was partly due to Hollywood movies, or some other sort of propaganda, when the propensity of socialist systems to impose such rites on their citizens was used as a rallying point - see what these countries force their citizens to do! I've had three oaths I had to pass, one entering the pioneers (which was the kids organization, age 7-15), the youth (15-25 or so) and one in the army. The first one was solemn, of course. The second one was solemn but awkward. The third one was "ok, you wanted me to lie under oath, so I will". Because by that age I have really developed a distaste for such public expressions of loyalty.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Then, coming here, and seeing that the pledge is read every morning... boy, that's worse - we had to undergo one of these two or three times and that was bad already, but doing it every day... And then this cheering to the pretty much worst among the famous corporations takes the cake. Also, be it noted that I didn't really stumble upon it by myself - I wouldn't find it in a hundred years. It was told by another European (used to frequent UT once upon a time) after his visit to Walmart HQ. His account of it was expressing utter disgust, with a lot of head shaking. I just remembered it yesterday and thought, there should be something on youtube about it.