Show HN: Larry Wildman – Send free, anonymous postcards to horrible bosses
larrywildman.com
larrywildman.com
- Summon the courage to say something about it and brave the consequences.
- Leave the company honorably and work somewhere else (or start your own company).
- Keep your mouth shut and blow off steam at the gym, bar, or therapist like everyone else.
If you can't go to your boss or boss's boss with a legitimate problem, you took the wrong job offer.
If I was an angel investor, I would not work with anyone who participated in this site.
I do agree that this approach seems juvenile.
I've seen a few cases of bad managers, in one case the boss's boss was notified of the problems (it was a team effort, as the sibling comment notes), and said boss was eventually laid off. In another case, it was the employee who took the "honorable" way out (and the PHB in question is still safely ensconced in his position).
Edit: the bottom quote in the site is pretty defeatist: "Gone are days where workers could organize and negotiate company-wide change"
He's apparently a much better manager now. I can imagine that he was also incredibly stressed and unhappy in retrospect, and I can only imagine that sending this card would have had a ripple-effect of passive-aggressiveness on the team.
Even if you think someone is going out of their way to make your life shitty, you don't know what other baggage they're carrying for the day. The best thing you can do is be nice and in the meantime, look for another job or try to positively create change.
> If I was an angel investor, I would not work with anyone who participated in this site.
Some self-reflection required.
I don't believe it's applicable very widely at all. For example, when it comes to "braving the consequences," the consequences affect those beyond ourselves, such as our dependents. I could be extremely courageous and then brave, but it doesn't feed children, in-laws or pay the mortgage if the consequences involve getting fired or demoted.
The best possible outcome from an anonymous nastygram still leaves you working someplace where the only way to make your voice heard is via anonymous nastygrams, and that's unacceptable as a long-term solution for anyone, anywhere. As a short-term solution to a specific problem, it's still not likely to help- it'll just foment paranoia and ill-will. In fact, the passive-aggressive approach is probably only going to have a constructive outcome with managers who care enough about their employees that it would be better to just talk to them anyway. The terrible managers this is designed for will just double down on their terribleness if they were to receive something like this.
I don't think anyone's suggesting that someone in this situation should quit their job and then start looking for something new. No one should ever do that if they can reasonably avoid it. But that person should definitely be putting all their energy into finding a new job rather than trying to patch up their current, unfixable employment situation to be more bearable.
(If by "acceptable" you don't intend to limit yourself to "things acceptable to management.")
I don't think I've ever seen a bigger example of a statement against worker's rights than this. This is exactly something you'd expect your boss to say.
You don't have a "right" to a non-asshole boss, a happy and fulfilling work environment, or the right to express your opinion at work. Job satisfaction is not a "universal human right".
How do you think we got to a five day work week? 40 hours a week? We just keep turning the ratchet.
PS you have a right to a non-asshole boss. You're buying someone's time, not their dignity.
Which is exactly what the GP post is saying. "Keeping your mouth shut" is an option, but unless you are doing it as part of a bigger strategy it is a very bad option and either of the other two would be preferable. If you accept as true the statement that reads "like everybody else", it means that too many people are taking the bad options and that most of they do not have any particular reason to do it besides cowardice. This is a problem for the rest of us, - specially the ones that want to make changes from within, - because it validates the bad bosses' behavior.
And just to be clear, to "shut your mouth" strategically is, in my mind, a form of delayed action. You do not accept the BS because you have surrendered to authority; you just avoid conflict in the short term to have peace of mind while you prepare your exit.
I understand that the people who are being sent these, are ripe prospects for your consulting services!
Good job thinking outside the box.
> Gone are days where workers could organize and negotiate company-wide change. Today, new companies must be formed with these changes in mind from the beginning.
This is almost self-parody.
"Dallas HR director files suit to find out who sent her penis-shaped candy"
http://www.fox4news.com/news/226319020-story
Gender issues aside, I could see how it could be hazardous for any kind of motivation. YMMV.
As a founder who's always open to feedback I want to know if someone thinks I'm/we're doing something wrong. But... I also understand how hard it is to tell your boss you think he/she is wrong, especially if there's no additional feedback. Still, if you think something can be better you should always speak up.
The unfortunate part was the exec actually wanted to improve things and would have loved to have had real constructive criticism.
> gage their interest (should be gauge)
> You're happiness (should be your)
> someone elses wheel (missing ' in else's)
> until their comfortable (should be they're)