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What you're saying here seems to be that corporations are inherently sociopathic constructs and one should approach employment with the cold calculating rationality of a machine. There is no reason to expect any empathy or solidarity. Sounds very bleak to be honest.

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I agree. I've had employers that were sociopathic, weren't sociopathic but were such a mess that it was like being in a relationship with a heroin addict, and weren't sociopathic and cared (with actions, not just words) about my well-being beyond just my productivity.

Businesses are made of people. Businesses do bad and good things due to the decisions of the people involved.

If my bosses treat me with compassion and fairness, even in the face of hard choices, I'm going to reciprocate. If they don't -- and they treat me like a vending machine, for instance -- I'll also reciprocate (and might strongly consider switching employers, if I can.)

Bleak; but it's the truth. That's how the employer sees it. They may try to cultivate the "we're all like a family" atmosphere, but that's not how they see it. And not all families are lovely.

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