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I love how this article (and the hundreds of others like it) points out that companies perform better when workers are happy, and workers are happy when (fill i

I love how this article (and the hundreds of others like it) points out that companies perform better when workers are happy, and workers are happy when (fill in the blank). There will never, ever, ever come a day when the owners of the companies care if the workers are happy. Even if you can convince them that they make more money when the workers are happy. The people in charge exist for the sole purpose of making people unhappy, even if it leads to non-productivity, even if it leads to loss of revenue, even if it leads to shareholder decline, even if it leads to workplace violence, even if it leads to suicide, even if it leads to armed revolution. The people who rise to the top do not care about any outcome except spreading misery "below" them as a means of asserting their dominance.

redbergy 10y ago
I'm not sure how to respond but I feel compelled to do so. I've never seen your assertions in practice anywhere I've worked in the past 15 years. Sure, at some places people who rise to the top only care about the outcome of the bottom line but never have I seen executive leadership or even middle management who only cares about spreading misery. I could see this being the case at entry level jobs where you're 16 and have an immature 18-20 year old manager but not in the adult world. Maybe you've had a bad experience or two but I don't think your characterization is accurate here.
- ulkram 10y ago
  What he's saying is that some people derive happiness from being high status. Thus, their goal is not for everyone to be happy. Their goal is to be above others, even if they have to push others down. I'm not sure I completely agree, but it does seem to be at least a part of human nature.
zizee 10y ago
> The people in charge exist for the sole purpose of making people unhappy Are you saying that all business owners (including small businesses) are sadists? Either you have worked in only really bad workplaces or you have a really distorted view on reality. Every business owner I know would prefer for their employees to be enjoying their work. What possible motivation could their be for them to desire the opposite?

redbergy 10y ago

I'm not sure how to respond but I feel compelled to do so. I've never seen your assertions in practice anywhere I've worked in the past 15 years. Sure, at some places people who rise to the top only care about the outcome of the bottom line but never have I seen executive leadership or even middle management who only cares about spreading misery. I could see this being the case at entry level jobs where you're 16 and have an immature 18-20 year old manager but not in the adult world. Maybe you've had a bad experience or two but I don't think your characterization is accurate here.

ulkram 10y ago
What he's saying is that some people derive happiness from being high status. Thus, their goal is not for everyone to be happy. Their goal is to be above others, even if they have to push others down. I'm not sure I completely agree, but it does seem to be at least a part of human nature.

zizee 10y ago

> The people in charge exist for the sole purpose of making people unhappy Are you saying that all business owners (including small businesses) are sadists? Either you have worked in only really bad workplaces or you have a really distorted view on reality. Every business owner I know would prefer for their employees to be enjoying their work. What possible motivation could their be for them to desire the opposite?