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Our elders really knew how to do some things right.

ocdtrekkie 7y ago
It's always entertaining when Silicon Valley companies learn that hundred-plus year companies have these stiff adult things called "rules" around for a reason. I can't imagine seriously engaging in significant political discussion at work, and can't imagine a positive outcome to it.
- busterarm 7y ago
  Well, when a company actively tries to make its employees private life a service provided by the company, that's inevitably going to include their activism as well. The bigger companies in particular are your employer, your restaurant, your gym, your laundry service, your transportation, your social life...
  - vonmoltke 7y ago
    > The bigger companies in particular are your employer, your restaurant, your gym, your laundry service, your transportation, your social life... What companies besides Google and Facebook could qualify as all of those?
    - busterarm 7y ago
      Let's see...Genentech has: onsite child care, car wash facilities, haircutting, spa treatments, bike repair, a gym United Shore: their own starbucks, a gym, outdoor basketball courts. Commvault has: ping pong, foosball, pool tables, a gym, a softball field, a basketball court, a walking trail Procore has: a gym, catered lunches, bring your dog to work policy, fitness _classes_, massages & haircuts onsite. Adobe: a gym Tesla: employee lease program, shuttle services Intel: gyms, fitness classes, spas, dry cleaning, banking.
- atklp 7y ago
  It's easy when you've made sure the entire company leans the same way though. It would be odd to be a right-winger and work in Google--knowing that they're doing everything they can to hurt me. But of course money is money and everybody has a price.
  - brighter2morrow 7y ago
    I'm a right-winger in a leftist workplace. The key is just to keep your head down whenever politics comes up, and never participate in discussion about controversial topics. Generally I would act the same in a right-leaning atmosphere if one ever existed anyway, but at least then I wouldn't hear my coworkers' rants.

It's always entertaining when Silicon Valley companies learn that hundred-plus year companies have these stiff adult things called "rules" around for a reason. I can't imagine seriously engaging in significant political discussion at work, and can't imagine a positive outcome to it.

busterarm 7y ago
Well, when a company actively tries to make its employees private life a service provided by the company, that's inevitably going to include their activism as well. The bigger companies in particular are your employer, your restaurant, your gym, your laundry service, your transportation, your social life...
- vonmoltke 7y ago
  > The bigger companies in particular are your employer, your restaurant, your gym, your laundry service, your transportation, your social life... What companies besides Google and Facebook could qualify as all of those?
  - busterarm 7y ago
    Let's see...Genentech has: onsite child care, car wash facilities, haircutting, spa treatments, bike repair, a gym United Shore: their own starbucks, a gym, outdoor basketball courts. Commvault has: ping pong, foosball, pool tables, a gym, a softball field, a basketball court, a walking trail Procore has: a gym, catered lunches, bring your dog to work policy, fitness _classes_, massages & haircuts onsite. Adobe: a gym Tesla: employee lease program, shuttle services Intel: gyms, fitness classes, spas, dry cleaning, banking.
atklp 7y ago
It's easy when you've made sure the entire company leans the same way though. It would be odd to be a right-winger and work in Google--knowing that they're doing everything they can to hurt me. But of course money is money and everybody has a price.
- brighter2morrow 7y ago
  I'm a right-winger in a leftist workplace. The key is just to keep your head down whenever politics comes up, and never participate in discussion about controversial topics. Generally I would act the same in a right-leaning atmosphere if one ever existed anyway, but at least then I wouldn't hear my coworkers' rants.