4 ms·

> I don't know the answer, but it seems like a bit of a snowflake situation. I'm sure someone is out there is basically a psychopath who'll hire someone just to

by whack 5y ago

> I don't know the answer, but it seems like a bit of a snowflake situation. I'm sure someone is out there is basically a psychopath who'll hire someone just to fire them, in order to protect their buddy. But it doesn't sound like a common pathology. I generally agree with your comment, and the above is a great way of phrasing your point. However, I do think the above behavior is extremely common. There are tons of people out there who show great loyalty to friends, but not strangers. I personally know many people who have said that they will help cover up their friends' crimes, regardless of the severity of the crime. Taken one step further, there is no shortage of people who are extremely patriotic and loyal to their fellow countrymen, but completely callous to foreigners and immigrants. If you want to pursue the psychopath angle, there is ample avenue there as well. Everyone has a handful of work-friends who they know will have their back. They will give them glowing feedback to upper management, references, and job referrals. Cultivating this inner circle of peers, is a fantastic way to grow your career. "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine." I do agree with the overall point of your post. But I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss managerial pathologies or hire-to-fire practices.

ctvo 5y ago
Not only does the manager have to have low empathy and questionable morals, they also have to get throwaway head count, collude with bar raisers to hire low performing employees, and they need to fool their directors. Like the OP stated, it's bad overall for the company / organization, and doubtful executives at the organizational level will let you get away with it if found out. It stretches imagination that all of the above align and this is a common practice at Amazon.
- whack 5y ago
  > get throwaway head count It's not like they are choosing whether or not to fire someone. They know they have to let someone go. They are just strategically choosing who it should be. Their headcount doesn't change as a result of this > collude with bar raisers to hire low performing employees, and they need to fool their directors They don't have to go this far. As a manager, you could simply allow the hiring process to play itself out as it normally does. And then hire someone with the knowledge that they will be your sacrificial lamb when needed > doubtful executives at the organizational level will let you get away with it if found out How exactly is anyone going to find out. As long as you don't do it repeatedly and in a blatantly obvious manner, there's no way anyone will find out > it's bad overall for the company / organization Racism, sexism and homophobia would have never existed in the corporate world if everyone did what's best for the company. Surprisingly, the 20th century wasn't a great time to be a gay minority woman.

by whack 5y ago

ctvo 5y ago

Not only does the manager have to have low empathy and questionable morals, they also have to get throwaway head count, collude with bar raisers to hire low performing employees, and they need to fool their directors. Like the OP stated, it's bad overall for the company / organization, and doubtful executives at the organizational level will let you get away with it if found out. It stretches imagination that all of the above align and this is a common practice at Amazon.

whack 5y ago
> get throwaway head count It's not like they are choosing whether or not to fire someone. They know they have to let someone go. They are just strategically choosing who it should be. Their headcount doesn't change as a result of this > collude with bar raisers to hire low performing employees, and they need to fool their directors They don't have to go this far. As a manager, you could simply allow the hiring process to play itself out as it normally does. And then hire someone with the knowledge that they will be your sacrificial lamb when needed > doubtful executives at the organizational level will let you get away with it if found out How exactly is anyone going to find out. As long as you don't do it repeatedly and in a blatantly obvious manner, there's no way anyone will find out > it's bad overall for the company / organization Racism, sexism and homophobia would have never existed in the corporate world if everyone did what's best for the company. Surprisingly, the 20th century wasn't a great time to be a gay minority woman.