Expecting employees to “care about the business”

Dave Herbal

Striker
I’m increasingly hearing management at work complaining that not enough people “care about the business”.
But unless you’re a shareholder or the owner, why would you?
I can understand people taking pride in their work, that’s different. But as long as their job is safe, why would you expect any of the rank and file workforce to give a shit about the business itself, especially if they work for a multinational corporate giant? Unless they are working towards a tasty bonus or promotion, surely most people just want to hoy their coat on at 4.30 and escape, not stay back to get a job out cos it’s “for the benefit of the business”.
 


I’m increasingly hearing management at work complaining that not enough people “care about the business”.
But unless you’re a shareholder or the owner, why would you?
I can understand people taking pride in their work, that’s different. But as long as their job is safe, why would you expect any of the rank and file workforce to give a shit about the business itself, especially if they work for a multinational corporate giant? Unless they are working towards a tasty bonus or promotion, surely most people just want to hoy their coat on at 4.30 and escape, not stay back to get a job out cos it’s “for the benefit of the business”.

Benefit of the business usually ensures continued employment, maybe that is it?
 
Oh, i dont know. A bit left field here but maybe there's some kind of correlation between "caring about the business" and the relative safety of your position.

Those scientists who conduct dunking biscuit experiments have probably done some kind of crazy experiment to see if there is such a relationship.
 
I’m split on this. If there’s a need to have someone work shit loads extra to achieve then you probably need 2 of those people.
I will flip that by saying, when you start giving more and more, so many companies will let you ( see thread on engineer ) and the balance is then broken.
 
I’m increasingly hearing management at work complaining that not enough people “care about the business”.
But unless you’re a shareholder or the owner, why would you?
I can understand people taking pride in their work, that’s different. But as long as their job is safe, why would you expect any of the rank and file workforce to give a shit about the business itself, especially if they work for a multinational corporate giant? Unless they are working towards a tasty bonus or promotion, surely most people just want to hoy their coat on at 4.30 and escape, not stay back to get a job out cos it’s “for the benefit of the business”.

youre a Burger Flipper at McDonalds, why worry about management issues.
 
I’m increasingly hearing management at work complaining that not enough people “care about the business”.
But unless you’re a shareholder or the owner, why would you?
I can understand people taking pride in their work, that’s different. But as long as their job is safe, why would you expect any of the rank and file workforce to give a shit about the business itself, especially if they work for a multinational corporate giant? Unless they are working towards a tasty bonus or promotion, surely most people just want to hoy their coat on at 4.30 and escape, not stay back to get a job out cos it’s “for the benefit of the business”.

Integrity and self-respect.

And that's what you're paid to do. Bit selfish to do anything else is it not?
 
I’m increasingly hearing management at work complaining that not enough people “care about the business”.
But unless you’re a shareholder or the owner, why would you?
I can understand people taking pride in their work, that’s different. But as long as their job is safe, why would you expect any of the rank and file workforce to give a shit about the business itself, especially if they work for a multinational corporate giant? Unless they are working towards a tasty bonus or promotion, surely most people just want to hoy their coat on at 4.30 and escape, not stay back to get a job out cos it’s “for the benefit of the business”.

Do your job to the best of your ability and all else will follow IMO. Thats it. They can fuck their business if thats not good enough.

More often than not its the Directors and shitehawks on the board who fuck everybody over.

Do your job to the best of your ability, thats it.
 
Benefit of the business usually ensures continued employment, maybe that is it?
As long as you’re fulfilling your contract terms and not stirring up trouble, your job is reasonably safe no matter now much you care.

youre a Burger Flipper at McDonalds, why worry about management issues.
I’m only on floors at the minute. Need more experience before I get to handle the spatula.
 
Last edited:
I do care about the company I work for because they care about me. If I felt like that wasn't so much a two way street that would change.

I was at a company I cared a lot about, but when things weren't looking all too rosy the stresses of the owners were transferred to the staff. There's only so long you can take it before you wonder if it's worth the effort.

I think you can be as professional as you want but caring will only go so far when you know you can go and get another job.
 
I think it was Unipress next to Nissan that actually expected it's managers to work 12 to 15 hours a week unpaid. Any manager that headed home before 7 to 7.30 pm unless there was a family emergency had poor continued prospects with the company.

Most jobs, I've never been pressed to stay much past my finish time unless there was an emergency. I used to put in extra time to begin with where I knew I had to for my own targets, but as soon as you realise it's taken for granted you'll stay late or your home life is suffering (and in my case my health), it's time to bring things to an end.

I've also found doing a one-off favour can lead to a task becoming an expected regular unwritten duty. You've done it once so you'll do it again. And that trap can be a nasty one if things go wrong and there's no-one else to do the task (say if the original person has left).
 
It's a bit of a Catch22 in the same way as people go on about the relationship between Sunderland and the fans. The line that fans should be passionate about the club regardless of the shit that is played out in front of them week after week falls a little flat. But if the team start performing and showing they really care and want it on the pitch then the crowd will inevitably get behind them and roar them on.

You can't expect the fans to get passionate about the players if week after week after week they just turn up, don't give a fuck, collect their wages and go home. in the same way, it requires the leaders of a company to engage with the employees and show that they are in it for the long run, and are passionate about the company. Then the employees will fall in behind the company and go the extra mile out of a sense of belonging and wanting the company to do the best it can.

Everyone sees through a faux badge kisser.
 

Back
Top