By Chris Hedges
Anthony Vasquez, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, worked at FedEx Kinkos for about two years. His store’s slogan was: “Yes we can.”
“It meant that if a customer asked us to do a job for them, no matter what it was, we were to say ‘Yes we can!’ ” he said.
Posters of the slogan were posted on telephones and in the backroom. Corporate auditors enforced the slogan by “Yes we can” call audits. Employees would be punished as a group for failures, and individuals could be fired. Other slogans at the Santa Cruz, Calif., FedEx Kinkos included “Winning by engaging the hearts and minds of every team member” and “I promise to make every FedEx experience outstanding.”
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That Fed-Ex experience was revolting, if true,
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of some of the consultants in our system paid to do professional development workshops. Many of them spend a ridiculous amount of time playing goofy games and exercises with the teachers before their presentations...all designed to create a positive attitude. Most have made me want to vomit. I refuse to do any of it anymore.
"Corporate culture provides, as Christopher Lasch pointed out, a society dominated by corporate elites with an anti-elitist ideology."
ReplyDeleteOhhh, lets be positive now folks - share with a happy face, be very polite....lol
I was about to ask about you, v. You seem unusually quiet lately. I hope you are well.
ReplyDelete