Most workplaces seem fine on the surface. Yet they soon start feeling off, but they’re not exactly toxic. It’s got a lot to do with the so-called culture of the company. And that’s what makes it so unnerving.
Here are eleven things that companies call “culture” that actually mean control. Have you noticed any of these where you work?
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It’s like a family here
You should probably run if a company tells you they’re like a family. Okay, maybe don’t run, but definitely stop. Families don’t have a work-life balance. They call you at 11 PM to deal with an issue. As such, this phrase suggests the company will treat you like family, so don’t expect to have boundaries. Yikes.
Mandatory fun events
At first, the company’s happy hour event at 6 PM on a Tuesday sounds fun. But then you realize your manager’s keeping track of who makes the effort. It’s optional only in theory. Skipping it a couple of times leads to numerous comments about how people missed you. They say it with just a bit too much edge. Really, they’re checking your attendance.
Talking about a “culture fit”
You might think that companies pushing for a “culture fit” seems harmless, maybe even good, but companies use it to keep things exactly the same. Many companies will use the excuse to push out anyone who doesn’t match it. It could be someone who dresses differently, or someone who speaks up too much. Either way, they’ll label people “not quite a fit” whenever they like. It’s a subtle form of discrimination.
Open calendars
Soon enough, you’ll notice that those open calendars are quite a hassle. You might block 30 minutes on your calendar at 3 PM to step out. Next thing you know, someone slides into your messages. They tell you they noticed you were free, so could you please chat real quick? Your schedule’s now public property. Ouch.
Slack culture
Using Slack is supposed to keep everyone connected. Yet more often than not, people start messaging you during dinner & then following up when you don’t answer immediately. That’s not fair. It suddenly feels like you need to be online at all times just so no one thinks you’re slacking off. How ironic.
Unlimited vacation
In theory, being told you can take all the vacation you want sounds nice. But no one really knows what’s normal. It means that most people don’t take much, or any at all. Anyone who does take a full two weeks is called “disconnected.” As such, “unlimited” becomes “unlimited with conditions.” It’s weird, right?
Radical transparency
You’ve probably heard someone talk about radical transparency at work. They usually say it right before dropping a surprise layoff. In reality, this phrase usually just means employees are expected to overshare. But not upper management. They keep stuff a secret, meaning that transparency isn’t the goal here. Actually, they just want everyone to tell them everything.
Peer feedback systems
In some companies, everyone has to review each other. Yes, really. They’ll frame it as collaborative, but it ends up feeling like everyone’s watching each other. One person’s “constructive comment” becomes another person’s low score. To nobody’s surprise, managers still use it to make decisions. What’s the point?
No titles
The idea of having no titles at work sounds cool. It suggests that the company’s making sure everyone’s equal. Yet things aren’t so fair when you try to push back on an idea. Certain people start pulling rank in the background. Just because no one’s called “Manager” doesn’t mean there’s no manager. Instead, they call themselves “Team Lead.” Maybe even “guide.”
Ownership mentality
Despite what you might think, it’s not usually a good sign when a company talks about having an “ownership mindset.” They just want you to take on work outside of your job & not ask too many questions. As such, you’ll do stuff no one explained with no extra money. You’ll have no clear boundaries & no real support. Anything that breaks is on you. It’s painful.
Saying “there’s no clock-watching here”
Some companies claim they don’t care what hours you work. That sounds nice. But after a while, it becomes weird, as there’s no start time & no end time. You have no idea if you’re doing too much or not enough. Soon enough, you stop checking out at five because you’re worried someone else is still going. It’s not right.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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