The Corporatocratic Society

Corporate ‘Family’: All About Deception, Hypocrisy, and Greed

How the corporation subjects its employees to covert exploitation

After the COVID-19 epidemic, the corporate management sent us an inspiring email.

They reported that things were going great for us. I say “us” because they said we are all one family.

They said they are investing in “our people,” that there will be a lot of promotions, and that there will be a “targeted salary increase in some countries.”

It all sounded encouraging amidst rumors of rapid inflation. However, the reservation “in some countries” raised concerns — what if our country is not included in those “some”? And why even mention “in some” when we are all one family?

What happened next is easy to guess. The countries included in the “some” remained a secret. Our country wasn’t among them. Anyone surprised?

You see, we are like one family, but not everyone knows what’s happening inside it. As one poet said:

In our family, each has their secret craft, Yet no one knows the others’ path. It feels like we’re all assembling parts Of a device to spoil our minds and hearts.

But they always tell us that we have reasons to be proud. Since we work in IT, profits during the pandemic broke all records.

But they didn’t raise salaries.

And then things got even stranger within our family. When mass layoffs began in IT, we were told — if you are not involved in any project, either resign or take unpaid leave. Perhaps people at our branch were innocent, but it doesn’t matter; they will still do as they are told from above.

They told me the same thing. I had just finished working on a new initiative for the company. My boss was thrilled with my work, and I was invited to speak at the Strategy Board. Everything was great.

However, one thing made me wary again. The person responsible for organizing the event told me I had to leave the room immediately after my short speech. So, I couldn’t stay there with the others. Apparently, that’s not how things are done in this family. You do your part — and you leave. In general, we are all like a family, but there seem to be different castes.

Oh well, that’s just how things are, and I don’t set the rules. The important thing was that the boss was still pleased with my work. He left good feedback. There was something to be proud of and hope for.

But soon, another boss said I needed to either find my niche in the company or resign. Well, everyone was cutting costs everywhere because difficult times were coming, and so on.

I was puzzled. Why were times suddenly difficult after all that money our company earned during COVID?

Well, okay, I could somehow understand that. The advent of ChatGPT shook the IT industry. Companies were doing everything they could to cut expenses and create a financial safety cushion. People were being laid off in large numbers. Not because they needed to perform better but simply because they were not involved in long-term projects.

They were firing not only in IT. Well, shareholders saw how Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and other IT giants were engaging in public decimation and asked their CEOs — is this allowed?! Well, let’s cut our workforce too. To “optimize expenses,” as they call it.

They could have openly stated the reasons for these frantic layoffs, but that’s not how things are done in the family. Apparently, they didn’t want us to worry. They care about our mental well-being.

That may be why they also took away one paid sick day from us. Yes, the company used to pay for the first 10 days, and then the government’s social security agency took over. But apparently, the company found it unfair or wasteful. Now they only pay for 9 days. I learned about this from my family doctor.

Is anyone surprised that no one told us anything? Well, that’s our family. We are all loved, but not everyone needs to know everything. Anyway, when they take away another day from us, I will undoubtedly learn about it from the same family doctor. It’s good that the doctor is with us, not with them, at least for now. And I intend to stay in touch with her.

I accidentally remembered other things. When I joined this family several years ago, they covered the expenses for their foreign employees to fly home and back during vacations. Now, it’s impossible to believe. I pinch myself in different places, and it turns out it’s not a dream. It really happened; I still remember it. I found evidence in my corporate Outlook archive. Nostalgia washes over me. Damn, I’m becoming sentimental.

Of course, a couple of years later, they canceled it. The reason? They decided it was better to invest that money in “another direction of employee development.” What direction exactly, no one knew. Apparently, like many other things, it remained a secret. Salaries weren’t increased, and no benefits were added. Fortunately for the family, over the years, not many remembered those curious, audacious times. The rest would be surprised or wouldn’t believe it if they were told it was different.

But we still had reasons to be proud. One day, they told us that we had the privilege of becoming Ambassadors of the company. Just imagine!

What does it mean?

They gather you together and tell you how cool it is to be a member of such a family and that every God’s creature should know about it. And you have a unique opportunity to be part of this mission. And for you — completely free of charge! You can start right now! Just take it and promote the glorious name of the company on social networks — LinkedIn, Facebook, wherever you like! You have complete creative freedom. As much as you want, in optimistic, meaningful tones.

Have any questions? No problem!—there are training sessions at this time and that time.

And what do you think? Of course, the younger ones loved it. Those who had just joined the family were thrilled. They knew for sure that they were doing a good deed for the company, society, and for themselves. And the company would definitely appreciate them! Honor, respect, and increased social status are not seen as options but practical guarantees. Maybe not in this financial year, but definitely in the next. Or the next. Or the next.

Well, if it doesn’t happen and the employee leaves the company, other Ambassadors will take their place. That’s why the company is not interested in reducing attrition rates (a technical term for “turnover”).

The traces of those who left are wiped from the corporate memory forever. They never existed. All records are destroyed, traces erased, and names forgotten.

And finally, the main option. Feedback from the client project in which you are involved. You have to make sure they provide it to you.

Yes, you understood correctly. You not only have to perform your job professionally but also beg for feedback.

Yet the project is not obligated to provide it to you. They may provide it, or they may not. The client has no responsibility for it. Not surprising, considering the money the company charges the client (you better not know how much, you’ll sleep better). In general, no one owes you anything. And if you don’t receive feedback, there will be no promotion.

And most likely, you wouldn’t have gotten it anyway. Because the company sets a quota for promotions, and there are always many more employees eager to get that promotion than the quota allows. So, for the company, the expenses are always the same, and whether a particular employee deserved the promotion or not… well, does that really matter to the family?

And that’s how we live. Over time, of course, people leave the family. But it’s a big one, so it’s not a problem. Others will come. Their names will briefly appear in the database of the same device the poet spoke of. And then they will be forgotten, like the rest. Forever.

Welcome to the family!

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