June 7, 2006

Business etiquette, Vietnam style.

21 oil company officials must write self-criticism reports for failing to sing karaoke at a contract-signing ceremony:
"No one has been laid off yet but they have to criticize themselves for not participating in collective activities."
Is part of your job participating in office "fun"? Don't you hate that? Isn't that what the TV show "The Office" is about? I'd just like to see the Vietnam version of the show.

4 comments:

jeff said...

Ah, mandatory fun - and here I thought that idiocy was the exclusive province of the military.

I'm so disappointed to be wrong.

Icepick said...

"The last collective 'fun' event I was involved in revolved around having a group of us figure out a way to put womens panties on a goat."

David, this one's easy. Kill the goat, and THEM put the panties on.

Unknown said...

Interesting mixture of management styles: Marxist self-criticism coupled with threats of layoff, capitalist boss style!

Finn Alexander Kristiansen said...

Many Japanese companies (at least in the past) often made their employees engage in group exercise and "spirit" activities, but they took care of those employees till they kicked the bucket.

I would actually be happy to do that for my company (sing, dance, snap wet towels on fannies), if I was paid enough, and the company was truly a family and going to keep me employed till I am dead.

Unfortunately, corporations often try to do the stuff that is all about appearance, while holding back the stuff that matters: good pay, timely raises, bonuses, time off, good healthcare packages.

They want you to do the collective "happy face" activities, while ignoring you in the stuff that matters.

My boss, just the other Friday, called a "witty t-shirt" day, and of the four winners, two were management. (With one winner's shirt actually referencing the boss himself). Annoying.

I wore a polo shirt that day to stick it to the man. (Okay not really, I always wear polo shirts. Just the easiest thing to grab for out of the pile on the floor).