30 Times "Raising Morale" Completely Backfired For Management, As Shared In This Online Thread

We managed to get in touch with the author of this thread, CasperTFG_808, who was kind enough to have a little chat with us. They revealed they came up with the idea to post this question on the Ask Reddit community after they got off the phone with an old coworker. "They were telling me about the ridiculous demands that their new leadership was putting in place and how they were dumbfounded that everyone was leaving even though she had made multiple reports to HR about violations," the user told Bored Panda.

So while some workers go out of their way to stand up for themselves, others quietly accept the things their entitled bosses tell them. Still, that doesn’t stop them from sharing their nightmarish tales with everyone online. As of this writing, the question has amassed nearly 16k upvotes and 6k comments where rightfully disgruntled employees air their grievances. CasperTFG_808 said they didn’t expect the thread to blow up as much as it did and thought it would get maybe a dozen responses. "The popularity of the post totally caught me by surprise," they added.

While "no one wants to work" has become a running trend among CEOs and managers who wield power in their companies, they seem to miss what’s happening right in front of their eyes. Millions of employees all over the world have simply had enough of feeling undervalued and ignored by their employers and decide that it’s time to shine a light on delusional management and poor working conditions.

The user noted that workers have been viewed as expendable for too long. "Many companies have lost sight of what led them to success in the past," they said. "They view employees as commodities that they can swap in and out rather than the special resources that helped build the company in the first place."

So the user offered Redditors a chance to take refuge from their horrible bosses by allowing people to spill the dirt about them in their thread. "The best part about this post was giving people space to vent. Everyone has a work story and even though I may never get through all the responses, I am so happy to give people the opportunity to get something off their chest."

CasperTFG_808 pointed out that it’s a job-seeker's market out there, so "don’t be afraid to make a move. Also, don’t be afraid to report bad behavior to HR. Many companies also have an anonymous reporting system where you can report issues," they suggested.

To learn more about why certain corporations demand high spirits from staff while failing to meet their needs, Bored Panda reached out to Kristina Leonardi who is a nationally recognized career coach, speaker, and author of Say It To Make It: Affirmations to Empower the Heart, Mind, Spirit and Soul. She explained that employers who think that punishing their employees or making them "earn" good treatment is a good idea "have it all backward and are quite medieval in their approach."

"Creating a positive environment where employees can thrive is a win-win because when employees are happier, they will be more productive and loyal to go the extra mile," she added.

Some companies urge people to fill out surveys to measure how content they are with their jobs, benefits, and managers, yet fail to implement a single suggestion. Leonardi said they’re probably doing it for show, to check off a box, or for some regulatory reason. "If they don’t do anything with the responses then it’s a sure sign not much is going to change unless management has a change of personnel and/or heart," the career coach added.

Leonardi also stressed that another big issue she often hears from clients is micromanaging. "People want to be trusted and know that they are confident to perform their job well; having someone constantly double and triple check them (especially when they already have a proven track record) erodes confidence, creates unnecessary stress and anxiety, and creates low morale," she said, adding that it can ultimately push valuable employees out the door.

"It also tells the employee there is no room for them to grow or take on the responsibility or learn leadership skills which can also be an asset to the company if we're allowed to develop properly."

If you’re working in one of these companies that have time and again displayed that they do not care about you as an employee, the career coach wants you to consider a few things. "It’s time to do some self-reflection and realize that you are worth more. You should look for other opportunities that create supportive environments for their employees," she said. "Remember that we spend the majority of time and energy at work, so if that is a toxic environment, it carries over into our personal lives."

"You want a company where leadership understands that the employees are what makes their company run, and that trust is the number one factor employees are looking for to feel secure and able to thrive. More than cute perks and free lunches, it is about understanding that treating employees with respect and fairness will actually yield a better bottom line for them," she concluded.