Meanwhile in Japan

[mahnmut]

Japanese bosses forced female employee to wear bunny ears

A 61-year-old Japanese woman was forced to wear bunny ears as a penalty for missing her sales targets, with photos of her humiliation used in company training programs, reports said.

The woman, who was not named, was employed by cosmetics maker Kanebo in southwestern Oita.

She sued the company claiming mental distress after her bosses instructed her to don costumes if she did not meet her targets, including over-sized rabbit ears on one occasion, several papers reported.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

And more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/rapid-realty-tattoo_n_3192939.html

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Seems that's not just a Japanese thing, though: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2317657/Would-YOU-company-tattoo-return-payrise-These-New-York-real-estate-agents-.html

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

horrible treatment! I bet he forced her to work there too!

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

If she wants to keep working there, she better lick the floor under his boots, amirite? After all, she knew putting bunny ears was in her job description in the first place. Y/N?

I wouldn't want to be one of your employees, that's for sure.

the issue is shaming for motivation

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

she wants to keep working there, she better lick the floor under his boots, amirite?

of course not. However, some managers have a goofy sense of how to motivate people. This is motivation through shaming. It is done in the military by reduction in rank, or grief from the CO in front of the troops. Remember the dunce cap?
Share a quick story: I was left handed. in 1961, teachers were allowed to do things they can't now. Teacher would wack my hand with a ruler if I used the wrong hand. So I used the 'right' hand, only it slowed me. I became the last person to turn in things. She put me in front of the class and had them jeer and mock me for being a 'grandpa'. Humiliated? Fuck yes. Motivated? From 2nd grade on, it was my mission to turn in tests FIRST. Resulted in some not perfect scores, but I did it all the way through college and adulthood. I sped up and became more productive because I had to learn faster.

Apples to apples? If you look at shame as a motivator, yes. Each situation is unique only in its eventual outcome.

I don't do it, and I don't like it, nor do I condone it. But it is what it is, right or wrong. Thanks for allowing me to be part of the conversation.

Re: the issue is shaming for motivation

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

This is not the military, and by the way what happened in your school was wrong, which is why it's not being done any more in schools. People shouldn't be humiliated in order to keep their job, or as a stimulation to become "more productive". Not in private business, and not in state-owned enterprise, and especially not at an early age where it could have lasting consequences. There's nothing "unique" here. This is universal. She didn't apply for this job in order to be humiliated, and she was in her right to sue him, and penalizing the employer was right. I've had cases like these where I've assisted abused employees to sue their abusive employers, and most of them have won their cases. Because this is the 21st century. I find the notion that "this is just how it is, so shrug, there's little we can do", quite despicable. Even if you include an "I don't like it" disclaimer. That is all.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

It's called bastardisation, and it's illegal here, thank god. We were having a discussion just last night about how "hilarious" it must have been when the apprentice got set on fire for the lulz in the "good old days".

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want to be one of your employees, that's for sure

And that, my friend is the ultimate true response, which is the point of several past posts. I've left bad jobs before, haven't you?

Please don't project all managers to be like that guy in the story. It stereotypes and it is SO not me.

.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Sure, but you're arguing that "this is just how it is". Well, don't know about you, but I refuse to just sit back and do nothing whenever it's in my capabilities actually to do something about it.

I know not all managers are like this. This one is. If he degrades people's dignity like that, he deserves all what's coming to him.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Saying 'this is how it is' is simply stating the reality of existence (acknowledging it is a problem and it does exist), as your experience clearly shows.

It is NOT a statement of acceptance status quo on my part. Clearly there was a translation/intent issue here.

You are at the point where any word or comment I make you are going to default to 'oh here is the old asshole rich racist guy spouting his bullshit' mode, we are never going to be able to discuss issues in a rational manner. Can you please show a bit of tolerance here?

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

That's a cool proposal. Perhaps you'd then be so kind to explain exactly what your initial comment meant. Here it is:

"horrible treatment! I bet he forced her to work there too!"

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

It means, yes it was wrong and yes ultimately no one is forced to keep a job. That is slavery. An employee has three choices: quite, litigate or tolerate. No one is forced to lick boots, as you replied. No one should put up with abuse. And no one is forced to work for anyone. It all applies here.

The second sentence was pathos. The first was accurate, but technically kind of 'bosses POV'. I'll admit that. But a chat and the reality of laws in GA are always two different thing. It was written in the exact vein your licking boots comment was, only the opposite point.

Many times I will type something that simultaneously point out a different perspective such as above. While it foments misunderstanding, it does provoke more in depth conversation and detail.

Dashing to lunch will type later. I want to understand more about your social work and how you deal with the daily burden of caring for so many.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

"The second sentence was pathos"

But still you wanted to discuss issues in a rational manner, and "in depth" conversation - right?

Well, you could've opted for a more rational intro to that in-depth conversation. One which, you know, doesn't foment misunderstanding.

I cope somehow.

Have a good lunch.