The Corporate Spirit

When a corporation prizes those who are heroically overworked in stress-filled jobs, a siren song whispers to everyone else in the organization: Make your job difficult, stretch yourself thin, stress yourself out and eventually you, too, may be honored with executive approval. If you desire the blessing of the Mighty Corporate Fathers: work longer hours (than is sensible); take on more responsibility (than is sensible); make your job harder (than is sensible). Do this, and your sacrifices will be celebrated and your worth confirmed.

This cultural seduction plays into the old illusion that if we just work hard enough, and if we just work long enough…
We will finally be found valuable…
Finally be found lovable…
And finally find security.

Gordon MacKenzie, Orbiting the Giant Hairball

Dora (who, because of her background in rejection, was a prime candidate for the occult) found herself wrapped in a warm blanket of corporate strangeness when she worked at Campbell’s Soup, Inc. I found it so odd that they repeatedly referred to their employees, in mailers and promotional materials, as a “family”. I had never worked for a corporation of that size before, and found that language bizarre. “Honey,” I would say, “you perform a service for those people, and they pay you for your time. That’s an employer/employee relationship. That’s not family. That’s not how family works.”

But it’s just how they say it. They mean, ‘We like each other. We’re nice.’

Well then, they should say, “Campbell’s Soup: A Very Congenial Atmosphere For Employment.” I don’t like them re-appropriating terms that don’t belong to them. It bastardizes the word “Family”, which is not okay with me. Schools do the same thing. But just because they call themselves my family doesn’t mean they are.

[She assumes a look that says, “You are, once again, overstating something minor.”]

Come on, babe! It’s just like the word, “church”! That word can’t be borrowed or slapped on a building! It’s offensive! That word is too precious! An organization isn’t a church- a church is the body of Christ! And a corporation can’t be a family! They will not always love you! Their love for you- if that word even applies- is PERFECTLY conditional! Stop making them millions of dollars and see how many years you remain part of the “Family”!

(While we’re on the subject of precious words, don’t EVER call two people in homosexuality “married.” This is one of the many places where we’re going to have to oppose the U.S. of A.)

I can’t say she was totally convinced, but when she started learning about the occult and idolatry she was more interested. I’ve asked her how many times corporate headquarters have called her since she quit—you know, just to check on her, see how she’s doing. Interestingly, they haven’t called.

Some family.

So be wary, you Smart and Talented Men, of the Corporation telling you they will provide you will security, provide for your future, protect you from the financial storms ahead, blah blah blah. They may be lies based on good intentions (most of these people don’t know better than to talk that way, and I don’t blame them), but they’re lies nonetheless. Take a tip from Neo and unplug from the mainframe. (By all means, keep doing a great job and accept the paycheck! I’m not saying quit your job.)

I’m wary of the School spirit, I’m wary of National Pride and, yes, I’m wary of the Corporate Spirit, too.