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Workplace Politics Quotes

Browse 72 quotes about Workplace Politics.

Workplace Politics Quotes

“If you tour any workplace, you will see countless logos and banners paying lip service to freedom of speech, democracy, logos like ‘speak up, speak out’, creativity, innovation, and on and on goes the list of flashy words and adjectives that companies and corporations want their employees (and outsiders) to believe are part of their work ethics and culture. Yet, most employees learn at the earliest stages of their careers that these bogus adjectives will get them fired, if they are naïve enough to believe in – let alone act on – them.”

WorkIntegrityLaborAbuseControlAmerican CultureWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CulturePower Relations
Author:Louis Yako
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“In reality, in most American companies, only few handpicked—arguably appointed— individuals in powerful positions; positions like leadership, finance, treasury, advisory, and so on, have the last say in what matters. Their words, no matter how nonsensical, are treated as the ultimate wisdom. Their silences are emulated by everyone else working under them, regardless of any human, capital, or ethical costs resulting from such silences. These powerful individuals are often so emotionally and intellectually abusive that employees treat even their most absurd suggestions as roadmaps dictating the direction of any company or project at hand.”

FearWorkAmerican CultureWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureWorkplace BiasLabor ActivismPower Relations
Author:Louis Yako
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“I have lost track of the number of times when I chatted with DEI professionals or even diversity hires of different races and backgrounds who painfully told me that they are put in a position that makes them incapable of making any meaningful changes in their workplace. That their job is primarily to be tokenized and make the institution look and feel good, but in reality they – and any diverse person in their workplace – feel totally paralyzed in environments that look good, but are in fact extremely controlled by the few privileged at the top. [From “The Trump Age: Critical Questions” published on CounterPunch on June 23, 2023]”

DiversityEqualitySocial ChangeEquityDiversity And InclusionCorporate CultureWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureTokenism
Author:Louis Yako
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“In brief, if we do not seriously problematize diversity as practiced currently in our society, we all lose. The diverse people should take this more seriously than anyone else, because putting them at the forefront of the battlefield with low-paid jobs while making them look like they are 'stealing' someone else’s job opportunities is not worth the paychecks they are getting in the long run. It is no secret that this hoax of diversity has turned countless poor and marginalized White Americans into the biggest enemies of diversity in America. This negatively affects all diverse people who truly love and make important contributions to the American society.”

DiversityCorruptionPropagandaInclusionWorkplace PoliticsTokenismWorkplace Bias
Author:Louis Yako
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“I have been through the OSHA system twice and I can confirm that I did not have the right to a safe workplace or whistle-blower protection on either occasion.”

RightsHealthSafeMountainSafetyWorkersProtectionAstronomyOshaAltitudeMaunaKeaElectricRightElectricityWorkplaceTelescopeElectricalSystemTelescopesSolarSolar SystemRetaliationAstrophysicsWorkplace PoliticsSolar EnergyWorkerAstronomicalSolar PowerWhistleblowerMountaintopRights Of ManWhistleAstrobiologySystemic FailureOccasionTwiceConfirmSafe PlaceElectricidadBlowerSolar SystemsSolar PvWorker RightsWhistle Blower
Author:Steven Magee
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“When asked, every other White privileged American—especially males—will tell you that their dream is to have their own company and brew their own beer! Ironically, their dream springs out of the total misery and toxic work environments they experience. Yet, instead of challenging and changing this reality for all, they dream of walking away and having their own company to repeat the same old game again.”

FearChangeInjusticeAmerican DreamWork EthicWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureMidnset
Author:Louis Yako
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“För att göra sig gällande här måste han bli som de andra, inte som Bogglund och drömmaren, utan som förmannen och Fågel blå. Då måste han, med befordringsdrömmarna hela tiden starkt levande inom sig lära sig klättra väl men icke fort. Han måste sparka till dem som ville komma om honom, alltid passa på, när ingen såg honom, smickra sig in hos de överordnade och lära sig intrigerna, så att intrigerna icke som bumeranger kom tillbaks. Han måste begränsa sig, envetet hålla sig inom gränsen, aldrig mera anse sig ha råd att göra en generös eftergift bara av nöjet att få göra den. Det var det man menade med "att sköta sig". (Sid. 225)”

Workplace PoliticsConformism1930s StockholmBootlickingSnakes And Ladders
Book:Kungsgatan
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“[honest and talented American employees] spend so much time in mediocre meetings listening to superficial ideas presented by the powerful few at every workplace. Their hearts and minds are constantly agonizing as they see the mediocrity of the powerful few being praised by circles of cheerleaders found in most workplaces. The cheerleaders are usually there for the paycheck, and they do a great job in making mediocrity be mistaken for creativity and innovation.”

CreativityLaborCorruptionAmerican CultureIntimidationPaychecksWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureWorkplace AttitudesCheerleaders
Author:Louis Yako
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“As a result, we now see a plethora of MBA-holders mushrooming in and infiltrating every sector, company and corporation, no matter how large or small. With rare exceptions, these MBA-holders hardly bring any creativity or depth to the table. For them, everything is about profits and building their own image and profile. They seldom care about the well-being and advancement of those who fall under the mercy of their business ideas. They are usually people who, like a herd of sheep, have been told that an MBA is the easiest and fastest route to prosperity and advancement, so they go to school, get that MBA, and from there wreak havoc in every place they set their foot on. With their mediocrity and strong desire to advance at any cost, their management styles often create a culture of fear and intimidation among employees. This culture is usually characterized by serious retaliation if anyone dares to open their mouth to challenge their authority or critique their ideas.”

CreativityMediocrityManagement And LeadershipCorporate CultureWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureManaging PeopleWorkplace BiasLabor Activism
Author:Louis Yako
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“In brief, anyone who has worked at one or two workplaces in America is familiar with that type of middle management or upper management individuals whose job is almost exclusively to create unnecessary tasks and procedures that turn the lives of employees under them into an absolute nightmare. What usually happens under such toxic circumstances? Nothing. A deafening silence from most employees. In fact, many employees not only remain silent out of fear of getting fired, they go as far as putting on fake smiles (or even loud laughter) to survive. Some walk around the office with the attitude of ‘I love my job!’ ‘I love my life!’ ‘I am living the dream!’ to please middle and upper management.”

EthicsCorruptionAmerican CultureCorporate CultureWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureWorkplace AttitudesCheerleadersLabor Activism
Author:Louis Yako
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“The majority of the organizations assume that highly experienced individuals in certain areas, perhaps people with over 26 years' worth of work experience in the same company in specific expertise, make for great managers. Many organizations are being led by individuals who have been within the company for a significant number of years”

Workplace PoliticsMicromanagement
Book:Sometimes it's your workplace: "A toxic workplace doesn't end at the office ,it follows you into every part of your life."
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“Leadership is about transforming people. It is about recognizing the power you have and opt to use it for the greater good of the transformation of people within the team.”

Leadership DevelopmentWorkplace PoliticsMicromanagement
Book:Sometimes it's your workplace: "A toxic workplace doesn't end at the office ,it follows you into every part of your life."
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“Just as most American employers give us ‘at will’ employments, our entire existence has become subject to their will. We have arrived at a point where most of our stress is a result of not knowing whether we will get the next paycheck. Exploitative employers love it this way. So long as we are afraid, they are sure to get 100 percent submission from us. We cannot let our toxic way of working be accepted as the norm and as the typical American work ethics. We deserve and can do much, much better than this.”

JusticeLaborEqualityEmploymentWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureEmployee ExperienceEmployee Rights
Author:Louis Yako
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“Many mistakenly think that remaining silent until finding another job is the safest and least costly approach, only to find out once at a new job, that the same old game starts all over again. The reason for this is simple: there is no escape. The issue is not about a specific company or corporation, even though it is true that some of them are much more oppressive and unbearable than others. The reason why changing employers never solves the problem is because the problem is systematic, structural, and indeed cultural. The fact that this reality of toxic workplaces has been tolerated for so long has turned it into a normalized and acceptable culture. It is very dangerous when anything becomes an accepted culture or norm. This point is crucial to ponder if we want to resist and change this unhealthy culture. The toxicity of many workplaces in America has been so normalized that people do not even question them anymore. Also, predictably, over time, things normalized become moralized. By moralized I mean that this toxicity is now considered as a moral way of earning one’s living, despite much evidence that it’s at once unhealthy and demoralizing. It is considered moral to work hard to earn your living, and it has become accepted that work is simply what it is and there is nothing you can do about it.”

PowerCapitalismLaborIntimidationToxic RelationshipsWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureEmployee RelationsEmployee ExperienceWorkplace Attitudes
Author:Louis Yako
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“Sonnet of Human Resources There is no blue collar, no white collar, just honor. And honor is defined by character not collar. There is no CEO, no janitor, just people. Person's worth lies, not in background, but behavior. Designation is reference to expertise, not existence. Respect is earned through rightful action, not label. Designation without humanity is resignation of humanity, For all labels without love cause nothing but trouble. The term human resources is a violation of human rights. For it designates people as possession of a company. Computers are resources, staplers are resources, but people, Aren't resources, but the soul of all company and society. I'm not saying, you oughta rephrase it all in a civilized way. But at the very least, it's high time with hierarchy we do away.”

Human ResourcesBusiness LeadershipHuman Resources ManagementBusiness Management TrainingWorkplace PoliticsEmployee RelationsWork EthicsWorkplace WisdomEmployer Employees RelationshipHuman Resources Poem
Book:Amantes Assemble: 100 Sonnets of Servant Sultans
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“No phrases are more commonly used in American English (and culture) than, ‘it is what it is,’ and ‘do what you gotta do!’ The first phrase indicates the acceptance of or resignation to a situation that cannot be changed. The second phrase is a way to say that you need to do what you need to do to take care of your problems. Yet, it is also well known in American culture that, no matter what, you must always ‘play it safe!’ This is precisely the problem we are dealing with—the fact that most people are suffering but also are advised to play it safe. Yet, are we safe? If we consider the mental, intellectual, and cultural costs that come with ‘playing it safe’, is anyone ever safe?”

FearLaborCorporationsAmerican CultureIntimidationWorkplace PoliticsWorkplace CultureEmployee RelationsWorkplace Attitudes
Author:Louis Yako
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