Labor in the Office – The Alliance

Thanks to my kid, I’ve watched every season of The Office several times and there are instances which fans debate regarding changes in direction, writing, and other topics which I don’t notice. However, I can say the change in the feel of the show from the initial three episodes to “The Alliance” are obvious to me. The first three shows focus on serious topics more closely, in my opinion, than the fourth. Don’t interpret this observation as criticism, however. Had the show continued as the first three had, I suspect things would have turned out much darker and more intense. Adding more levity, pop culture commentary, and character development benefited the viewers.

In “The Alliance,” we find Dwight, worried about downsizing and loosing his job, seeking to establish an alliance with Jim. The reality show, Survivor, was a pop cultural focus at the time (according to the Office Ladies podcast, the two shows had close ties) and it’s established Dwight is looking to somehow “eliminate” his fellow workers he feels threaten his employment. While Dwight’s antics are pretty naive and silly, it does raise the issue of competition versus cooperation.

In Dwight’s view, the only way to succeed is to, somehow, defeat those around him. He’s looking to “win.” Regrettably, this is the perspective of competition many those raised in capitalist-dominated societies hold. How often have people heard of one company “dominating” another? How about the soda “wars?” Hell, Gordon Gekko’s repulsive greed in “Wall Street” was idolized and celebrated! Is it any surprise someone might believe success is determined by who “wins” or “looses?” It’s a false dichotomy which abolishes other alternatives. In our case, Dwight is more than willing to toss his fellow workers under the bus to protect his job.

There is an alternative to competition. Instead of working to defeat one another, workers can work cooperatively with a sense of solidarity. From a Utilitarian perspective, isn’t it better to maximize everyone’s benefits? I’d say it is. Doing the most good should be the objective. From an argument from Egoism, isn’t it best to ensure your individual well-being by protecting everyone else's as well? I’d argue it is. If we were discussing vaccines, this would be called “herd immunity.” We’re talking about work, however, so call it Solidarity. (To be honest, getting your shots is a form of solidarity with your neighbors and community.) By working together, the workers in the office could, both, protect everyone’s job and, in so doing, protect themselves as well. This is the essence of Unionism. While often obfuscated with discussions of pay, benefits, or contracts, a union’s reason for existence is to improve the working conditions for all its members.

Dwight, however, is the reactionary buffoon he is so the idea of working with others would be entirely foreign to him. Similarly, shows like Survivor would flop if all the contestants refused to compete with one another and, instead completed their tasks cooperatively and then shared the rewards. Take a moment, though, and ask yourself how much of this desire for conflict through competition is taught and how much is instinct. With television shows, professional sports leagues, schools, and corporations constantly reinforcing the narrative of conflict and competition, I get the inkling we’re more cooperative than we give ourselves credit and certain powers-at-be need to continually reinforce the win/loose message to maintain their preferred hierarchy. Time and time again people have come together and accomplished great things. It’s by separating us, through competition, isolation, and emphasizing our differences that the ruling capitalist class maintains its unquestioned authority. Divide and conquer, it's one of capitalists' favorite weapons. One against which we can defend. There really is power in a union – Solidarity, our ultimate superpower!

Downsizing has lowered morale in the office. Aware of this problem, Michael turns to an old (at least in the U.S.) management stand-by – the party. In what I like to call “pizza-party-ism,” or the tendency of management to try to distract from a problem with a cheap perk – like a pizza party.

I know there are a lot of workers out there who know exactly to what I’m referring. Hell, you might be reading this on your smartphone at some pizza lunch provided by your boss. Are they doing it out of the kindness of their heart or are they hoping to improve morale for a little while because they aren’t paying a living wage or because on-the-job injuries are still a problem? Doing nice things should be encouraged. But using things like a party to cover for unacceptable conditions is disingenuous. So, enjoy that slice but keep an eye on the boss and their motivations.

In this episode, Michael is aware of the impact downsizing is having on the workers and he decides to throw a surprise birthday party for Meredith, Supplier Relations, a full month before her birthday. Naturally, she is surprised and the party is initially a success but eventually fails. After realizing this, Michael then tries to impress everyone by bragging about a donation he (accidentally) made to a walk-a-thon in which the Accountant Oscar’s nephew is participating. Activities like these, as absurd as they are on television, are common place in reality and, like the show, they really don’t fix anything. What does? Fellow workers acting together.

Love The Office? Think I’m missing something or noticed other labor-related topics? Let me know! You can reach me at @unionlegion on Twitter, @I_Will_Wobble on Mastodon, or union [dot] legion (at) nym {dot} hush [dot] com.

Previously: Health Care

Labor in The Office – Health Care

Fifteen years after the airing of “Health Care,” the issue the episode focuses on still remains an unresolved problem. The United States of America still considers health care to be a commodity to be purchased and not a human right. As a result, the country continues to spend more than any other nation for worse health outcomes and people continue to die as a result. Because health care has been treated as an employer-provided perk for as long as it has, situations like that seen in The Office – where an employer chooses the cheapest plan as a cost-cutting measure – are a sad reality. In a sick twist masquerading as a solution, the Obama administration continued profit-oriented capitalist domination of health care with the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”). Now, many workers are forced to choose the cheapest insurance. It’s their responsibility! Even with the individual mandate requiring everyone purchase health insurance, this arrangement isn’t capitalist or classist enough for the Republicans – who have weakened the law to the point where they only thing keeping it alive is it’s popularity (it is better than what came before – nothing), in part, because insurance companies can no longer refuse to cover those with pre-existing conditions. When pregnancy is considered a “pre-existing condition,” it should come as a shock to none that almost everyone has a “pre-existing condition” (acne is a condition, by the way). I’ll set this aside, however, because people more knowledgeable have more intelligently written about the U.S. health care fiasco elsewhere.

Early in the episode, Michael, the Regional Manager, states, “I give them money…,” and then explains how he has direct control, input, or involvement in the office workers’ lives as a result. It becomes clear he will be playing the role of the capitalist or corporation for the episode when he delegates the authority of choosing the plan to Dwight, a Salesperson who could be described as a reactionary, authoritarian brown-noser. Market forces (represented by Michael’s supervisor, Jan) have pressured the corporation (Michael) to cut health care costs to maximize profits. As a result, management (represented by Dwight) looks for the cheapest option with absolutely no input from the workers. Initially, Dwight takes a very feudalistic, “anarcho-capitalist,” or libertarian position when he states, “...in the wild there is no health insurance….” His initial choice provides the least and is the worst for the workers. To avoid conflict, Michael instructs him to choose a different plan. Much of the episode focuses on his absurdity, HIPAA violations, and Michael’s avoidance of responsibility (again, he’s representing capitalists so the behavior is spot-on).

It is hard not to notice how little input the workers have in the choice of their health care. In the miniature feudal state represented by the office setting, the workers are having, not only their working conditions, but also their living conditions dictated to them by an entity which does not have their best interests in mind. The corporation is only concerned about maximizing profits and everyone’s health care suffers as a result. Naturally, workers are powerless only if they don’t realize they have agency. By harming the only thing a capitalist organization cares about – profits – workers can force businesses and the capitalist class to honor their demands. By withholding their labor through actions such as strikes, workers hit capitalists where it hurts them – in the bank account. You see, Michael (as the capitalist) isn’t the one giving money to the workers. It’s the other way around. Without the workers making the money through their labor, the capitalists wouldn’t have any in the first place!

Enough of this Marxist digression – except to say unions use the threat to profits as leverage for working conditions which include things like health insurance based on member input. For example, there is a Las Vegas union whose members don’t even have to pay premiums! Imagine what could be done if the entire working classrealized what those union members already know and have achieved through their solidarity….

While on that topic, we see the workers engage in their first solidarity or direct actions. Illustrated by Pam, the Receptionist, and Jim, a Salesperson, the workers engage in a form of sabotage. In order to confound Dwight, the workers fill out forms they’ve been ordered to complete with fake, ridiculous diseases. This actions frustrates the process and causes Dwight some consternation. Of course, there were consequences. Some people were asked embarrassing questions about their health problems. I guess it could be said each action can have a reaction so keep that in mind if you ever consider filling out a form claiming your back teeth are melting down your throat.

As funny as the fake diseases might be, the episode ends with a demonstration of a very powerful direct action. Despite whatever hopes they might have had, Dwight had chosen a terrible health plan and no one is happy. As a result, the entire work force, in unison, marches on the boss. When a group acts in solidarity and confronts their boss and doesn’t cede any authority, the message really gets across. In this case, the office directly confronts Michael about their terrible coverage. Michael flounders awkwardly and is powerless, speechless. The workers have control and it shows in his face. In the end, they all file out for the day looking disgusted. Is that how the confrontation should have ended? I’ll leave that up to the viewer. I will say, however, this is a very effective tactic and workers who may be interested in engaging in this type of action need to prepare thoroughly to maximize its impact.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my ramblings. If there are any topics you think I should include in the future or you think I’ve overlooked something, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter at @unionlegion, Mastodon at @I_Will_Wobble, or email me at union.legion (at) nym [dot] hush{dot}com.

Previously: Diversity Day
Up Next: The Alliance 

Labor in The Office - Diversity Day

The second episode of The Office, “Diversity Day,” takes on a very serious workplace issue which would continue to be confronted throughout all nine seasons – racism. While the manager, Michael’s, racism is evident in the pilot episode, Diversity Day is devoted to the response to his insensitive recitation of a Chris Rock routine.

I like this episode, in part, because it actually addresses two problems – the way corporations try to handle serious problems – training seminars – as well as racism. Not only are training seminars viewed as a joke by most employees and considered wasteful by experts, they are often seen as an easy one-time quick fix by management. While they have provided employment for some, training seminars really don’t change the behavior of individuals outside of a narrow window of time. Eventually, troublemakers return to their old ways when they lack adequate consequences or a sense of solidarity with their fellow workers.

To make matters worse, organizations now choose to use cheaper, computer-based, often generic (I don’t want to think about how many online sessions I’ve suffered through for [in generic actor-voice] “your organization”), training which further diminishes whatever effectiveness the session may have had. Mind-numbing web-based tedium further isolate coworkers from one another. Some of these online courses can be informative and/or accidentally hilarious once they leak, however, as the Target anti-union video and the classic, "Surviving Edged Weapons," prove.

Having offended the staff with his racist antics, the Dunder Mifflin corporate headquarters decided to bring in a corporate trainer. To avoid singling Michael out, the office is required to take the mandatory diversity training together. Detecting a threat to his authority and, possibly sensitive to his own misbehavior, Michael repeatedly talks over the instructor, Mr. Brown, and attempts to take over the meeting. Much like his behavior towards Jan in the pilot, Mr. Brown, an African American, is outside the typical, white male, power structure. After some quick de-escalation by Mr. Brown, Michael take his seat but remains combative and dismissive throughout the show. It becomes clear he never took the message seriously – at one point claiming the office was “very advanced” compared to what Mr. Brown had previously experienced. How he would have known that is anybody’s guess...or he was talking out the wrong end.

After Michael forces everyone to participate in a racist “diversity training” of his own devising, it’s as obvious as chartreuse cargo shorts at a Goth club night the corporate training did not work.

While humorous, versions of the training in the episode (or online versions) occur every day in the modern workplace. Like the show, they have little or no effect on the “Michaels” of the real world. Worse, there are people even more intolerant and callous than Michael who have never been told or shown their behavior is unacceptable. Worse still, many of those “Michaels” abuse their authority over their subordinates.

Are corporate training seminars the answer to this asymmetric abuse of power? It didn’t work on the show and it doesn’t work in real workplaces. What does? Worker Solidarity. Through unions, workers can force consequences on the racist, bullying bosses. For example, workers at a Target walked off the job in protest of a bad manager. Labor contracts are most commonly utilized by unions and they can institute grievance or discipline procedure to protect the workers and promote a more fair, equal workplace. Had Michael been forced to confront the staff refusing to work with him, restorative justice, or permanent and impactful discipline, don’t you think he would be more likely to correct his behavior? Wouldn’t that make things better for everyone – including him? While that doesn’t make a funny television show, it does make a happier workplace.

Did I miss something you think is important? Have ideas you'd like to share about the show? You can contact me on Twitter at @unionlegion, on Mastodon at @I_Will_Wobble, or email me at union.legion (at) hush.com.

Previously: Pilot
Up next: Health Care 

Labor in The Office - Pilot

It’s my understanding Ricky Gervais was involved with the production of the first 3 episodes of The Office. As far a I know he was a writer for the pilot as well. From an ignorant couch potato perspective, I can say it certainly looks to be consistent with the other episodes. I guess it would make sense. It is his show, after all. Regardless of the writers and producers involved, the pilot introduces the viewers to themes which would be consistently addressed throughout the entire series.

The choice of Scranton, Pennsylvania is ideal. A working-class city which has already shouldered its share of deindustrialization would provided a good stage for a series taking place just before and during the economic downturn of the Great Recession. Additionally, Dunder Mifflin, the company the show focuses on, is confronting technological changes on two different fronts. Not only was paper becoming less important for businesses as electric communication and record keeping became more prevalent, big-box stores were stealing market share from smaller businesses. In other words, The Office takes place in a time and place where the exploitation of workers was great and it provides an ideal canvass to portray working-class problems. Mr. Gervais, if you’re ever unfortunate enough to read my ramblings, I’d like to pitch a series about the Luddites. They dealt with related problems. Well, at least they were contending with exploitation and technology changes. I doubt they had as clean hair.

One of the topics dealt with series-wide is embodied by the character, Ryan. Ryan is a contract, or “temp,” employee. Temporary employees are part of what is now referred to as the Precariate – people whose employment exists in a precarious state (precarious + proletariat = precariate) and, as a result are vulnerable to degrees of exploitation against which regular employees are better shielded. For example, members of the precariate have lower compensation and little or no health insurance coverage – making them more susceptible to wage theft and other forms of exploitation because interruptions to their income are much more destructive. Members of the precariate typically have little to no savings or safety net and are much less likely to be able to stand up for themselves simply because, as individuals, they have little to no power over their working conditions and can’t risk getting fired.

As the viewers are introduced to Ryan, they are also made aware Dunder Mifflin is downsizing. One would be right to ask, “Why is the company downsizing on one hand while bringing on temp workers on the other?” Good question. Does or doesn’t the work need to be done? Truth is the work needs to be done but Dunder Mifflin doesn’t want to pay for it. By contracting out temp employees instead of maintaining it’s workforce or hiring another employee, they free themselves of having to pay health insurance, unemployment insurance and other things afforded to regular employees under labor law. Plus, disposing of temp employees they might find problematic, for whatever reason – trivial or serious, is almost as simple as replacing a used printer cartridge. Humans become an expendable resource. Protections were won for workers by unions and through a history of conflict between the working-class and capitalists who seek to exploit their labor. Dunder Mifflin is looking to take its workforce back to the state experienced during the “Golden Era” (of exploitation) when capitalists like Andrew Carnegie treated their employees like chattel with few or no protections. People had to die for there to be an eight hour work day.

On-the-job abuse is distinctly evident. Although he would go on to be developed into a more likable character, Michael, the Branch Manager, is revealed to be an abusive boss. While job-site abuse can take many forms – and will throughout the series – Michael’s misogyny is front and center in the pilot. When Michael introduces the receptionist, Pam, her response to his sexist and insulting behavior clearly indicates she is not in a position to correct it nor does it appear he’d be willing or able to hear the criticism. If the office was unionized all the workers would have had means to take collective action on Pam’s behalf. Whether through a grievance process or direct action, she and her fellow workers would be able to confront Michael and ultimately put an end to it. His misogyny isn’t confined to his subordinates, either. We learn he has a problem with having a female superior during his meeting with Jan (which includes a call from the character, Packer, that includes the portmanteau “Godhillary”). I’d certainly be negligent if I also didn’t point out Michael misgenders someone as he’s initially introduced to the audience. For women, having him as a supervisor must be a nightmare. Regrettably, the women in office suffer from an endemic problem.

Another theme throughout the entire series is what I like to call the “friend-boss.” Michael reinforces multiple times how he wants to be perceived as a friend before he’s seen as a boss. While the idea of a friendly supervisor is appealing, a friend-boss is often used tactically to prevent improving working conditions, solidarity actions, or unionization. Various forms of the friend-boss range from so-called “open door” policies to outright emotional manipulation. In Michael’s case, we observe invasion of personal space, inappropriate jokes, and confusing informal/interpersonal venting about pay as a work-related discussion – to which he reacts poorly. In The Office, Michael is seen as someone who doesn’t recognize boundaries. In the real world, when boundaries between work and home-life are blurred, rarely do things work with the home-life creeping into work-life. It always goes the other way. Ask anyone who telecommutes, has to carry a company phone, or is required to answer calls and respond to emails regardless of time of day or what they might be doing (not to mention those ensnared in the “gig” economy). Friend-bosses see no problem in invading their employees personal time. After all, aren’t they all family? This dynamic is significant in the series. While it makes for entertaining television, it isn’t good for a healthy work/life balance.

Racism and institutional sexism also rear their ugly heads. As there are ample opportunities to discuss them further in other episodes, I’ll only mention their presence. I’ll also point out both can be protected against through worker solidarity and unionization. If you see something in the episode you feel is noteworthy or if there is something you would like me to focus on for other episodes, feel free to contact me at @unionlegion on Twitter or email me at union.legion (at) nym.hush.com.

Up next: Diversity Day