Can somebody in management position tell me why this is always touted and yet its culture is just rows of cubicles and being present 8-5?

What culture are you trying to espouse?

Company culture: the culture is you work for the company.

Why tf is this Slack meant for a lowly HR generalist showing up on Texags?

It's a sales pitch to say that we are going to pay you less than our peers, but we have free coffee in the break room.

I think company culture is more about the management style and structure than the physical office. Are there lots of layers of middle management or is it a flat structure? Is it highly competitive and political or more collaborative? Do managers hoard their talented subordinates or advocate for them and help them meet their goals and get promoted? Etc etc.

It's the movie Office Space.

Buford T. Justice said:

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It's the movie Office Space.

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Hawaiian Shirt Fridays!

We may be top-down with little tolerance for fresh ideas, but we punish people for not coming up with more fresh ideas. Our wages are low but you'll never get fired, and in that way we embrace accountability. Our top leaders are shackled to the job by retention plans, but you'll never be so lucky/cursed to have one.

Be motivated by our culture!

GarlandAg2012 said:

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I think company culture is more about the management style and structure than the physical office. Are there lots of layers of middle management or is it a flat structure? Is it highly competitive and political or more collaborative? Do managers hoard their talented subordinates or advocate for them and help them meet their goals and get promoted? Etc etc.

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This is absolutely correct.

A high-ownership culture combined with a high-enablement management layer (including executive) makes a strong culture.

This, of course, should be reflected in architecture, layout, processes, communications, performance expectations, hiring, staffing, and those important things.

Two things to remember- and I've got the skins on the wall to repeat these confidently:

Culture eats strategy for breakfast.

Culture isn't what you mandate, Culture is what you tolerate.

It built around keeping whiny little employees who don't want to contribute and complain constantly about balance while working less than 40 hour weeks from having any impact on the direction of the company

As far as culture goes at my employer:

I think they value collaboration and a positive work environment. Hybrid employees work 1-3 days a week but nothing is set in stone. The office is really nice and not a cube farm, lots of natural light, plenty of different spaces for working, etc. The cafe makes good food and the outdoor patio overlooks lower Manhattan (the office is in NYC). They realize you don't need to physically be in the office all of the time for good work to be done.

Generally speaking work/life balance is pretty important as well. That's why we have summer Fridays and full time is 35 hours a week. It's a very supportive place to work and hands down the best employers I've ever had.

nai06 said:

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As far as culture goes at my employer:

I think they value collaboration and a positive work environment. Hybrid employees work 1-3 days a week but nothing is set in stone. The office is really nice and not a cube farm, lots of natural light, plenty of different spaces for working, etc. The cafe makes good food and the outdoor patio overlooks lower Manhattan (the office is in NYC). They realize you don't need to physically be in the office all of the time for good work to be done.

Generally speaking work/life balance is pretty important as well. That's why we have summer Fridays and full time is 35 hours a week. It's a very supportive place to work and hands down the best employers I've ever had.

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man that sounds pleasant

My boss once told me, if I find myself consistently working 40-45 hours a week to let him know so he can reduce my workload. He said it's fine and will occasionally happen during busy periods but it's not what he wants his team to consistently face.

Are y'all hiring?

FIDO*98* said:

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It built around keeping whiny little employees who don't want to contribute and complain constantly about balance while working less than 40 hour weeks from having any impact on the direction of the company

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who hurt you

At my business, we kick ass and love titties. You get your **** done then you get the f out. No playing around wasting time in the office, cuz that's just gay. Go home to your family, sancha, other sancha, dog, cat or whatever. You ain't got nothing to do? Don't do it here. Our culture is that this is a business, do business. This ain't friends. I don't want to be your friend, I got friends I want to be friends with. And they ain't you. This is work, work ain't supposed to make you happy. Get your happiness somewheres else.

I don't disagree but the problem is companies have this mentality but require people ti be in the office 8-5 even when there's no work

- Find another job that has a flexible schedule
- Find a job where comp is tied to activity
- Start your own business

hedge said:

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Can somebody in management position tell me why this is always touted and yet its culture is just rows of cubicles and being present 8-5?

What culture are you trying to espouse?

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I hear the culture where you work is pretty laid back as long as the drive thru line doesn't get too long

Corporate culture is a thing and can be good or bad. Management can lay the groundwork for good culture, but can't force it. For example, I worked for a company that had happy hour in the office every other week (with pizza once a month). You'd shut your computer down a half hour early and go mingle and drink a couple of beers before leaving. People hated it there due to micromanagement and mismanagement, and all the pizza and beer in the world wasn't going to change it.

I think a lot of companies get culture wrong because they are trying to be everything to everyone.

I think a good culture should drive away a lot of really good people. When I talk to potential new hires about company culture, the majority of that conversation is "this is what might drive you crazy about working here." The right people can't be scared off. The wrong people end up taking different opportunities. Or they lie and SAY that they are on board with the culture end up leaving (one way or another) pretty quick.

Great company cultures aren't for everyone. They're for the right people.

If your company is really into taking a structured approach, then people who want to color outside the lines and wing it will hate it.

If your company is all about free rein and creativity, the people who want to systemize stuff won't like working there.


If you try to create a culture that EVERYONE will like then you'll end up with one that isn't good for anybody.

F "company culture".

The company will always pay little as they can get away with, and working harder and longer hours will rarely if ever be reflected in your pay raises.

In the end you're just a number and they will throw you on your ass for their bottom line regardless of your years or quality of service to them.

hedge said:

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Can somebody in management position tell me why this is always touted and yet its culture is just rows of cubicles and being present 8-5?

What culture are you trying to espouse?

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Sounds like you work a horrible job

It's not the best, I do it for $$$

hedge said:

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It's not the best, I do it for $$$

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With that said

Easy on the chocolate. I'm particular with my shakes

tandy miller said:

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hedge said:

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Can somebody in management position tell me why this is always touted and yet its culture is just rows of cubicles and being present 8-5?

What culture are you trying to espouse?

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I hear the culture where you work is pretty laid back as long as the drive thru line doesn't get too long

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Oh good one, did Chester ever come back?

He never left

My company culture: I'm my own boss and I own my consulting business as a sole proprietor. I no longer work for the man, and I am much happier for it as well. I eat what I kill, and the killin's good!

I work for a small general contractor in commercial construction.
The company culture is kinda like working with your friends. Most of pms have been here 15-20 years, and 7 of them are owners. (out of 20ish people in the office)

I'm kinda still the new guy after 9 years next month.

there are bout 7-8 offices and 8 'cubes' spread across 3 different areas. I'm downstairs with just 3 other cubes, and only 1 is occupied.

I don't mind it at all. I actually love the 'culture' here.

Fins Up! said:

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Are y'all hiring?

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Yes, but I don't want any of the yahoos around here knowing where I work!


In all seriousness, publishing in general has these sorts of benefits and work cultures. It's a trade off because the pay is not always as high to similar roles in other industries (IT being the exception), but for me it works. If you are interested, check out the big 5 publishers as they are usually hiring various roles. They all need more that just authors and editors to keep the business running.

Some roles and jobs that are commonly hired in publishing

Finance-analysts, accountants, investor relations, corp development

• Corporate Comms
• HR-All roles
• Marketing/Publicity
• Legal
• Project Managers
• Product Managers
• Digital Asset Managers
• Graphic Designers
• Sales and sale adjacent roles
• Audio/Visual roles are also opening up as more houses get into the entertainment business. So far it been primarily audiobooks (audio engineers, etc). But I think over the next few years you'll see publishers either opening production companies or buying up smaller ones to move production in house. Licensing IP for tv/film is big business right now.
• IT-literally everything under the sun. If there is a role at a fortune 500 company, it's counterpart exists in Publishing. Data security, Coding, Software development, etc. This is especially true in education publishers. A big part of the education market involves digital learning platforms and content to support core curriculum and supplemental products.

The Big Five are Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Macmillan. There are several other medium to large sized Publishers that also have these roles as well and ton of Indie Publishers.

Old (huge corporation) job.
Get woke or get out.
If you are a white dude, you get maybe 1 promotion, unless you decide you are a meaux, then you will qualify for more.
If management doesn't like you, you are done.
New idea? That's cute. Maybe we will get around to that in a year or two.


New (small) company.
If you don't want to work, gtfo.
What's woke? Can I sell it? If not, who cares.
We don't have HR here. If you don't like it, leave.
No idea is a bad idea.
When we make money we profit share.
We will gladly play you for your expertise and will listen to you.

Ginormus Ag said:

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At my business, we kick ass and love titties. You get your **** done then you get the f out. No playing around wasting time in the office, cuz that's just gay. Go home to your family, sancha, other sancha, dog, cat or whatever. You ain't got nothing to do? Don't do it here. Our culture is that this is a business, do business. This ain't friends. I don't want to be your friend, I got friends I want to be friends with. And they ain't you. This is work, work ain't supposed to make you happy. Get your happiness somewheres else.

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At my place, they have this "fun activity" where they asked for new hires (I just joined a few months ago) to create a 15 min presentation about themselves to the extended team on a Friday afternoon. I got no time for that. I'd rather be doing whatever I want to do.

I hate these "fun activities" which are just crap at this point.

gigemags-99 said:

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Check Razor. Check Razor.
Get ready for the pain, Warren.
The pain train is coming.
Woo-woo. Woo-woo.