Clearly a lot of us are exhausted. Not just from the possibility of layoffs, but from the constant confusion, uncertainty and feeling that we’re never quite sure what’s coming next.
Another reorg. Another rumor. Another “wait and see.” Another change to how we’re expected to work.
And now RTO is another source of anxiety, with office attendance being tied to performance and ratings, despite the fact that we’ve already proven we can successfully do our jobs from wherever. “Misery loves company”.
So what can we actually control?
Our time. Our money. Our attention. Our lives.
If we’re being forced downtown, maybe we stop spending our money to make corporate life more convenient. Maybe we stop buying lunch at Ralph’s and The Market. Stop getting the $8 coffee at Vernick. Support the small businesses around Center City instead. And this isn’t just about Philly - wherever you work, support the local businesses around you instead of automatically spending money at the businesses that profit from corporate foot traffic.
And when you leave the office, leave the office.
Do your job. Do it well. But you don’t have to answer Teams messages at 7:30 p.m. You don’t have to pick up every call after hours. You don’t have to make a corporate emergency your personal emergency. Set boundaries.
Take your PTO. Use the benefits you’ve earned. Spend time with your family. Protect your weekends. Go to dinner. Go to the gym. See your friends. Do absolutely nothing.
As others have said: start preparing for yourself.
Because here’s the thing: the company has a contingency plan for you. You should have one for yourself, too.
For a long time, working for a company like Comcast came with a tradeoff: good benefits, healthcare, PTO, decent pay and some sense of security.
That tradeoff doesn’t feel the same anymore.
A corporation will make the decision that’s best for the corporation. We’re allowed to make decisions that are best for ourselves.
Maybe taking our power back isn’t one giant act of rebellion. Maybe it’s a thousand small decisions:
Where we spend our money.
When we answer our phones.
When we close our laptops.
When we take our PTO.
Where we put our energy.
What we tolerate.
What we prepare for.
The power isn’t entirely in the boardroom. It’s also in the people who show up every day and make the company work.
Maybe it’s time we remembered that.