This is so true. Work is the only institution left it seems. I can’t help wondering if that is somehow the whole point of neoliberalism but I am probably being paranoid. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that employers should be really happy with this outcome because if work is the only institutional connection we have it makes it very valuable to us.
Whether employers consciously benefit from this or not, there’s no denying that features of neoliberalism — the financialisation of housing, greater labour market flexibility and the weakening of collective institutions — have contributed to this broader fragmentation of community. They might not be the whole explanation, but I think they’re a substantial part of it.
Ah, ain't this the truth 🥺 i think this is a particular challenge for those of us who tipped a bit too much of ourselves into our careers and the identity-forming rituals that came with it. The world/economy/system has demanded that of so many of us, but I wonder if I'd been more deliberate about diversifying my life earlier on, perhaps I wouldn't have had so much grief and trouble re-asserting my identity once I moved on from a workplace.
Bloody hell, I thought I’d been booted from somewhere.
Your title worked.
It’s hard maintaining relationships with ex-colleagues. I left a firm 18 months ago. Terrible, toxic “wellness” firm, but the closeness we built as colleagues to numb the circus around us felt unbreakable.
We’ve all since moved on to pastures new. I’ve tried keeping in touch. Occasionally organising some drinks, but people naturally fall away. They have their lives, work, family, and a heap of things going on.
It’s sad. I miss them. This big, floating ball we’re on still spins away.
This is it exactly. It often doesn’t matter how good or bad the broader culture was, the perfectly good reasons you left, or your intention or wish to stay in touch.
This really struck a chord, actually many chords! Not just the growing up as an expat kid part (80&90s) but also having worked in 2 very intentionally “work family” oriented companies - IBM (the “IBMer”) and Salesforce (they literally call their people “Ohana”!). And the role of alumni groups - not just alumni of uni’s or schools, but of companies. Take away the institution, and you just have a group of humans that want to belong to a community - a “third place”
This is so true. Work is the only institution left it seems. I can’t help wondering if that is somehow the whole point of neoliberalism but I am probably being paranoid. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that employers should be really happy with this outcome because if work is the only institutional connection we have it makes it very valuable to us.
Whether employers consciously benefit from this or not, there’s no denying that features of neoliberalism — the financialisation of housing, greater labour market flexibility and the weakening of collective institutions — have contributed to this broader fragmentation of community. They might not be the whole explanation, but I think they’re a substantial part of it.
Ah, ain't this the truth 🥺 i think this is a particular challenge for those of us who tipped a bit too much of ourselves into our careers and the identity-forming rituals that came with it. The world/economy/system has demanded that of so many of us, but I wonder if I'd been more deliberate about diversifying my life earlier on, perhaps I wouldn't have had so much grief and trouble re-asserting my identity once I moved on from a workplace.
I’m not even sure it’s a matter of intention or effort though. I think a lot of it is structural unfortunately.
Bloody hell, I thought I’d been booted from somewhere.
Your title worked.
It’s hard maintaining relationships with ex-colleagues. I left a firm 18 months ago. Terrible, toxic “wellness” firm, but the closeness we built as colleagues to numb the circus around us felt unbreakable.
We’ve all since moved on to pastures new. I’ve tried keeping in touch. Occasionally organising some drinks, but people naturally fall away. They have their lives, work, family, and a heap of things going on.
It’s sad. I miss them. This big, floating ball we’re on still spins away.
This is it exactly. It often doesn’t matter how good or bad the broader culture was, the perfectly good reasons you left, or your intention or wish to stay in touch.
This really struck a chord, actually many chords! Not just the growing up as an expat kid part (80&90s) but also having worked in 2 very intentionally “work family” oriented companies - IBM (the “IBMer”) and Salesforce (they literally call their people “Ohana”!). And the role of alumni groups - not just alumni of uni’s or schools, but of companies. Take away the institution, and you just have a group of humans that want to belong to a community - a “third place”
I haven’t read it yet but I thought I got kicked off of something ! Great title
Ahahahaha thanks Gabe