@MCLA: I liked that article by Long a great deal, put it up on my “Shared Items”, too. I agree with the thesis put forward there also, while perhaps putting a greater emphasis myself on Roderick’s “hopefully unnecessary clarification”. There are any number of specific examples of workplace hierarchy I would challenge, but as above, it is not the shape of relations that concerns me, but rather the privilege and deference attached to particular individuals within them, regardless of their forms.

Cheers!

There is power in collaboration among people with diverse perspectives, interests and skills, including management skills. Many organizations facilitate accomplishment of great things through teamwork. I find such collaborations invigorating and even addicting. Therefore, I choose to work for organizations rather than for myself. People tell me I’m a good manager, but I prefer to do other things.

Employment agreements are agreements. Whenever I interview for a new position, I interview the company management at the same time they’re interviewing me, and I keep my eyes and ears open for alternatives even when I’m happy with my current situation.

We all have jobs to do– if there’s too much privilege in the management and not enough skill or teamwork being shown, I look for another company. If the employment agreement is too restrictive, I negotiate different terms. It amazes me how many people just accept the standard employment agreements without question. Same could be said for marriage agreements.

Perhaps state involvement has caused people to think of themselves as slaves. Perhaps this has caused some of us to forget we are free to make and dissolve agreements. Wouldn’t it be great if we could freely choose to allow people to make decisions for us (or not) rather than having others’ choices imposed on us by government?

Cheers,
Libby