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(Cheezburger)   CEO on LinkedIn: "Never hire anyone that's looking for work life balance." Looks like he won't be hiring anyone, then   (cheezburger.com) divider line
45
    More: Dumbass, Work-life balance, Copula (linguistics), couple of weeks, Question, statistics enthusiast, Fashion, key question, Enthusiasm  
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1171 clicks; posted to Business » on 01 Feb 2023 at 2:53 PM (8 weeks ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



45 Comments     (+0 »)
View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 1:18:15 PM  
You'd think a CEO would know when to use "that" and when to use "who."
 
NewportBarGuy [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-01 2:07:43 PM  
Well, if he's looking for employees to slave themselves to make him money? Yeah he's 100% right.

He's also kind of sort of right for commission work, but not enough to not sound like a complete asshole because I know plenty of people in real estate and yacht brokering that have that balance and make a f*ck load of money for themselves and their company.

Don't say sh*t like that where people can hear you. That's why you join a club or play poker or whatever.
 
Somaticasual [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 2:23:45 PM  
Androids only. Gotcha.
 
bighairyguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 2:37:19 PM  
I think his HR rules and practices could use a nice healthy audit.
 
bingethinker [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-01 2:42:08 PM  
I think some companies are solving this problem by paying people so poorly that they can't afford any kind of life. Except maybe a second job to help pay the bills.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 2:43:39 PM  

NewportBarGuy: if he's looking for employees to slave themselves to make him money


I fell into the whole "crush iat bro" hustle culture when I was working at my first high-tech startup job. Worked into the evenings and on the weekends all the time.

That, plus the PTSD of getting hit by a motorcycle while on foot, gave me an anxiety disorder from which I have still not 100% recovered.

I will never do that again, especially for an average salary and a tiny bit of stock options that will likely never amount to anything. I have a written agreement with the CEO at my new job that specifies my work hours. I do not check email or do anything outside of those hours.
 
Wireless Joe
2023-02-01 2:57:50 PM  
Someone bought into Elmo's "hardcore workplace" bullshiat.
 
Another one of them varmits
2023-02-01 2:59:39 PM  
Saying you only want the "A-list" players tells me you aren't much of a leader. Any fool can can succeed if they've got extremely good talent working for them. Just leave them alone.

A good leader can take a group of people who are competent and...wait for it...lead them to success.

This guy is just a wanna-be.
 
chitownmike
2023-02-01 3:00:28 PM  

bostonguy: You'd think a CEO would know when to use "that" and when to use "who."


Maybe, but I wouldn't expect one to think of  him to think of employees as people so, "that" is still correct
 
gadian
2023-02-01 3:02:43 PM  
Wow, his new hires are really going to suck and will do a great deal of busy work that is completely meaningless.  He gets the ego trip, so I guess that makes it all even out.
 
Shaggy_C
2023-02-01 3:04:17 PM  
Hard to say parents with young children are definitely worse employees than young single people with no commitments. Sure, I disappear the second the clock hits 4PM and I'm off doing school run/doctor appointment/etc. multiple days per week now, but 15 years ago I was showing up to work hungover 3-4 days a week and taking naps and craps (sometimes both at once) during the workday to avoid being at my desk.

Maybe I'm just a shiatty employee in general. *shrug*
 
sirrerun
2023-02-01 3:05:00 PM  

bostonguy: You'd think a CEO would know when to use "that" and when to use "who."


You mean you'd think a ceo would have their comms team make the statement.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 3:06:28 PM  

sirrerun: bostonguy: You'd think a CEO would know when to use "that" and when to use "who."

You mean you'd think a ceo would have their comms team make the statement.


I'd think that a CEO's comms team would tell him not to make such a statement at all.
 
sirrerun
2023-02-01 3:08:09 PM  

bostonguy: NewportBarGuy: if he's looking for employees to slave themselves to make him money

I fell into the whole "crush iat bro"


This filter is out of control and we, the users, really ought to revolt.
 
Qellaqan
2023-02-01 3:09:15 PM  
It works out, I have no interest in working for people who think my life is forfeit for a check. He can have the "hard core" folks. I don't want to deal with their self image issues either.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 3:10:56 PM  

sirrerun: This filter is out of control


and we'll be lucky to live through it?
 
Qellaqan
2023-02-01 3:11:41 PM  
A dude I used to work with wanted our workplace to be more competitive. I told him if he wanted that, he had all kinds of options,  just goal and leave us be.

After pouting for a year that no one supported his visions (read, would do work on his projects for minimal recognition by even him), he left for another org in our company. I don't know if they are more competitive or if he'll have to spin his wheels again.
 
Qellaqan
2023-02-01 3:12:12 PM  

sirrerun: bostonguy: NewportBarGuy: if he's looking for employees to slave themselves to make him money

I fell into the whole "crush iat bro"

This filter is out of control and we, the users, really ought to revolt.


The users are revolting!
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 3:15:31 PM  

Qellaqan: The users are revolting!


But enough about the Politics tab.
 
Flowery Twats
2023-02-01 3:24:12 PM  

bostonguy: NewportBarGuy: if he's looking for employees to slave themselves to make him money

I fell into the whole "crush iat bro" hustle culture when I was working at my first high-tech startup job. Worked into the evenings and on the weekends all the time.

That, plus the PTSD of getting hit by a motorcycle while on foot, gave me an anxiety disorder from which I have still not 100% recovered.

I will never do that again, especially for an average salary and a tiny bit of stock options that will likely never amount to anything. I have a written agreement with the CEO at my new job that specifies my work hours. I do not check email or do anything outside of those hours.


I have always made time for family. I work hard, but 8 hours a day. Have been doing it for years. Have heard that I'm not engaged enough or that I only put in my 8 hours. Amazingly, I remained employed and am making the same amount as everyone else. Apparently, getting the job done right, and on schedule, is all that's really required.
 
natazha [BareFark]
2023-02-01 3:25:13 PM  
Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.

A. Didn't get the job
B. Told the headhunters no more 'red hot' Internet start-ups.
C. Company went BOOM a year later.
 
mcmnky
2023-02-01 3:38:41 PM  
A better policy is never hire/work for people who upfront show themselves to be liars.

So this guy supports work-life balance, but says never hire anyone looking for work-life balance. He can't have both those things be true.
 
jso2897 [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 3:42:42 PM  
Here's a pretty good tip: "Never work for people named Scott Kuru."
 
Eddie Hazel's E string
2023-02-01 3:54:33 PM  

natazha: Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.


Few years ago, I was having an expensive meal at a South Beach, Miami restaurant. Not usually my scene, but it was a special occasion with a loved one. Table next to us is very flashy and a bit loud as they order two bottles of Champagne and all the menu's pricey supplements. When the server disappears they start chatting about how "nobody works 40 hours a week" anymore. I thought they were going to start bragging about how little they work, taking long weekends and lunches and dipping out early when important meetings were over. Nope. It was the opposite-- one-upping each other on who does 65 hours, who does 70, etc.

It was a great illustration of tradeoffs and a moment I won't forget. I'll take my middle of the range salary and ~30 hr work weeks, thank you very much.
 
Bith Set Me Up
2023-02-01 3:55:32 PM  
Fark user imageView Full Size
 
Barricaded Gunman
2023-02-01 3:55:49 PM  
Ugh... if you weren't POSITIVE this particular guy is a dickbag, bear in mind that he named his company Freedom Property Investors.

I have to assume "Patriot Realty Company" was already taken.
 
iamskibibitz
2023-02-01 4:09:29 PM  

Eddie Hazel's E string: I'd think that a CEO's comms team would tell him not to make such a statement at all.


It doesn't exist. But, heh, they're now hiring!

About the Role
We are looking for a creative individual to help us widen the reach of our company and CEO's LinkedIn Accounts. This special individual will be entrusted with gathering more followers and viewers by creating content as well as collaborating with our Marketing department to fully utilise all the tools that Linkedin has to offer.
Primary Responsibilities
Manage and Grow the Freedom Property Investors Linkedin account
Manage and Grow our founders Linkedin account
Create content based on the requirement of the team
Create briefs for our content team when needed
Drafting content ideas
Enhance existing content to make them more interesting
Actively engage with the followers and be the voice of our Founders and the Freedom Property Investors

It's a lengthy JD so I'll crop it here... look it up if you're down under and want to work for this goofball...
 
Cajnik [OhFark]
2023-02-01 4:13:44 PM  

natazha: Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.

A. Didn't get the job
B. Told the headhunters no more 'red hot' Internet start-ups.
C. Company went BOOM a year later.


During one interview, I told a CEO complaining about 40 min of traffic that if she took the tram, it was 3 stations with the right of way and she'd be at work in 10 min. When she danced around an answer, I doubled down and said she should really consider the tram.

CEOs don't take (efficient) public transport. Then the 7 series would never leave the garage.

// Didn't get the job, obviously
 
MusicMakeMyHeadPound [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-01 4:23:20 PM  

Shaggy_C: Hard to say parents with young children are definitely worse employees than young single people with no commitments. Sure, I disappear the second the clock hits 4PM and I'm off doing school run/doctor appointment/etc. multiple days per week now, but 15 years ago I was showing up to work hungover 3-4 days a week and taking naps and craps (sometimes both at once) during the workday to avoid being at my desk.

Maybe I'm just a shiatty employee in general. *shrug*


I hate how much I can relate to this, heh.
 
born_yesterday [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 4:25:42 PM  

Cajnik: natazha: Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.

A. Didn't get the job
B. Told the headhunters no more 'red hot' Internet start-ups.
C. Company went BOOM a year later.

During one interview, I told a CEO complaining about 40 min of traffic that if she took the tram, it was 3 stations with the right of way and she'd be at work in 10 min. When she danced around an answer, I doubled down and said she should really consider the tram.

CEOs don't take (efficient) public transport. Then the 7 series would never leave the garage.

// Didn't get the job, obviously


I would have loved that kind of advice but that's probably why I'm not a CEO.
 
Raptop [TotalFark]
2023-02-01 5:02:10 PM  
strong Top G vibes from this asshole
 
Botkin of the Yard
2023-02-01 6:10:09 PM  
So people who show up, perform their various assigned duties well, meet whatever performance metrics there are and still want to watch their kids play Little League or talk to their spouse are B players?

This guy is what's known as an asshole.
 
frankb00th
2023-02-01 6:25:11 PM  

natazha: Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.

A. Didn't get the job
B. Told the headhunters no more 'red hot' Internet start-ups.
C. Company went BOOM a year later.


Of course it did. These people run on their overinflated sense of self importance.
 
Moose out front
2023-02-01 6:30:35 PM  
A company filled with Type A workaholic, get-ahead people is going to churn through employees like crazy. Not everyone can be the head of the department and it costs a lot to train someone new when your workaholics start leaving for other opportunities.

Sometimes the best person for the job is not someone who wants to "get ahead" but rather someone who is happy with their role, good at it, and is dependable.
 
Fark_Guy_Rob
2023-02-01 6:42:09 PM  

Botkin of the Yard: So people who show up, perform their various assigned duties well, meet whatever performance metrics there are and still want to watch their kids play Little League or talk to their spouse are B players?

This guy is what's known as an asshole.


I mean....probably.

Anecdotallyall of my experience supports it. I was a much, much better employee when I cared about, well, anything else. I care about work life balance now and my goal is to literally do as little as possible.

I'm on the B team now for sure.

I've watched a lot of my friends do the same thing, and even coworkers too. Often it's after they have their first kid, but it could be anything.

As a group, I would absolutely bet $1000+ dollars that employees who list 'work life balance' as their top criteria for a job would perform worse than the group that answers 'Career advancement' or even the group that says 'to make as much money as possible'.

Regardless of the industry or job.

When I wanted to advance my career, I worked more. Some of that was at work, some of that was at home to improve my skill set. Even when I got older and jaded, but just wanted money, that was a powerful carrot they could leverage. To get that carrot, I worked really hard. I would do things to ensure my performance was high.

But now? I just want to go home. I am a mediocre employee. I only care about whether or not I think I will end up in a PIP. I'm content with my pay, and instead of raises, I just try to work less/game the system better.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but generally speaking, I absolutely believe it.
 
honk
2023-02-01 7:51:35 PM  
Screw you, Kuru.
 
bigdanc
2023-02-01 9:10:09 PM  

Another one of them varmits: Saying you only want the "A-list" players tells me you aren't much of a leader. Any fool can can succeed if they've got extremely good talent working for them. Just leave them alone.

A good leader can take a group of people who are competent and...wait for it...lead them to success.

This guy is just a wanna-be.


You're absolutely right, study after study has shown that cooperative b level talent consistently out performs an office full of rock stars.  They cooperate better and it leads to a better product.
 
Billy Liar
2023-02-01 9:41:35 PM  
Correction:   Don't hire anyone who says they'relooking for work-life balance.
 
AppleOptionEsc
2023-02-01 11:29:00 PM  

Botkin of the Yard: So people who show up, perform their various assigned duties well, meet whatever performance metrics there are and still want to watch their kids play Little League or talk to their spouse are B players?

This guy is what's known as an asshole.


No, he's only an asshoke if he ALSO works 50-60 hours a week. 99.9%  chance he is at work 20 hours a week. He's more than likely a turbo douche.
 
10Speed
2023-02-02 12:50:37 AM  

honk: Screw you, Kuru.


True fact: Kuru is a name of a rare brain disease that results from cannibalism.
 
Mindlock
2023-02-02 5:24:29 AM  

iamskibibitz: Eddie Hazel's E string: I'd think that a CEO's comms team would tell him not to make such a statement at all.

It doesn't exist. But, heh, they're now hiring!

About the Role
We are looking for a creative individual to help us widen the reach of our company and CEO's LinkedIn Accounts. This special individual will be entrusted with gathering more followers and viewers by creating content as well as collaborating with our Marketing department to fully utilise all the tools that Linkedin has to offer.
Primary Responsibilities
Manage and Grow the Freedom Property Investors Linkedin account
Manage and Grow our founders Linkedin account
Create content based on the requirement of the team
Create briefs for our content team when needed
Drafting content ideas
Enhance existing content to make them more interesting
Actively engage with the followers and be the voice of our Founders and the Freedom Property Investors

It's a lengthy JD so I'll crop it here... look it up if you're down under and want to work for this goofball...


Leet me do some translation:

Marketing Department = wife

content team = brother and skeezy cousin

Drafting content ideas = you better look good in yoga pants because they want to stare at your ass

Founders = Mommy and Daddy

Freedom Property Investors = Grandparents and that uncle who always said I'd never amount to anything growing up.  Every goddamned family dinner is having to deal with him asking "How's my investment doing?" and "Where's those big returns you promised?" in front of everyone.  But I'm a CEO damn it!  Says so right on my LinkedIn profile.  Soon I'll be giving speeches in the Marriott ballroom and making the big bucks.  Hell, they'll even comp the room.
 
danny_kay [OhFark]
2023-02-02 6:52:53 AM  

Eddie Hazel's E string: natazha: Back in the dot.com boom, I had several interviews that centered around 70-80 hour weeks.I finally told the guy that working those hours was an indication of not being qualified to do the job.

Few years ago, I was having an expensive meal at a South Beach, Miami restaurant. Not usually my scene, but it was a special occasion with a loved one. Table next to us is very flashy and a bit loud as they order two bottles of Champagne and all the menu's pricey supplements. When the server disappears they start chatting about how "nobody works 40 hours a week" anymore. I thought they were going to start bragging about how little they work, taking long weekends and lunches and dipping out early when important meetings were over. Nope. It was the opposite-- one-upping each other on who does 65 hours, who does 70, etc.

It was a great illustration of tradeoffs and a moment I won't forget. I'll take my middle of the range salary and ~30 hr work weeks, thank you very much.


A few years back the company I worked for hosted a multi-day workshop for the HR department leaders of the German, Swiss, and Austrian branches of a hoooooge consultancy firm.

On one day I happened to hang out in the kitchen with some of them, getting myself a coffee.
A co-worker walked past us, obviously leaving. At around four o'click.

Our guests were visibly bewildered.
"Is he leaving? Like, NOW???"
"Sure, the early birds and part-timers start leaving around four, by six most of us are gone, and the last one turns the lights off around six thirty."
They look at me like I've insulted _all_ of their ancestors.

So I ask how they are handling things at their place.
Turns out it's not good for the career if people notice that you're the first one to leave. Aha.
So they all stay until eight or nine, until everyone has seen how much of a go-getter they are.
"But ... do you even have enough work for a 12-hour day?" - "Naw. Let's just say, I play a lot of Minesweeper."

Yeah.
How about I make sure that my employer gets eight hours of focused work out of me every day, and we call it a day?
 
Nick Nostril
2023-02-02 7:03:36 AM  
The private sector has some advantages, this ain't one.

/ happy to be working fir Uncle Sam at.this point in my "career".
 
Fark_Guy_Rob
2023-02-02 10:33:43 AM  

bigdanc: Another one of them varmits: Saying you only want the "A-list" players tells me you aren't much of a leader. Any fool can can succeed if they've got extremely good talent working for them. Just leave them alone.

A good leader can take a group of people who are competent and...wait for it...lead them to success.

This guy is just a wanna-be.

You're absolutely right, study after study has shown that cooperative b level talent consistently out performs an office full of rock stars.  They cooperate better and it leads to a better product.


I would be interested in seeing some, if you want to link them...but I strongly suspect it will come down to how you define the groups.

You said 'cooperative b level talent' and that implies that a level talent' isn't. That's fundamentally not true. Whether it's passion for the job, desire to advance a career, or a desire to maximize pay, anyone who isn't insane knows they would be better served by being cooperative.

An uncooperative person who sabotages others or intentionally plays unethical office politic games is not a fair comparison in the context of this discussion.

Cooperative people whose primary goal is work life balance won't be able to help others as much as cooperative people whose primary goal is to build the best X, to get a big promotion, or to get a big raise, or change the world or whatever motivates other people.

Work life balance is a misnomer. Everyone has some work-life balance. People who talk about work-life balance are people who want far less work than society expects.

I want work life balance. If I could, I would retire tomorrow. I have kids, I have family, I have friends, I have hobbies. I don't get a sense of pride from my job, I don't define myself by my job. I think multimillionaires who work are mentally ill in the same way people who hoard other things are. I don't hate them, I don't dislike them, I just believe they have an actual unhealthy obsession.

All I want is a paycheck.

And that's not wrong. It's not immoral or bad. But it does mean that I will never perform at the same level as I could if I were chasing a different goal. I will never go above or beyond in my role now, if I have extra capacity and my boss is happy....I'm just going to work less. Because that's my goal.

Younger me would work hard, at my current pay, while trying to get a raise. And that promotion. I am not particularly successful in my career, but I did get promoted a few times and I was in middle management a pair of times too. In all of those cases, I was working beyond the expected level for months or years before I received the raise or promotion.

My point is...

1 - Work-life balance me will never be as good as Want-Promotion me at my current job.

2 - Work-life balance me will never advance to a more demanding role. I won't even try.

3 - Companies benefit from better employees (1) and from employees who advance their career. Even just trying to get promoted entails people trying to take on work work.

Of course companies would, and should, aren't too avoid hiring people like me. When they have no other better options, then, sure, hire me. But the CEO is mostly right.
 
bigdanc
2023-02-02 1:46:44 PM  

Fark_Guy_Rob: bigdanc: Another one of them varmits: Saying you only want the "A-list" players tells me you aren't much of a leader. Any fool can can succeed if they've got extremely good talent working for them. Just leave them alone.

A good leader can take a group of people who are competent and...wait for it...lead them to success.

This guy is just a wanna-be.

You're absolutely right, study after study has shown that cooperative b level talent consistently out performs an office full of rock stars.  They cooperate better and it leads to a better product.

I would be interested in seeing some, if you want to link them...but I strongly suspect it will come down to how you define the groups.

You said 'cooperative b level talent' and that implies that a level talent' isn't. That's fundamentally not true. Whether it's passion for the job, desire to advance a career, or a desire to maximize pay, anyone who isn't insane knows they would be better served by being cooperative.

An uncooperative person who sabotages others or intentionally plays unethical office politic games is not a fair comparison in the context of this discussion.

Cooperative people whose primary goal is work life balance won't be able to help others as much as cooperative people whose primary goal is to build the best X, to get a big promotion, or to get a big raise, or change the world or whatever motivates other people.

Work life balance is a misnomer. Everyone has some work-life balance. People who talk about work-life balance are people who want far less work than society expects.

I want work life balance. If I could, I would retire tomorrow. I have kids, I have family, I have friends, I have hobbies. I don't get a sense of pride from my job, I don't define myself by my job. I think multimillionaires who work are mentally ill in the same way people who hoard other things are. I don't hate them, I don't dislike them, I just believe they have an actual unhealthy obsession.

All I want is a paycheck.

And that's not wrong. It's not immoral or bad. But it does mean that I will never perform at the same level as I could if I were chasing a different goal. I will never go above or beyond in my role now, if I have extra capacity and my boss is happy....I'm just going to work less. Because that's my goal.

Younger me would work hard, at my current pay, while trying to get a raise. And that promotion. I am not particularly successful in my career, but I did get promoted a few times and I was in middle management a pair of times too. In all of those cases, I was working beyond the expected level for months or years before I received the raise or promotion.

My point is...

1 - Work-life balance me will never be as good as Want-Promotion me at my current job.

2 - Work-life balance me will never advance to a more demanding role. I won't even try.

3 - Companies benefit from better employees (1) and from employees who advance their career. Even just trying to get promoted entails people trying to take on work work.

Of course companies would, and should, aren't too avoid hiring people like me. When they have no other better options, then, sure, hire me. But the CEO is mostly right.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-chicken_model

That's the basic idea, I may have exaggerated a bit when I said study after study 😅
 
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