The notion of the exploitative employer has been a standard critique of capitalism, and not always without reason (curiously, the way that communist states treated workers in their factories has been subject to a rather less sustained critique, in the West anyway), but the degree of intrusiveness of some contemporary employers, who appear to be engaged either in changing the way that their employees think or, at least, pretend to think, goes beyond anything that could have been dreamt up by the robber barons of old.
There are plenty of stories to pick from, but here’s a recent one (via the Daily Telegraph) from KPMG, in the UK:
KPMG will make unconscious bias training mandatory and linked to bonuses from next month, just over a year after its previous boss called the idea “complete c–p”.
The accounting giant’s 15,300 UK staff could have their bonuses slashed if they refuse to attend future lessons on bias, which will highlight how discussing skiing holidays, gap years and private schooling can isolate others.
The move, which marks the first time KPMG has made this training compulsory, comes just over a year after its former UK chief Bill Michael stepped aside following an outburst in which he told workers to stop “playing the victim card”.
His remarks also saw him call unconscious bias “complete c–p”, triggering a backlash from staff who argued that dismissing the concept was “reckless” and reflective of his own privilege. Mr Michael later apologised for his comments. . . .
That some would-be commissars within KPMG’s staff appear (for one reason or another) to support the ideological indoctrination of their colleagues is neither here nor there — there are fanatics and opportunists within any organization — but it would be good if some of those who pride themselves on their support for employee rights started pushing back on the extent to which some employers are currently attempting to get into the heads of those who work for them.
I’m not holding my breath.