Reframing the Paradigm: Work Culture Meets Cancel Culture

Everywhere you look, someone or something is being canceled. First came the egregious transgressors with the Me Too movement, then there were the nuanced individual and group callouts, and finally we saw corporate America at large being dealt a hand that many would not wish on their worst enemy. The term "cancelled" has become ubiquitous and likely sends chills down the spine of whoever dares to ponder the situation happening to them. 

Although less binary in nature, we have also come to see employees airing their grievances with work practices and culture in the public sphere. In December 2019, Away received backlash after employees reported toxic culture practices to the press - practices that the accusers alleged "created a culture of intimidation and constant surveillance." During Summer 2020, Ellen DeGeneres came under fire for enabling a toxic atmosphere on her show. Most recently, 60 employees left Coinbase last week after the Company's CEO refused to "be political," an assertion they deemed toxic.    

I wonder how these fears would play into the decision making and behavior of our protagonists. How does one weigh company culture with employees' idiosyncrasies with underperforming or toxic employees (and what if the manager is toxic himself / herself)? In Lazier Industries, we see Lazier fearing a potential lawsuit by firing Smith, whose manner was unapproachable and brusque. Lazier likely wants to avoid such a fate and might consider keeping Smith or reimagining his role - unless it is 2020 and he must also navigate employees taking to their local newspaper - or worse yet, the Wall Street Journal - and exposing Smith and the Company at large. I would be really interested to discuss this as a class to navigate scenarios where we must balance such tradeoffs and / or rectify what has been deemed a "toxic workplace."