Listen Carefully

Comments overheard in troubled workplaces

“Top management is more interested in its own personal comfort than in the health of the company.”

“The in-group looks down on the out-group.”

“All they care about is money.”

“The people who know what’s going on don’t have any power and the people with power don’t know what’s going on.”

“They say they want frank discussions but watch what happens to people who speak up.”

“The ‘suits’ take credit for our work.”

“The union people are as unresponsive as upper management.”

“I don’t know what the mission is. We had one posted on a wall somewhere once upon a time.”

“It may take years but if you cross them, they will get to you.”

“They don’t want it done right. They just want it done.”