Reality TV: "Does Someone Have To Go"

First let me say that I'm not a fan of reality television. The few shows I've watched are a study in personal interactions designed for sadist voyeurs who feed on ridicule, caustic behavior, and individual pain. That being said, my point is clearly illustrated in a new show "Does Someone Have To Go", a classic example of why I have such disdain for reality tv.

Sarah Hepola, Bloomberg Business Week offers a quick synopsis of the first three episodes:

Velocity Merchant Services, a credit card processing company (is) owned by a woman named Dema who somehow decided it would be smart to hire several family members for key positions, shame her teammates for their (not clearly articulated) failures, inflame them with a battery of “who sucks the most” exercises, and film all of this for public enjoyment.

When the boss cede authority to the workers to decide the fate of their co-workers,the staff is given little direction for completing the task. The team is simply told, “Complacency is hindering our growth.” Then, they’re instructed to offer up three co-workers’ names to possibly be fired. In a later segment, to add insult to injury, the staff of  the small company watches in horror as everyone’s salaries flash on a large screen.

After the three individuals targeted for elimination are revealed, each gets to beg for his/her job before the group that pegged them for elimination.
 

Having served as the CEO of a major company of 7,000 employees and a Director of Human Resources for a company of 8,000 employees, these shows boggled my mind. In my opinion, the premise and activities were totally unrealistic for the modern workplace and seemed to be constructed to illicit all the negatives of group dynamics and poor organization which are perfect for "reality" tv.

 

 Displaying each individual's salary to everyone in the group is a totally unrealistic tactic, but it's good for the chaos of reality tv.  "It whips up needless resentment, pointless competition, and personal humiliation—all of which is bad for business, . This is why most companies would never make such a foolish reveal."

 

The staff is given little direction for the reorganization. The team is simply told, “Complacency is hindering our growth.” Then they’re instructed to offer up three co-workers’ names to possibly be fired.

In a later segment, to add insult to injury, the staff of the small company watches in horror as everyone’s salaries flash on a large screen.

After the three individuals targeted for elimination are revealed, each gets to beg for his/her job before the group that pegged them for elimination.

Having served as the CEO of a major company of 7,000 employees and a Director of Human Resources for a company of 8,000 employees, these shows boggled my mind. In my opinion, the premise and activities were totally unrealistic for the modern workplace and seemed to be constructed to illicit all the negatives of group dynamics and poor organization which are perfect for "reality" tv.

Displaying each individual's salary to everyone in the group is a totally unrealistic tactic, but it's good for the chaos of reality tv. "It whips up needless resentment, pointless competition, and personal humiliation—all of which is bad for business, . This is why most companies would never make such a foolish reveal."

 

Contrary to the "improved" workplace environment portrayed as the episode ended, I imagine remanants of deep seated resentment and long-lasting animosities would be revealed among staffers.

 

"Does Someone Have to Go?"  In my opinion, the answer is yes. This whole crappy show should be trashed asap.

Related Articles:

New York Times

Huffington Post


 

Posted in: Bloomberg Business Week,Business interactions,Culture,Does Someone Have To Go,Employment,Lifestyles,Sarah Hepola,The Emerald Quill,Velocity Merchant Services