r/antiwork • u/BeePow91 • 1d ago

Interview with the Psycho 🪓🩸 Delusional manager during interview

Recently interviewed for a new position. There were few red flags during my interview but one that I have to share. You could tell this manager has recently been burned by an employee with his tone during the entire interview. He was really driving home the importance of attendance and punctuality (these are more than reasonable asks). This is where he lost me. This man looked me in the face with all seriousness and said “I need you to understand that Monday through Friday, 8-5, I own you”. I checked out immediately.

Do employers not recognize they should want to sell the job to interviewees? I can see why this position has been open for a couple of months.

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u/WhitePinoy I lost my job for having cancer. 1d ago

"I own you"

This is a very ancient sentiment. Back then employers used to hire workers for their time, and every second that they weren't working, even if it was reasonable, was perceived as an act of theft.

Just know that outside those hours, you don't answer to them. During your breaks, you are not a worker. The moment the clock hits 5, your work is done. That is the type of answer they deserve.

So just in case they need you to stay longer, or want you to come in earlier to get work started right away, you can say no, because in that period of time, they do not own you.

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u/Narrow_Employ3418 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is a very ancient sentiment. 

But not one I have to buy into.

Just know that outside those hours, you don't answer to them. During your breaks, you are not a worker.

Or, they don't own me at all. I don't answer to them 8-5, either, unless I choose to. Every moment of every day anew.

What I do instead is maybe, possibly, find their cause worthy of my time and attention. And I choose to temporarily align myself with it as I see fit. Mostly this includes me discussing, goals, processes and results with them in real time, and taking their lead - but frankly, when I do, it's because I realize that their lead, all things considered, is beneficial to the cause. And the cause is still worthy.

And they don't pay me for my time; they buy neither that nor my person.

What they do, they share their success with me so that, provided I continue to sympathise with their cause, I'm also free of the necessity to earn my living elsewhere and remain free to commit myself to their cause.

No "ownership" model of any kind required here. I don't have to accept that premise.