Re:Our “No Asshole” Rule (2014)
by alexandercrohde on Sunday May 22, 2016 @09:11PM
(#11751119)
I agree. I think the lesson I've learned is that selfish people will just use your "values" as political weapons for self-advancement, no matter what the value is, even if it's "selflessness."
This shouldn't be surprising; the idea that a person would fundamentally reshape their whole personality and outlook on life because some dude in an office ("boss") put it on a piece of paper on the wall (made it a "value") seems far-fetched.
That said, it sounds like "politics" falls into their "asshole" category, so perhaps they will find a way. So long as the politicians don't learn to hide their politics...
Amen. I interviewed with a company that touted a "No Jerks Policy". Both the HR recruiter and the CEO bragged to me about how they have and will fire "jerks" on the spot. I ran far away from that job after the interview.
> Everyone becomes conflict-averse for fear of looking like an asshole, so bad ideas often go unchecked
While assholes are probably necessary for a functional society, in the context of business the No Asshole Rule refers to things like sexually harassing your coworkers. Calling out bad ideas wouldn't qualify.
Why do you need a "no assholes" rule for sexual harassment to be unacceptable? Sexual harassment is unacceptable, regardless of policy.
(does this criticism make me an asshole? What if I added an ad hominim)
I work at a company that has a similar policy. What ends up happening is:
1) Everyone becomes conflict-averse for fear of looking like an asshole, so bad ideas often go unchecked
2) People find other ways to be assholes when they want to be, they're just passive-aggressive about it instead
3) It becomes a conversation-terminating cliche. Want to stifle someone disagreeing with you? Accuse them of phrasing something in a way that might be considered remotely hostile.
I'm not saying it's a bad policy, but I don't think it necessarily solves much. It trades one set of problems for another.
What you really want is a "no assholes whose behavior interferes with business," which doesn't really roll of the tongue quite as nicely I suppose.