Dear God, that Homejoy job posting is terrible. Just completely tone deaf.

> right now i’m taking a quick break and after a quick lap around the office, i notice actually many more people here. i wonder — how am i so fortunate to be the ceo of a startup where people are so driven?

I dunno, maybe the people noticed that the CEO is at work on Christmas Eve and fear that if they aren't there too they'll be pigeonholed as slackers?

Leaders lead by example. If you, the CEO, are sitting in the office on Christmas Eve, you won't have to tell people they're expected to come in. They'll observe your behavior and come to that conclusion for themselves.

And it's so much worse than that because not only did the CEO work Christmas Eve, not only did they publicly name who was there (and therefore who wasn't), they used it as an advertisement about why you'd want to work there! It's just unspeakably warped; it is like the "Free Stress Test" that the Scientologists offer on the street: it's a way for those who wish to join a cult to self-identify.

In contrast, a quote I ran across today[1] about Fairchild Semiconductor, a startup that actually did the change world:

Most of the founders were married, busy starting their families and raising small children in addition to all the time and effort they were spending building Fairchild ... I am struck by what a remarkable time it was and what innovative opportunities.

Somehow, I don't think the same will ever be written of Homejoy...

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traitorous_eight

Personally I'm suspicious of this so-called "internal tool i've built to increase transparency and communication".

Not to be a huge ass, but the lack of using capital letters, while proving the shift key does in fact function (@, % both featured in posting) only further solidifies the idea I had in my head that this is a crazy person posting. Not a fun, quirky, startup CEO kind of crazy, but more the delusional, oblivious type of crazy.

I feel exactly the same way. I can't stand it. It's not as if it takes noticeably more effort to press shift.

Furthermore, typing like that will actually take extra effort on mobile devices which automatically capitalize after periods. It's displeasing typography that does not parse well. It is like a constant distraction in every sentence that deflects my attention away from the author's message.

maybe he is channeling e.e. cummings :)

(she, but thanks for playing)

Oops. Thanks!

I'm glad I wasn't the only person to think this...it was one of the most depressing job ads I've ever read. Even if the truth really was that Homejoy was so great that employees are willing to work on Christmas there...very, very few people on the outside are going to believe you. And the ones who do give you the benefit of the doubt, they may feel more pity than admiration about your work ethic.

Note/edit: it is possible that none of the employees working at Homejoy tonight celebrate Christmas...but then, that wouldn't be much of a sacrifice then, nor something to really remark for this job ad, any more than if it were just a typical Wednesday/Thursday of a work week.

What consistently cracks me up about these stupid job postings from these startups is how so full of bullshit the language is. Like they're all on the verge of discovering the Ark of the Covenant.

"We're here to make a difference that will change the way the world looks at...washing your dog. Yes the Dogwashy app will completely reinvent shampooing and grooming as we know it. Don't you want to spend your X-Mas break working here so you can tell your grandchildren that you were part of the revolution?"

I'm imagining a nifty little startup office at night, open plan, with 15 or so people. It looks like any other late night push to hit a goal except it's Christmas eve and barring any cultural reasons these poor souls have nothing better to do than ... go into the office? I want very much for them to to discover family and love and presence and how much more it matters than "work". No matter how much you love work it can't love you back. The lottery ticket can wait just one night.

This reminds me of The Family Man http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218967/

Given that some people are "unbalanced, unhappy" people, isn't it actually a good thing, rather than "depressing" as you say, that they can find companionship in their workplaces.

Is it really better for people with nothing to do at Xmas eve to go home and be alone anyway? Is it the employers responsibility to ensure that the company culture makes zero allowances for these people?

It's not the job of employees to provide companionship for their employers. You're hiring workers, not friends.

If employees want to get together on their own time and spend the holiday together, that's cool. But it gets less cool the more you mix in expecting them to do work for you and/or fill in gaps in your social life.

"Everyone deserves a happy home... at work."

What's makes that better is that Homejoy is rated 2.7 on glass door. To be fair though, I don't have an account on there so I couldn't read past the first page of reviews and most of the negatives were contractors.