Recently, I've discovered a wonderful show on Netflix called Undercover Boss. It's a reality show about upper management going undercover in their own companies and working together with the common people. The show is very heartwarming and inspiring and tries to show that some big corporations do care about their employees. In each episode, the bosses meet and work with several employees and then come clean to them at the end, usually showering them with raises, bonuses and gifts.
From the very beginning, I believed that this is a perfect show for all of the Occupy people to watch. Yes, you can be negative and instead of celebrating with those few employees, you can complain about all the rest who were not as fortunate to be singled out. And you can complain about those employees' initial working environments. Or you can be happy for them. Most importantly, what the show is trying to convey is that people do care and corporate decisions are not necessarily malicious and upper management may not even realize what is happening to the employees at the bottom. Do not assume that there's a Scrooge who's on purpose trying to take away your money.
After finishing watching Undercover Boss, I started watching Undercover Boss UK and that was the real eye opener. People do not appreciate the health care they have in US. People do not appreciate the amount of care the elderly receive in the US. People do not appreciate the job stability and working environment they have in the US. Some of the things I've seen on Undercover Boss UK and the attitudes of some of the bosses would be anathema to the average American. People in US do not appreciate what they have and for comparison, UK is not some poor third world country.
One of the most striking differences between the two shows was the unveiling at the end of each episode. In US, bosses, and even a mayor who did not have direct access to money, showered their employees with money. You're doing a great job so we're giving you a promotion, and here's money for each of your children for college, and we're sending you on a paid vacation, we're paying your mortgages and loans and here's fifteen thousand in spending money and we're sending you to college and paying you while you're in college, we're paying for you wedding, we're giving you your own franchise for free, and more and more and more. In UK, you're doing a good job, continue on, maybe we'll give you a raise. No bonuses, no gifts, nothing. You've just had a baby? Congratulations, go back to work. And you know what, people were happy and appreciative to just get the personal attention.
I believe that it is very important for everyone in US, and especially those with any feelings of entitlement or persecution, to watch both of these shows. And while watching the UK version, have in mind that you're not watching Undercover Boss China or Russia or Mexico, you're watching Undercover Boss UK.
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