Casual Days

In most companies, managers want employees to work harder with lesser pay, while the employees want the exact opposite. Typically faced with a tight budget to reward high performers, managers across corporate America have had to come up with innovative ways of showing their appreciation, without actually spending any money.

Probably the most widely used of these innovations is the "casual day". This is a brilliant concept that involves giving the appreciated employees or teams the permission to wear casual clothes to work. It is designed to fool even the most cynical people into believing that they are being rewarded and their efforts are appreciated. It doesn't cost a thing, makes employees happy (yes, there are still some people out there who get excited by another casual day) and lifts morale (supposedly).

Of course, employees have their own ways of getting back at management. A particular team, awarded a full month of casual dress, came up with this innovative way to celebrate

COMPETITION!!!

Have you never won anything? Never won any kind of competition? Didn't even make the sports or academic teams at your high school? Never good enough to finish at the top of your class? Or to win in Vegas?

If so, you're probably sad, knowing you won't have any stories to tell your children or grandchildren of your past glory because you didn't have any.

But here's your second chance!!!

This FRIDAY we will be having the Casual Month Casual Friday Competition. By adjusting your casualness on Friday in comparison to the rest of the casual week, you could be crowned MCE (Most Casual Employee), and finally have something to be proud off. Casual attire must be worn for entire day.

Good luck this Friday,

Pa-blow (name changed to conceal identity)

This particular competition resulted in a number of people showing up for work in their PJs, torn jeans, bathroom slippers and all sorts of assorted casualwear. Another few of these and managers will start thinking twice before announcing a casual day. If we continue to sabotage such non-rewarding "rewards" we might some day see someone get a real gift certificate, or a salary increase, in response to a job well done!

Amen