Apologies if I'm making an incorrect judgement, but does anybody else get dystopian propaganda vibes from the Working with Cancer Pledge?

Submitted ⁨⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works⁩ to ⁨workreform@lemmy.world⁩

https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/d6a9c518-693a-46dc-985d-0933355bb502.jpeg

Heard an ad for this pledge the other day while I was listening to a podcast and immediately thought this has got to be propaganda.

As somebody who has been struggling with a chronic health issue while continuing to work full time, I can understand why somebody would want their employer to be more understanding of how unpredictable chronic conditions can be…

But for fucks sake, the stress of work and people viewing your value based on what they think you should be doing for them is really the last thing people should be dealing with on top of being sick, but most people are forced to keep working to survive and job in order to keep their health insurance.

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birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Definitely dystopian, yes. It’s your classic “Go work, you’re not ill at all” bullshit. I recall the story of a mum who had to work while having to undergo stressful chemo, being in the hospital. All because if she took more than a few days off, she’d be ineligible for health reimbursements etc.

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jerkface@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
For some people, it’s a legitimate angle on coping with mortality and disease. I agree that it sounds especially ghastly and self-serving coming from the mouth of this organization.

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JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
As somebody with Crohn’s and a very understanding boss, this security is really important imo. I haven’t always had an understanding boss, Ive lost jobs due to time out recovering, Ive been scolded, laughed at, and generally misunderstood.

I don’t really like working, but the revolution isn’t coming tomorrow, and work is what allows me to do all of the other things that bring me joy. My current situation has me so thankful. Some days I just don’t have the energy to really put in the labor, and my Boss doesn’t give me shit about it, even though it’s his lost production. Some days I can’t even come in at all, and never once has he questioned me. I think part of it is that we have a deeper relationship than boss/employee, but another is that when I’m healthy, I work my ass off, because I really enjoy what we do and want my friends business to succeed.

If I could know that my need for chaotic schedule changes, Dr appointments, bathroom time, ect would all be not just met, but also not questioned, because it’s known that I AM dedicated to the job besides my condition, I would be much more comfortable applying to larger workplaces.

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- AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  I’m definitely not arguing workplaces should be more understanding of chronic conditions, but signing a pledge doesn’t seem to do much of anything. Legal protections exist for people with disabilities and chronic conditions for a reason, but this seems to be a campaign spreading the idea that working after being diagnosed with cancer is in the best interest of the individual battling cancer.
  
  In reality, people battling cancer or any chronic illness seem to have better outcomes if they continue to have a sense of purpose during treatment, but a sense of purpose does not have to be inherently tied to employment status.
  
  Given that this is an advertisement company with a documented history of peddling harmful corporate propaganda (fueling the opioid crisis, whitewashing detention centers for children) as well as a reputation for mistreating their employees, this really comes off as more typical (for them) corporate propaganda aimed at normalizing people pushing themselves to keep working until their bodies physically can’t keep going.
  
  Interesting but definitely not unrelated sidenote given this company’s history: States like W.V. and PA were hit especially hard by the opioid epidemic much earlier than the rest of the U.S. because pharmaceutical companies targeted coal mining areas with similar propaganda. They knew people there commonly suffered debilitating back injuries while working in the mines, and peddled prescription opiates as a solution that would allow people to continue working pain free even after being injured.
  
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phoenixz@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
There is truth to people using work to cope, but the way they write it indeed feels they’re too happy about it

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Eq0@literature.cafe ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
There are many aspects of work one could consider. For me, the social aspect is a big one. I have been in sick leave for a while now, will likely be home for a while longer, and I honestly miss the social net that work gives - both friends, friendly coworkers and unrelated coworkers. Plus there daily structure, the feeling of accomplishment and “being an active part of society”. Those are all important mental values that work provides and that can help while dealing with a long term illness.

This being said, there is a gradient between encouraging people to work while sick because out provides mental health benefits and forcing people to work while sick because otherwise they’d be on the streets without health insurance… And providing easy ways to work part time should be part of the equation.

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HubertManne@piefed.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I thought our society would get better with people being able to get by without work if needed. At my age and with my wifes health issues I wish I could do ad hoc work like gig stuff and substitute teaching and know it would work for us being able to live that way. I had no problem working most of my life and even working long hours but situations change and we need some support now. But no a large part of our society wants to go from the twentieth century to the nineteenth century rather tha profressing to the twenty first.

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BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
You grow up, pay attention I’m school, get a college degree, maybe a masters, just so you can make a lot of money as a Professional Turd Polisher.

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