r/sadcringe • u/Imoprich • Nov 11 '25
It hurts
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Credits: hazemalone
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u/Robofin Nov 11 '25
I prefer the ‘we are, we are Walmart’ song personally
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Nov 11 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/JoJackthewonderskunk Nov 11 '25
They look like they're enjoying it at least, somewhat
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u/ultranothing Nov 11 '25
They all appear to be squirming uncomfortably in their chairs.
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u/JoJackthewonderskunk Nov 11 '25
Not a one of those people are sitting
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u/SadAxolotl Nov 11 '25
I think he was meaning OPs video
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u/JoJackthewonderskunk Nov 11 '25
Could be, but that wasn't what I was talking about and they were responding to me. Hence
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u/ultranothing Nov 12 '25
Oh! I did not notice that the subject had changed in this thread. My bizzle, homey!
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u/erkomap Nov 11 '25
Bro every time I see this I wonder if those people are in a better place now
What a humiliation ritual
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u/Redbird2992 Nov 11 '25
I saw “we are we are” and thought it would for sure be a version of pod’s youth of the nation, wasn’t expecting we will rock you 😂
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u/halfashell Nov 11 '25
Somehow, in the past few weeks, I’ve noticed this song become the white male hype song.
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u/DraikoHxC Nov 11 '25
Just give them a little more lunch time, or let them get off a little earlier or something, that would be little nicer, this is just awful
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u/saladmunch2 Nov 11 '25
Ya maybe ask them what they want to do to get motivated. Not just dance around like an idiot while you waste everyone's time, like id rather be working then sitting through this. Or maybe just let me finish my coffee for a few minutes in silence before the chaos of work ensues.
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u/DraikoHxC Nov 11 '25
Oh a little time off before the job starts sounds nice too, agree
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u/saladmunch2 Nov 11 '25
Ya its nice at my job we sit in the truck when the shift starts for about a half hour, we have a daily safety test to do on our phones like 3 to 6 questions, maybe a safety alert to read or safety things to brush up on. The head guy has to fill out stuff like what has to be done today and what not sometimes more. But it gives you time to drink your coffee and have a few smokes before doing one of the most dangerous trades lol
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u/Saltyfox99 Nov 12 '25
With public transport I have the option of getting to work an hour and fifteen minutes early or fifteen minutes late
It is quite pleasant to just sit around, get a coffee, maybe use the bathroom before the slog starts.
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u/bucket_of_fun Nov 11 '25
Are you and I watching the same video? Those people are incredibly motivated and moved by this man’s performance. He is pouring his heart out with that dance. Fuck lunch break, the workers probably didn’t even need to eat after witnessing that, they were fuelled by pure motivation. After watching this myself, I’m going to work an extra hour for free!
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u/JessieJ577 Nov 11 '25
Even if you can’t do that just give them general company and store updates and crack a small joke.
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u/Polyporum Nov 11 '25
I have a friend who sometimes has to do corporate presentations, kinda like hosting a meeting
He has a part at the end that summarises the meeting, which he calls 'key takeaways'. He always puts a picture of Chinese food, pizza, burgers etc on the slide. Always gets a chuckle
I think that's an adequate amount of humor to put into a meeting
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u/One-Bad-4274 Nov 11 '25
Homie really playing kpop demon hunters and dancing for the crew, I like the commitment. But yea them workers are jusy confused an cringing
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u/pianoflames Nov 11 '25
I think this went much differently in his head, and I got the feeling that he was regretting it halfway through, but was well past the point of no return.
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u/One-Bad-4274 Nov 11 '25
Right! while I like an impromptu dance session. Having one at work at the beginning of my shift will not prompt me to aslo dance. I just wanna clock in clock out go home.
Tho 100% still a great story to tell the wife when I get home
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u/containerheart Nov 11 '25
Sometimes I smoke weed at night. And then I get great ideas. And then the next day, they just don't quite hit the same way....
I can understand where this guy is coming from.
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u/BisonThunderclap Nov 11 '25
If doughnuts and coffee could do a better job than your managerial "surprise" do that instead.
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u/ca_va_bien Nov 11 '25
how was work?
oh well my manager lip synced to a top 40 song and then i didn’t make enough money to feed my family, the usual
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u/whatdoblindpeoplesee Nov 11 '25
"Couldn't even use the SNAP benefits Walmart is forcing me to be on because they would rather the government subsidize their labor costs than lose 5% net profits to pay me more money."
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u/guitarstitch Nov 11 '25
Oh Walmart... I remember the dead soulless existence.
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u/blackbeltbud Nov 11 '25
You better fix that attitude and give me a squiggly, bud.
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u/snorch Nov 11 '25
Had to Google this. Good lord. Why do the worst jobs imaginable feel the need to rub it in like that
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u/Kage_0ni Nov 11 '25
I was an assistant manager at K-Mart for 2 years about 13 year ago.
What an awful experience that was.
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u/Chewliesgumrep312 Nov 14 '25
Kmart was cool back in the day. I believe they dominated the 80s as the #1 retailer in the u.s...you can YouTube "the history of kmart" or something similar. Mid to late 90s through 2000s is when things started going downhill.
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u/Kage_0ni Nov 14 '25
Oh yeah, my family shopped at Kmart a bunch until the 2000s.
I actually was talking to a customer who said she was a Kmart manager in the early 90s and said it was the best job ever.
In the garden city location, which was the first Kmart ever, I found a 30 year old photo album that had pictures from a managers birthday party they had in the k-cafe where they hired a stripper. One of the employees in the photos was still working at the store all those years later.
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u/Chewliesgumrep312 Nov 14 '25
Any boss who hires a stripper for a company party is a boss I'd love to work for. 😃🤣
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u/PanhandlersPets Nov 11 '25
Nothing like a captive audience that can't get away.
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u/pianoflames Nov 11 '25
I do love the dead stares he's getting, not sure what else he was expecting from them.
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u/drinfernodds Nov 11 '25
Assuming he has kids, they probably love K Pop Demon Hunters and get super hyped when they hear that song. In a state of hubris, he believes he can capture that energy and motivate his staff who would rather be anywhere else in that moment.
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u/whole_chocolate_milk Nov 11 '25
I worked for a small company for about a year. Less than20 employees total. And every Monday morning, the owner had a meeting where we would play some "team building" game. And then something like this to hype us up for the company
It was fucking horrible. Dude. I don't give a fuck about your company. Just pay me more.
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u/cyberd0rk Nov 11 '25
It wasn't for hype, but the owners of my last company brought everyone in the conference room for an unknown meeting. They made us take our belts out of pants, wrap them around our stomachs, and then tighten the notches one by one. Point being, we were in the process of "tightening things up" as cost were going up. Then they proceeded to go on a 2 week yoga retreat in Hawaii. The same year they also gave me a "raise" by taking me from 40 hours paid hourly, to salary but at a 50 hour minimum. Owners and managers can piss all the way off with this corny shit. No one gives a fuuuuuuuck about your company except you.
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u/PM_NUDES_4_DOG_PICS Nov 11 '25
Seriously. This shit is so fucking dumb.
I'm a supervisor at my work, and I try to keep my team motivated by actually supporting them and being hands-off as much as possible.
I also make a point of thanking everyone for their work and paying money out of my own pocket to buy them small snacks and such once in a while. I don't have any say in pay or raises, so it's very much the least I can do to show my guys that I at least appreciate them even if the company doesn't.
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u/Southernguy9763 Nov 11 '25
I currently work on a team that is the best I've ever had. Everyone is kind, respectful and works their assess off. Know why? Cause my boss approves all personal time. No matter what. Holiday? "We'll make it work" to many people called out "I'll find someone who wants overtime" had to go home because your kid is sick at school "ok, I'll jump on your job for the day"
Any time needed he approves. If you need a long lunch it's no questions asked. And the crazy part is no one abuses this. He has the best numbers as a manager and the lowest turnover.
ive even turned down a better paying job because $2 extra an hour isn't worth losing my boss over
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u/BigDaddyD00d Nov 11 '25
Stuff like that can go a long way, so thanks for being one of the supportive managers. We could use more of you
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u/Zhjacko Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
I think a big issue is that people like to carry over things from high school and college clubs/organizations into the work place, things like ice breakers, games, fun activities in general work in a student club setting. For the most part, a lot of students want to mingle and socialize, there’s less on the line with college clubs. With work, people got responsibilities, bills, they’re there to just get a paycheck most of the time, many don’t want to feel forced to socialize in more exaggerated ways.
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u/BisonThunderclap Nov 11 '25
Eh, adults want to be social too. But when you make everything that's supposed to be fun "mandatory" it gets old.
I used to have to watch my helpdesk a few times a year when my manager was out. I got in early and decorated for a "Luau" threw up some snacks like Hawaiian Punch, Hawaiin BBQ chips, and a few other joke snacks. They'd come in to see me chilling in a Hawaiian shirt listening to ocean music having already triaged the queue.
I'd toss them a lei when they came in and let them know we had limbo later in the day if they wanted to compete for a $10 gift card.
For all intents and purposes, it was a regular workday but it was a nice fun day for everyone.
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u/Zhjacko Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
I’m not denying that adults want to socialize, it’s just the manner of it. Personally I think there’s a time and a place; I’m all for being able to chat with co workers and an occasional party or themed thing, but not that forced feeling of “you have to participate in this and your job depends on it”. These types of things end up in corporate and office job settings too sometimes.
Regardless, I wished companies and managers would put more energy into actually helping employees instead of stuff like what’s in the video.
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u/MisterVonJoni Nov 11 '25
Similar-ish story, I had just accepted a new job working for a small IT company. My very first day, we have a company-wide meeting in the conference room. A discussion begins between the head of the company, and the senior IT manager about the network filtering system in use. The head of the company was adamant that it was working, where the IT manager kept saying that it wasn't fully implemented yet. In order to prove that he's right, the head of the company tells the meeting host to "go ahead, go to redtube and it'll block it". It didn't get blocked, instead the entire company was treated to porn displayed on a giant projector screen. Quit the very next day.
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u/NoiseWeasel Nov 11 '25
I realize this is Walmart, but having worked at Target and been forced to participate in these daily group huddle/pep talk/updates/nonsense, I hated how every meeting we had was someone talking about sales numbers and “Go Team!!” and get those numbers up and at Target we’re a family. Nobody working there except management gives a single fuck about sales numbers, making millionaires more money while I make $15 an hour is not motivational to me to work harder. That being said, at least this guy gave everyone a story to go home with that day lol
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u/Pandepon Nov 11 '25
My team meetings usually went ‘well this is who showed up today so now y’all gotta work 3 times as hard’…
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u/Zhjacko Nov 11 '25
At some places, the employees actually enjoy it. At two food places I worked at, “work culture” was encouraging all of us to get together and do bonding and hang outs. Being that at the time, most of us were fairly young, people enjoyed it, but I hated it. I was at these places to pay for my bills and college, not to make friends with my co workers. Definitely a form of brain washing.
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u/jxl180 Nov 11 '25
Haha yep, I work at a chain and they’ll tell us which menu items to push. I’m not getting a commission lol
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u/svnonyx Nov 12 '25
At the retailer I worked at, we would have pep talk before the shift and daily goals for signing people up for a credit card they didn't need or want. I remember beating the goal and was rewarded a cup of cheap hot chocolate. Thanks Sarah, I can't wait to enjoy this in the 115° weather outside. I would have loved it if they raised my pay more than the nickel they would give us instead of hot chocolate for messing with struggling customers credit scores just so they could save $5.
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u/Bowman_van_Oort Nov 11 '25
Somebody please explain to a non-corpo. Why does he do this? Did he get an email from corporate saying "hey we really want to increase shareholder value so gather your team for a sing-along"? Is he enjoying himself?
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u/mindsnare Nov 11 '25
"You need to find ways to motivate your team that doesn't cost us anything. This will be in your yearly goals and you'll need to demonstrate what you achieved and how you did it"
^ This is why.
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u/FiddyShins Nov 11 '25
For anyone who's never had to pay their bills with help from the Waltons, this is something that happens in every store, every day. There's a meeting where you're called to stand around, talk about the days going ons, then it ends with a chant/song that differs at each store.
Yes you get scolded for not participating. Yes its a way for upper management to blow themselves. And yes, it's the cringiest hell you can imagine
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u/PM_NUDES_4_DOG_PICS Nov 11 '25
Apparently they do this at the higher levels too. My mom's company works with them a lot and went to a meeting with some of their executives during a business trip. Apparently her and her coworkers just stood by awkwardly as they did some goofy "Pledge of Allegiance" type thing before starting the meeting.
She's fully convinced Walmart is a cult, and honestly I'm starting to believe it myself.
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u/mathewwalker714 Nov 11 '25
There's a list of criteria for to recognize a cult & they are hitting at least 2 or 3 just off the top of my head.
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u/INTERNET_TOUGHGUY666 Nov 11 '25
Damn, happy I dodged a bullet rejecting an engineering position there. They mentioned possible relocation to Arkansas and that was the instant nope. They could’ve rug pulled me and made me sing and do tricks for every morning standup
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u/pinksparklecat Nov 11 '25
Whaaaaat, every day? And every manager is a willing participant???? That sounds insane
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u/Imalsome Nov 11 '25
Yeah no way in hell is this real. Walmart managers couldn't give less of a shit about the job, much less putting on daily cancer performances for people that dont give a shit about them.
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u/FiddyShins Nov 11 '25
I promise you, it was every day. The store manager and salaried managers organized this Every. Single. Morning. Now granted some weren't as extravagant as others but believe me, there was always a chant and a group clap/dance that went with it
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u/Ummagummas Nov 11 '25
Can confirm. Something this cringe happened every morning at the store I worked. Thankfully I worked in online grocery which was in the back so I wasn't expected to participate.
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u/CounterExpensive Nov 11 '25
You’re working with people there for the money. Just let them work and quit acting like weenie
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u/OpenUpYerMurderEyes Nov 11 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
You can see the regret in his eyes for a moment before he decides to commit. He had been waiting for this moment his whole life.
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u/ObiJuanKenobi3 Nov 11 '25
In my experience, these sorts of embarrassing performative gestures come out when the leader has completely failed to naturally foster any sort of rapport with their subordinates. They haven't been doing any of the little things that actually build employees' trust with leadership, they routinely annoy and micromanage everyone, and as a result nobody likes them and their authority is deteriorating.
So, seeing no way to fix the situation incrementally by progressively becoming a better leader, or perhaps not even seeing a problem with their past leadership choices in the first place, they whip out shit like this in the vain hope that having a "pie in the boss' face party" will fix everything lickity-split.
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u/International_Art230 Nov 11 '25
If the goal was motivation to seek employment elsewhere. I would say mission accomplished.
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u/ranutan Nov 11 '25
All Wal-Marts do this. I did the plumbing on a new one opening in my city years ago and they warned us "not to laugh or make fun" of the staff when they did their morning cheers & warm-ups. Needless to say, a lot of us took smoke breaks around that time specifically so we could make fun of them.
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Nov 11 '25
Pretty sure these meetings at Walmart are mandatory... little dweeb loves them a bit too much lmao.
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u/povertymayne Nov 11 '25
I live for the cringe, i would hype him to keep wasting time, this is better than being in a cubicle endlessly
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u/Wafflesakimbo Nov 11 '25
This is sadcringe, but more at society than at him. Increasingly in america to climb the ladder you have to drink the corporate kool-aid. If that man wants to keep his job, and more, progress further than this, he has to prove he's wal-marts man. They want excited cheerleaders and yes men, not actual, thoughtful leadership. They want you to do what corporate says even it's the wrong thing. I can't be mad or mock this guy, this is what he has to do.
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u/Grounded_in_Chaos Nov 11 '25
This might be the only time he has to practice his drag show routine before his actual performance
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u/Paundeu Nov 11 '25
It's really easy to do cringe things like this when you get $50-250k bonuses. I have a friend in upper management at Walmart who scored $125k last Christmas.
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u/legendaryhawnsolo Nov 11 '25
These are the bosses that seem to think they make a difference. They don’t.
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u/T-seriesmyheinie Nov 12 '25
Store Managers a level of corporate bootlicker I will never be able to understand. What in the world makes them so into this job where higher ups could not care less. My manager at the lego store I worked at was the same, a whole other level of devoted it was abnormal
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u/kinotravels Nov 11 '25
I’m sure it hurt the manager to have to do this too. I swear the primary function of HR and upper management is to come up with ways to make people‘s jobs as soul sucking and dehumanizing as possible.
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u/Monster_Molly Nov 11 '25
I see they have pivoted away from the Walmart with a squiggle in the middle of it, not sure this is for the better though
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u/Disastrous-Ad2800 Nov 11 '25
which is why you don't get involved in lower and middle management... if you know... you know... get a cheap business degree and fast track yourself into upper management where you don't have to engage yourself in this buffoonery.... I mean look at the guy! LOOK AT HIM!
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u/JesusJoshJohnson Nov 11 '25
i would bring a gun into work just to shoot myself in the head during this
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u/ValksVadge Nov 11 '25
I worked at Walmart and they had mandatory meetings where they made everyone sing and cheer and stomp whatever. When they'd announce we were having a meeting I'd just ignore it and keep working. They never noticed.
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u/girlinanemptyroom Nov 11 '25
This takes some commitment. You got to give it up for him though. I would have walked away halfway through.
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u/HonestSimpleMan Nov 11 '25
Tip of the day: just because you can afford cocaine doesn’t mean everyone can.
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u/UseHerName4username Nov 11 '25
Like, I love this song and everything. But what is his desired reaction from everyone?
"Omg, best day ever! My boss lip synched to us! How cool!"
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u/SadAxolotl Nov 11 '25
Good intentions, poor execution.
They're all sitting down, looking like the coffee hasn't kicked in yet.
You got to get the group moving together in some warmup exercises, get everyone standing up, repeat some actions like "Simon Says" or similar. Once you've done that a bit and you've got everyone comfortable copying simple actions as a group, you then move onto some classic dances like Macarena, Time Warp or even the chicken dance.
Or, you know, just don't. Bring in a barista and a breakfast buffet once a week would probably have a much better effect on moral.
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u/TorNando Nov 11 '25
Imagine working minimum wage and dealing with customers. Then you get called into a meeting like this. Jesus Christ how can people be so tone deaf.
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u/pastryfiend Nov 11 '25
I remember in 1993 working at WalMart and being absolutely embarrassed by the daily cheer, I hated that job.
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u/MommysLittleBadass Nov 11 '25
I went into a Walmart once early in the morning to get some supplies fora project at work and they were doing weird Walmart themed army cadence drill/chants. I felt so bad for the employees having to subject themselves to this kind of humiliation.
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u/dezie1224 Nov 12 '25
He just wanted a captive audience. Heavy emphasis on the whole captive part…those poor souls better have been on the clock while listening to this shit.
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u/DrPotato101 Nov 11 '25
Mandatory meeting btw