Is calling your team a ‘family’ at work supportive or toxic?

[Anonymous]

Yes, its toxic, no matter what

No, its not toxic at all

It depends (will explain in comments)

It can be if the environment is toxic

[molonski2]

This kind of absolute bullshit " we are all just one big family " is just that , the reason they use tactics like this is on occasion that want you to work for nothing , and attend outside function ( 4 nothing ) and " you'd do that for your family right? " , completely toxic.

In my career , it happened maybe 4 times , I always made my thoughts clear , and always these toxic ideas were dropped.


Toxic - 100 % and bullshit also.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Totally corporate culture bullshit.

Just silly management trends, rebranding words to give them a meaning they can't have, to force a sense of loyalty, and in the worst cases to manipulate in order to integrate.

I'd say toxic no matter what, but I doubt management could successfully convert a lot of people to that, except the most vulnerable employees.

[FreyaRed]

People come to work for making money to feed their own families not to find new ones.
This sound like cheap encouragement that can makes more damage than good.

[katiesmuff]

It is just a useless corporate initiative as an attempt to get workers to work harder with the feeling that it matters.

[OneViewpoint]

It's just weird and creepy because it's a lie. I let it slide but no, my coworkers are not my family and never will be. Friends? Sure. Work friends. You'll leave for a better opportunity and so will I. You will not risk your own economic safety to intervene on behalf of me or anyone else. This is why assholes get away with sexual harassment and racism in the workplace. It's why ass kissers and bullshitters get promoted by incompetent leaders. Call it whatever you like. It's a job.

[Zack-Bann]

Some people truly mean it but mostly it’s hypocritical and manipulative.


It’s like calling your school your “second home”


An organization designed to serve a specific purpose will never put your needs ahead of it which is what families are supposed to do.


So I don’t think it’s a good idea to call work teams “family” unless we’re actually married to one another

[genericname85]

obviously if they use the term "family" in the work context to pressure you into doing more than you're contractually obligated to do or into doing work you're not paid for, then it's toxic. but if it's creating a positive, friendly environment with no extra pressures or obligaitons, then it's fine.

[Anonymous]

I think if it is among peers for mutual support, it is okay. If it isban idea pushed by management to extract labor rather than to support them in their struggles (including those involving upper management) it is toxic.

When i was in management, I had expectations, but my subordinates knew they would never have to catch crap from the owner because that was my job.

[MrOracle]

Not when it is true, but definitely yes when it's clearly NOT true, which is often the case.

[Iron_Man]

It’s not a family The manager is using that tactic for the employees to drive them hard if you ever quit or if they let you go, they will never call your house and invite you to dinner. .

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it so long as you understand that if you weren't paying your family none of them would show up.😆

[exitseven]

I always thought it was condescending.

[ChicoFromThe305]

It's dumb, I'm there to work not feel loved 😂

[Anonymous]

Coworkers are not family.

[jahaims]

It's to manipulate dumb people

[jazzy34]

TOXIC.

[strateguy632]

2nd.

[Mike_Hum]

we ain't a family.