Post by gato on Mar 11, 2021 7:11:22 GMT -5
When I was 19 and looking for work that I could fit around my college classes, I answered an ad in the paper. (Back in the Dark Ages, people sought work in "Want Ads" in a primitive pulp publication called a newspaper)
The ad was for "electronics assembly," which I assumed would involve putting together components and widgets to make dongles, or something.
But no.
When I reported to the training seminar, the focus of the electronics assembly was unveiled in the front of the room: A Kirby vacuum cleaner. At the break, I confronted one of the moderators: "is this all about door-to-door selling?" He assured me that it was not. (Note: to be a good door-to-door salesman, you have to be able to look people in the eye and make up facts on the fly)
So, long story short, on the third day of the unpaid training, I showed up at a barn-like structure, filled with fold out chairs occupied by what looked like a convention of mortuary attendants: pale skin, regulation haircuts, skinny ties, white short sleeved shirts.
The Grand Kirby Poo-bah, or whatever he was called, emerged from behind a curtain and introduced the Kirby salesman of the year, who had snagged himself a bonus in the form of a brand new Mercury Cougar, courtesy of the Kirby home office.
Looking around the room, I could see that all the cadaverous young men were leaning forward, listening in rapt attention, eyes fevered ... which is when the Poo-bah raised his arms, bringing everyone to their feet for a group singing session: "Roll Out the Barrel," but with Kirby inserted instead. All around me, these cult members were stamping their feet and slamming the chairs up and down, to the rhythm of the song, belting out their Kirby lyrics over and over. It was surreal. Unnoticed in the fervent chaos, I quietly slipped out the back ...
I mention all this because of an article I read today about another training seminar, this one put on by Panda Express.
"A former employee of a Panda Express in the Santa Clarita Valley is suing the company after, she claims, she was pressured to attend an off-site seminar where she was subjected to “cult-like rituals.” She says these included being coerced to strip down to her underwear and hug an undressed male colleague, and allow another person to film her on a cell phone while nearly naked."
This was also a three day ritual. I wonder if Panda Express uses Kirby vacuums exclusively in their shops?
www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/panda-express-worker-seminar-cult-like/
The ad was for "electronics assembly," which I assumed would involve putting together components and widgets to make dongles, or something.
But no.
When I reported to the training seminar, the focus of the electronics assembly was unveiled in the front of the room: A Kirby vacuum cleaner. At the break, I confronted one of the moderators: "is this all about door-to-door selling?" He assured me that it was not. (Note: to be a good door-to-door salesman, you have to be able to look people in the eye and make up facts on the fly)
So, long story short, on the third day of the unpaid training, I showed up at a barn-like structure, filled with fold out chairs occupied by what looked like a convention of mortuary attendants: pale skin, regulation haircuts, skinny ties, white short sleeved shirts.
The Grand Kirby Poo-bah, or whatever he was called, emerged from behind a curtain and introduced the Kirby salesman of the year, who had snagged himself a bonus in the form of a brand new Mercury Cougar, courtesy of the Kirby home office.
Looking around the room, I could see that all the cadaverous young men were leaning forward, listening in rapt attention, eyes fevered ... which is when the Poo-bah raised his arms, bringing everyone to their feet for a group singing session: "Roll Out the Barrel," but with Kirby inserted instead. All around me, these cult members were stamping their feet and slamming the chairs up and down, to the rhythm of the song, belting out their Kirby lyrics over and over. It was surreal. Unnoticed in the fervent chaos, I quietly slipped out the back ...
I mention all this because of an article I read today about another training seminar, this one put on by Panda Express.
"A former employee of a Panda Express in the Santa Clarita Valley is suing the company after, she claims, she was pressured to attend an off-site seminar where she was subjected to “cult-like rituals.” She says these included being coerced to strip down to her underwear and hug an undressed male colleague, and allow another person to film her on a cell phone while nearly naked."
This was also a three day ritual. I wonder if Panda Express uses Kirby vacuums exclusively in their shops?
www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/panda-express-worker-seminar-cult-like/
