'It’s like I told a room full of kindergartners that Santa wasn’t real': Veteran teacher blurts out in disagreement with the boss that they are in fact NOT family, they are coworkers

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Aug 10, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Management always claims to respect the work-life balance sentiment, but then go around telling everyone that they're "like a family around here." You can't have both. Would you lay off the least productive family member if things started to get tough? So, basically get rid of the youngest kid once food prices soar too high. No. Only in a work environment is that acceptable. When times get tough in the family, mom and dad will make sure their kids get feed before they feed themselves. Does upper management ever do this when times get tough for the company? No. In fact, they tend to eat more when times get tough and take extra away from their subordinates. You see what we're saying here?

Basically, the "we're like a family here" is an instant red flag in a workplace these days. So if you hear that during an interview, might I suggest: Run. 

A veteran teacher posted on Reddit an interaction she had during a staff meeting. It was the first meeting since summer break, so they were also onboarding new hires. The principal kept repeating all day that the faculty is like family. Over and over again. Finally, OP just couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "but we're NOT family, we're coworkers." Apparently, the upper management and new hires were aghast by that, but the other veteran teachers had her back. She followed it up by explaining that she "loves and respects" the people she works with but she thinks it's "unhealthy to relate [work] obligations to their families with their jobs." 

On the Reddit post, commenters readily agree with her and share many different examples and explanations on why it is toxic to work with a staff as if they were your "family." See for yourself below! 

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  • 01
    Table - 明
    via Bart Everson via Wikimedia Commons
  • 02
    Font - Posted by u/Ok-Computer7028 17 hours ago Co-workers SHOCKED I said I didn't consider us a family
    via u/OK-Computer7028
  • 03
    Font - First day back to my teaching job, looking at two weeks of "professional development" full of ice breakers, role playing, and god knows what else....I'm not thrilled to say the least.
    via u/Ok-Computer7028
  • 04
    Font - So we're creating our "community agreements" and "operational principles" (please tell me someone knows the difference between the two because none of us did). We're discussing things like boundaries in regards to
    via u/Ok-Computer7028
  • 05
    Font - communication outside work hours and the high burnout rate in the teaching field. Boss starts to go off about how much of a family we are and that we should treat each other like family. He's been using that phrasing all day at that
    via u/Ok-Computer7028
  • 06
    Font - point and I got frustrated and blurrted out, "but we're not family, we're coworkers." Guys, it's like I told a room full of kindergartners that Santa wasn't real... People were HURT! I quickly said that I love and respect the people I work with but I think it's
    via u/Ok-Computer7028
  • 07
    Font - unhealthy to relate our obligations to our families with our jobs. PLUS with a bunch of new teachers straight out of college working with us, I think it sets them up for a quick burnout and issues with personal boundaries at work. What do ya'll think?
    via u/Ok-Computer7028
  • 08
    Font - chaingun_samurai. 13 hr. ago 'I spent 8 years not talking to my father. If I did that here, I'd get fired."
    via u/chaingun_samurai
  • 09
    Font - Hamfast Furfoot 10 hr. ago · "I'm sorry, grandma, but we are going to have to let you go. Frankly, your work performance has been suffering the last few years and due to economic forces we have to make cuts somewhere."
    via uHamfastFurfoot
  • 10
    Font - RedditParker2021. 12 hr. ago It's a way for you to accept low wages and abuse. The alternative is Corporate work, the illusion of high pay, and very real daily abuse,
    via u/RedditParker2021
  • 11
    Font - they have HR departments to get rid of you when you don't fit the mold anymore
    via u/RedditParker2021
  • 12
    Font - thetoadontheroad. 11 hr. ago Families often tolerate the drunk racist uncle, and he still gets invited to Christmas. Workplaces shouldn't.
    via u/thetoadontheroad
  • 13
    Font - leifnoto 12 hr. ago 3 I have to disagree. I think of my co- workers the same way I think of my family, I hate them all.
    via u/leifnoto
  • 14
    Plant - Noisebug 10 hr. ago ● This. You can enjoy, respect your coworkers but they're not family.
    via u/Noisebug
  • 15
    Font - Maybe if you're in the army or something or under sever stress and your people become a family... but I think those are very different circumstances.
    via u/Noisebug
  • 16
    Font - gdirrty216 1 hr. ago ● "If times are tough in my family we don't lay off the least productive members. If anything,
    via u/gdirrty216
  • 17
    Font - the leaders, mom and dad, are going hungry so everyone else gets to eat. Is that how we're going to operate here at work when times get tough?"
    via u/gdirrty216
  • 18
    Font - Extra-Knowledge3337. 12 hr. ago I was told the "we're a family" crap and I asked what are they doing to fix that and restore professionalism. They looked at me like I
    via u/Extra-Knowledge3337
  • 19
    Font - sprouted horns so I went on to say that family dynamics in the workplace lead to discord, exploitation and lack of boundaries. I did not get the job.
    via u/Extra-Knowledge3337

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