Why Pizza Parties Don’t Work
What corporate America is missing about employee appreciation
Years ago, I had the displeasure of working for a massive corporation with tens of thousands of employees across the globe. Their manner of treating staff was so heinous, it has practically become a cliché for the stereotypical predatory employer. We even had the “we are a family” speeches and email blasts from the executives.
During my time there, only one employee was ever given a raise. It was so out of character that the story became legendary. However, they did have an employee appreciation program that sponsored fast food meals and very cheap prizes. I wrote about this sadness here.
Employers don’t want to give workers what they want — a living wage, healthcare, shorter work week, three-day weekends, and less micromanaging. The trend is to move further away from these ideals of less work and greater freedom as evidenced by the troubling statistic that more than half of full-time workers spend over 40 hours at their jobs.
A 2021 study found that one of the top demands of employees was a commitment to health, yet only 30% of businesses with fewer than 50 employees offer insurance coverage.
I was valued by my team because I was super reliable and available to fill in shifts. I volunteered…
