This interactive video lesson, based on an interview on France24, explores how Netflix is radically changing workplace culture for the better by insisting on greater transparency and feedback among coworkers. It also includes a Quizlet set for review.
Love the website in general, and this lesson in particular. One thing though, I find it hard to believe that anyone could use the word ‘improve workplace culture’ except by being very much tongue in cheek. I’ve used this lesson with multiple students, none of whom are particularly ‘lefty’, and all of them have been absolutely horrified by the Netflix work practises outlined in this video! I feel like an opportunity for satire has been missed here, particularly with regards to their ‘vacation’ policy which, let’s be honest, is just a bit of propaganda, netflix do not take longer holidays than the industry average and the idea that you are ‘free’ to take holidays whenever you wish is a complete misnomer.
Anyway, best of luck with the blog, it’s been of real help to my students.
Hello Patrick,
Thanks for your feedback. I absolutely understand your point and why you – and your students – are sceptical. I don’t claim to support these changes or suggest they’re desirable. My main goal is to get a discussion going on socially relevant issues. And I do think it’s interesting to imagine a future in which employees are given more ownership over their work. That to me is far more interesting than the issue of providing workers with supposedly unlimited holidays. You’re right to suggest that it could well lead to employees shortchanging themselves. (A useful chunk for learners in this context might be “race to the bottom “.)