I was just in a work meeting and we were discussing a return to office. The mid-level manager at my company leading the meeting was talking all upbeat about how there was going to be a return to the office and how we should be happy about it. Then they said that if we didn't look happy they were going to take us across the street to the bus station and show us "homeless people" so that we could be appropriately grateful that we have a job, so that we can be happy about it.

I'm literally so disgusted. Unhoused people as a prop to try and make their shitty policies more palatable to us is disgusting. Expecting me to perform happiness/gratefulness about this job that is pointless and doesn't contribute to society at all - WHILE they are grossly underpaying me for my skills is the worst. And then it also seems like a thinly veiled threat - like if we don't turn our attitudes around, next thing you know, we won't have a job and we'll be out on the streets too.

Like, it's so gross, I can't even.