Panera’s founder says “therapists belong in the C-Suite” and can help CEOs understand workers’ motivations.

  • treefrog
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    11 months ago

    Actually a fairly enlightened take if you read beyond the headlines.

    “No employee ever wakes up and says, ‘I’m so excited. I made another penny a share today for Panera’s shareholders,’” Shaich told Business Insider in an interview. “Nobody cares. You don’t care whether your CEO comes or goes.”

    He goes on to talk about how therapy helped him better empathize with himself, customers, and employees.

    The ‘today’ in the headline I think is the click bait and something the author is indirectly putting in this guy’s mouth.

    • DessertStorms@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      Unless he actually then improved his workers conditions (at the very bare minimum, which he hasn’t, instead it looks like they’re cutting staff to boost “productivity” in preparation for going public because, you guessed it - that’ll make more money for the shareholders), that statement is entirely hollow, and is there for no other reason than to make him feel better.

      Fuck the CEO getting “enlightened” from all the therapy he can afford if all he does with it is state what’s already obvious to those who can barely afford rent, let alone therapy.

      • dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net
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        11 months ago

        If they’re not public already they don’t have shareholders as that term is typically used. They may have investors who are forcing them to go public because they don’t want a simple loan payback, they want the bonanza of an ipo.

        • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          As the old saying goes, “There’s only one winner in an IPO. His name is George. He makes bank on each one. Everyone else leaves the situation worse off, either immediately, or later, unless George tips them off when to sell.”

      • treefrog
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        11 months ago

        He’s not the current CEO and I have no idea if he’s still involved in decisions at Panera.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        He actually was lecturing current executives. Admonishing them for behaving as if employees would give a shit about a rising stock price.