Antiwork: An Urgent Call For Better Work

Pim de Morree
Written by Pim de Morree January 29, 2022

Work as we know it today is not working—we regularly show that here through research and experience. But what is often more powerful is the real-life examples straight from the frontlines. Recently, I ran into an online community (subreddit) called Antiwork It’s a place full of people who share horrible experiences at work. Today, I'll share a few examples taken from it. The purpose? To remind all of us who are interested in better work that we've got a lot of work to do!

4342 1140x0

Check out the subreddit yourself. You'll be amazed and frightened at the same time.

Here are a few examples to give you an idea of what it's like:

Shameless inequality

"HR is asking us to pitch in $20 for Christmas presents for the CEO and CTO. I just fucking can't. That money is going to my kids, not to the fat cats at the top who make at least 5x what I make on any given month. Buy your own damn presents."

4261 1140x0

Screw your family

"Manager just posted this, after I already put in time off requests for Christmas and my niece's birthday."

4260 1140x0

Hit the clock

"Started a new job today. Just more of the same..."

4264 1140x0

Watch the tone

"Finally decided I’d had enough of my [...] boss on Monday, & damn did it feel good."

4265 1140x0
Antiwork: An Urgent Call For Better Work
Click to tweet

Turn frustration into motivation

The momentum of a movement like Antiwork shows that there is still so much bad work out there. It's no wonder that the 'great resignation' has fully kicked off. Look at the absurd shit people are dealing with.

To all of you who have been supporting the movement for better work: keep up the good work! Let this crap be a reminder of why we do what we do.

On the flip side: here's what can happen if that frustration is turned into something positive:

4283 1140x0

The road ahead is clear: Let's continue our fight together to end the insanity at work.

Join the revolution

Join us in the fight for better workplaces. Apply to the Corporate Rebels Academy here.

Written by Pim de Morree
Pim de Morree
As co-founder of Corporate Rebels I focus on: researching, writing, speaking, and building our company.
Read more
Read more
Mar 23, 2026
AI and the Future of Work: Liberation vs. Control
Pim de Morree Written by Pim de Morree
Something strange is happening. The most powerful technology of our generation has arrived, and the majority of companies are using it to…
Read more about AI and the Future of Work: Liberation vs. Control
Mar 09, 2026
Positive vs Negative Freedom in Organizations: The Distinction That Changes Everything
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
In 1941, Erich Fromm published Escape from Freedom to understand something that puzzled him: why people sometimes flee from freedom when…
Read more about Positive vs Negative Freedom in Organizations: The Distinction That Changes Everything
Mar 09, 2026
Learned Helplessness at Work: Why Removing Hierarchy Isn't Enough
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
A great new academic paper on self-managing organizations was just published. It's one of those papers I secretly wish I had written…
Read more about Learned Helplessness at Work: Why Removing Hierarchy Isn't Enough
Feb 05, 2026
Why “They” is The Most Dangerous Word at Work
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Two weeks ago, I ​shared​ the lessons of Bill Gore and the case of W.L. Gore & Associates: the legendary example I recently re-read in…
Read more about Why “They” is The Most Dangerous Word at Work
Dec 25, 2025
Get Rid of Your Boss. Share a Story Instead.
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
At our recent Corporate Rebels Summit in Barcelona, one theme kept resurfacing from very different voices: the quiet but transformative…
Read more about Get Rid of Your Boss. Share a Story Instead.
Oct 30, 2025
Big Data Confirms It: Less Hierarchy = Stronger Culture
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
A new paper by Arianna Marchetti and one of my favourite academics, Phanish Puranam, just dropped in the Strategic Management Journal.…
Read more about Big Data Confirms It: Less Hierarchy = Stronger Culture
Read all articles

Download: Free Guide

Unlock our in-depth guide on trends, tools, and best practices from over 150 pioneering organizations.

Subscribe below and receive it directly in your inbox.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.