Clark B. Montgomery Fast Company Article February, 1999

The G Files by Anonymous, February-March, 1999. Pg. 230

Summary

The G Files, according to the author, is episode twelve of a series of articles entitled "Working Behind Enemy Lines". Written as a parody, the series is meant to relate the observations of a spy scrutinizing The New World of Work.

The G Files focuses on the plight of modern middle-management employees as faceless, gray, and boring individuals with no identity and little hope of attaining an identity. Termed "middle muddlement", they're described as the "millennium equivalent of Viking Oarsmen", sweating and faceless creatures that make the whole thing go. Then, once they've gotten the "boat" where it's supposed to be, nobody cares what happens to them. The article continues by subtly pointing out that employees new to middle management quickly lose whatever identity they brought with them and soon become part of the nameless, sexless, colorless mass. In addition, they're kept in their place through promotion within, but not out of, middle management. Written as a first-person observation, the short article concludes with no analyze or rationalization of it's implications.

Reflection

On closer consideration of this seemingly clever and entertaining parody of the modern work world, an apprehension evolves that perhaps the article speaks more truth than not. Other than for a privileged few, it points out, we're all just cogs in the wheel, and isn't that a distressing revelation. Once the alarm quits ringing and common sense begins to prevail, I had to ask myself, "Yes, but hasn't it always been that way". When humans first swung down from the trees and discovered that by working together, life could be made easier, middle management was born. Until very recently, continuing to improve upon that pursuit was a goal of our society. In fact, it wasn't too many years ago that an American presidential election was won with the slogan "a car in every garage and a chicken in every pot". It seems to me that in twenty-first century America, we're just more affluent cogs than what's found in history or the rest of the modern world. Furthermore, we're lucky to be here.

The majority of middle-class Americans can't remember a time when prosperity and creature comforts weren't the norm. It's only in this field of affluence that its members have the privilege to suffer neurosis over their lost work identity. While much of the world worries about putting food on the table, the Fast Company crowd seeks counseling to cope with the idea of being stuck in a middle management position.

Reflecting on this modern day dilemma, the pop phrase "get a life" comes to mind. If this article is any reflection of thinking in the modern corporate world, then acting on that phrase might offer solution. For those affected, I would say that there is life beyond work. There's family, community and personal interests just for starters. Speaking from personal experience, I may be stuck in a middle management role with little work identity, but I'm a big hit at home.

Discussion

In discussion with others, which was predominantly Extension peers, I found overall agreement with my thoughts. Probably the largest area of difference involved the extent to which this "middle muddlement" dilemma affects our society. I think it's fairly pervasive throughout the middle class - my peers do not. We do agree that the overall issue is manifested by personal values, and that those values may be (in reality) less personal as opposed to dictated, by a consumer driven society.

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-- Anonymous, February 17, 1999