I Have Been Laid Off For 2 Years And This Show Scares Me | My Thoughts On Severance
Apple TV+
I was laid off two years ago, and I have struggled to find full-time work ever since then. I recently watched season one of Severance, and as a person who is going through the degrading and dehumanizing process of finding employment, I found this show to be scary in more ways than one, mainly because I can see it happening in real life.
About Severance
Apple TV+
In “Severance,” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe. - Summary from Apple
This Can Happen IRL
Apple TV+
Companies are mandating people return to the office, employees are being treated with no respect or empathy, and jobs expect you to do more than what is in the job description; these are only some of the current issues with the workforce. Because of these issues and the “nobody wants to work” crowd, I can see companies pushing for employees to be severed if this procedure were possible.
They would love for us to be severed. If we had no outside influences on our performance and loyalty, and all we thought about was work while at work, then we would be productive, which is what most employers want. They want us to think about work and only work while at work.
I know I am about to be flamed for the following paragraph, but we gotta be real right now.
Apple TV+
These companies work us within an inch of our lives at times. We get rewarded with a low amount of PTO for the number of hours we worked, crappy health insurance that takes too much out of our check and can change at any time, an unstable 401k that they can stop paying into at any time, a pay raise of a few cents or dollars even though we do the work of two or more people and we may get an ‘award’ for our hardwork that was printed same day in the office copy room and receive a handshake of thanks then its back to work.
Stripping the worker of their identity
Apple TV+
One of the scariest things the severance program does is strip workers of their identity. Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G., and Iviring B. have no idea who they are. They don’t know if their outies are married, have kids, are rich or poor, have been to Disney World, or even like Star Wars.
I have worked in places where my personality was valued, and connecting with my coworkers was encouraged. But I have also been in workplaces that hate any form of personality because they want to mold you into the person they want you to be. I literally worked somewhere that discouraged coworkers from talking to each other. Guess how well that went.
Would I Sever Myself?
Apple TV+
Years ago, I had a job that was supposed to be very simple and easy, but turned into a very dehumanizing experience. As someone who is neurodivergent, I had terrible anxiety and panic attacks due to the way I was being treated. This job was super simple, and they made it more complex than needed, and the pay did not reflect the work they wanted from me.
So while watching Severance, I wondered, if I was severed, would I have stayed at that job instead of valuing my mental health and leaving….. Sometimes I wonder if being severed benefits the worker because you do not know what happens at work, and it could make life outside of work easier. If I had a bad day or encountered the customer from hell, I wouldn't bring those emotions home with me, because that is only something my innie went through. My panic attacks before work wouldn't happen because I wouldn't know what I was facing at work, that was my innies problem.
Final Thoughts
Apple TV+
Blindly surrendering your consciousness to the Severance program for a job is morally and ethically wrong because, ultimately, the only one that wins is the employer. It is sad to think that many people, including myself, would consider severing themselves because of this capitalist society that we live in.
We don’t know who we are if we aren't making money, and I think about this a lot as someone who has been looking for full-time work for the past two years.
As a Zillennial, I think we are seeing a shift in the workplace as younger Gen Z is starting to graduate from college and enter the workforce. Gen Z prioritizes themselves in the workplace in a way that has never been seen before. They are saying no to the blatant exploitation and dehumanization endured by generations before them. Say what you want about them, but I think it’s time for things to change.
Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.
I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.
I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money.
I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.
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