Now it’s a pizza party masking stagnant wages. The free snacks taste like distraction.
11 replies (most recent on top)
How much are you making that you can afford to do blow on a TIAA salary? I had to cut back on all my fun habits since joining this sh---y company. I can’t wait to go back to a normal firm that actually has a fun holiday party.
I miss the culture when it was acceptable to do blow in the bathroom with the managing direction after a long evening trying to close deals for this sinking ship of a train wreck.
Guys, c’mon
We have frisbee golf AND bocce ball in Charlotte.
You all are missing out on the culture.
I couldn’t help but notice we’re graduating from pizza parties to BRG Talent Shows.
Less is more when it comes to culture IMO. Just get the vital few things right as an employer and the culture will take care of itself.
Culture easily blossoms via organic growth (in the form of transparency, clear goals for performance reviews, pay raises, etc.)
Inorganic culture in the form of pizza parties, talent shows, puzzles in break rooms, board games in the cafeteria, etc. (good grief am I 12 again back at summer camp?) does nothing to mitigate or correct the damage culture around this place has taken.
While fostering a strong organizational culture typically promotes unity and purpose, TIAA continues to push the “need for culture” to an extreme where it is now negatively impacting associates. When cultural alignment becomes a rigid expectation rather than an inclusive value, employees may feel pressured to conform at the expense of authenticity and individual expression. This can lead to groupthink, alienation of diverse voices, and suppression of constructive dissent. Associates who don’t fully “fit the mold” may face subtle exclusion or feel undervalued, despite strong performance. Overemphasizing culture can also blur professional boundaries, creating environments where loyalty to the culture outweighs fair evaluations, accountability, or work-life balance. In the long run, a culture-first obsession risks turning what should be a shared sense of purpose into a source of burnout, fear of nonconformity, and high turnover.
When I was there they were on the lock of ice cream parties. Some mid level manager would parade around handing out diabetes scoops to the already obese worker bees
Just my opinion, I'm finding the "culture" at TIAA very cultish. Like all of the comments so far, I want to do my work and leave. I have zero desire to hang out at work or with people from work outside of work hours. I have a family, a life and hobbies.
They sent out a survey last year about what would get you to come to the office more. I basically said nothing, I have family at home why would I want to be here longer and not with them.
The whole philosophy is just bizarre. I do very well here I’m not slacking and I have put in more than 40 hours many times when we needed it, but I’m not going to TIAA and chill in the name of culture after work.
@as I’m with you and wholeheartedly agree. I’m here doing work with a good team collecting a paycheck and benefits until they show me the door when the office closes in a year. I enjoy some office life mixed with remote flexibility.
They can keep the cr-ppy snacks, that expensive coffee machine, “gym”, social hours, donuts, for the mindless peons of yes-people.
Any of the extracurricular fluff and junk can be had by the mindless folks who want that sort of thing.
@as Yes! 1,000%
But we should all be thankful we have a job at TIAA...
Probably an unpopular opinion but I come to work to get paid; nothing more, nothing less. MONEY (and benefits surrounding money: 401k, decent health insurance, etc.) is what I want. I don't care about making life-long friends, golf simulators, after work happy hours/socials, BRG's or the like - I have a life outside the walls of this place for social stimulation. Yes, I enjoy my co-workers and want a team of smart, hard-working people that challenge me but when I leave the building, my work life ends and real life begins.
Am I the only mercenary a--hole here? Give me a culture where hard work is rewarded with $$$, the rest of the corporate bs is just that.