Just had the new AVP for IHX on a call today and the hypocrisy was next-level.
He opened strong — energetic, excited, leaning hard into “we trust you to run your business” and “enabling leaders.” Sounded great. Then we got to slides 2 through 16: a long list of non-negotiables that basically scripted our entire day. So much for trust and autonomy.
The one that’s hardest to swallow: every associate director now has to be at their hub by 7:00 AM. No exceptions.
What are we supposed to do about our kids? School drop-offs, morning routines, actual family life? He literally preached work-life balance during the call, but anyone with basic math knows if you’re at the hub by 7, you’re not getting home until after 5 (and that’s assuming you leave right at 5 with zero wrap-up).
Who’s waking up at 4:30–5:00 AM every single day just to sit around until things actually start at 8:30? This isn’t enabling leaders. It’s the opposite.
This is yet another signal that T doesn’t actually care about employee wellbeing or retention. They talk a good game about trust and balance, then roll out blanket policies that ignore real life.
Anyone else in IHX getting this same message? How are people supposed to make this work long-term without burning out or just leaving?
11 replies (most recent on top)
That’s ridiculous. What are you going to do at the hub at 7am? Techs don’t even get onsite to their jobs til after 8. Then you have to be out in the field doing side by sides, what a joke! This is what happens when people come in that do not know what IHX does. Turning this place into a circus.
“ Who’s waking up at 4:30–5:00 AM every single day just to sit around until things actually start at 8:30?”
Most of us. I’m glad you decided to join us.
"I don’t think anyone gives a sh-t how you prefer to work. Nor should they."
Well, that is where you are wrong and show how outdated your thinking is. Every real leader wants to maximize the potential of those they manage. How one prefers to work is one of the drivers of maximizing potential.
Your thinking should put you at the top of the force reduction lists. Unfortunately, you are a Stank "psychophant" and are rewarded for saying "Yes Sir" and having your nose 3 feet up Stank's A$$.
@bp You are absolutely correct. The C-Suite does not care which is why they have created one of the worst cultures since just after child labor laws were implemented. This is why we know they lied 3 years ago when Stankey said it was for collaboration, McElfresh said it was for our own mental health, and DeRoches said it was to develop future leadership. Thank you for confirming what everyone knew was a lie years ago. Now, kindly GFYS.
@bh I don’t think anyone gives a sh-t how you prefer to work. Nor should they. Do the job you’re paid to do, how you are paid to do it.
Kids and marriages don’t align to a market based economy. F em. Get back to work you undereducated grunts.
OP -- I hope you took screen shots of the presentation.
@b9 And that is why we are able to perform well in undefined environments when we don't have leadership sitting on top of us. As a matter of fact, we prefer to work autonomously.
GenX here. That’s why we were latchkey kids and had to wait for the bus alone while eating a cold PopTart and Koolaid in a thermos.
And that’s also why we want the freedom and flexibility to have the balance that works for both worlds.
Was not there, but sounds like the message (and reactions) to every town hall we have heard for the past few years. It all seems part of the master plan, just demoralize people to quite.
I was on the call with Christian, and honestly, it was an absolute joke from start to finish. I’m really frustrated — the entire discussion was riddled with contradictions, shifting messages, and vague answers that left everyone more confused than when we started.
Instead of building confidence or addressing real concerns, it felt like the call actively undermined belief in the company’s direction and seriously damaged team morale. It’s incredibly demotivating to sit through something like that when we’re all already working hard under pressure.
This kind of communication is the opposite of what we need right now.