The Endangered Mean Boss: Understanding the Lack of Consequences for Insubordination and Incompetence in Today's Society

In today's society, it seems that insubordination and incompetence are no longer grounds for termination in the workplace. In the past, mean bosses would fire employees for such offenses, but now, firing is mostly handled by consultants or HR personnel. There is a growing trend of workplace compliance training or reassignment in response to transgressions, especially in elite institutions. The podcast discusses the idea of cancellation, where bosses are often the ones being fired. The host reflects on various incidents, such as the brewing scandal of Claudine Gay at Harvard and candlelight vigils protesting the president's policies. The lack of consequences for insubordination and incompetence is seen as a product of the long march through institutions, where radical ideologies have taken hold. The importance of maintaining consequences and accountability is highlighted to prevent the decline of institutions.