WHY WE DO WHAT WE DOThe Hidden Rules of Class at Work

Candace Moody, Jacksonville

WHY CLASS MATTERS

Definitions: where we come from• Generational Poverty• Working Class• Middle Class• New Money• Old Money

Class Priorities• Poverty: survival, relationships, entertainment

• Middle Class: work, achievement, security

HOW CLASS AFFECTS US

Why Does Money Matter?• It affects an person’s ability to focus at work and school• It affects her connectedness (she won’t have voicemail;

won’t answer the phone)• It affects access to knowledge, education, and healthcare

Ruby Payne’s definition of poverty• Lack of Resources:

• Emotional• Mental• Support systems • Role models• Knowledge of hidden rules

How class affects our thinking• About money• About loyalty and relationships• About work• About time• About what’s important

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

How we think about relationships• Two important skills that help employees deal with

conflict:• The ability to listen• The ability to translate from the personal to the objective

• Listening:• What is the real issue? What is most important here?• What register of language is appropriate? (formal vs.

casual)• How do we structure stories?

• What happened, in order• Cause and effect

Being able to identify cause & effect(courtesy: Reuven Feuerstein, an Israeli educator)

• Individuals who cannot plan, cannot predict.• If they cannot predict, they cannot identify cause and

effect.• If they cannot identify cause and effect, they cannot

identify consequence.• If they cannot identify consequence, they cannot control

impulsivity.

EQ

1. The ability to understand what you’re feeling

2. The ability to control what you’re feeling

3. The ability to understand what others are feeling

4. The ability to change what others are feeling

Behavior in the Workplace• Laughs when disciplined. (A way to save face.)• Argues loudly with the authority. (Sees the system as inherently

dishonest and unfair.)• Angry response; may even instigate physical fights. (May not

have the ability to see issues as abstract.)• Inappropriate or vulgar comments. (May not know formal

register.)

THE HIDDEN RULES

The Hidden Rules of Class at Work• Unspoken• Are used to judge whether you belong• Absolute: “You just don’t do that”• They affect who succeeds and who doesn’t

The Rules• What’s expected of you / how you are judged

• Entry level: what you do• Mid level: what you know• Upper level: who you know

• Who you must connect with• Entry level: your team• Mid level: managers up and down the organization• Upper Level: External connections vital to the company’s success

• Planning:• Entry level: daily, if at all• Mid level: weekly to annual; project-based• Upper level: strategic, long-term

The Rules• Time commitment:

• Entry level: by the hour; only hours paid• Mid level: 50 – 60; until the job is done• Upper level: work, plus travel and social

events with spouse

• Spouse or significant other:• Entry level: doesn’t matter• Mid level: helpful, but not crucial to

success• Upper level: critical factor; seen as a

reflection of judgment and taste

WHAT DO YOU THINK?Q&A

Resources• The Hidden Rules of Class at Work, Ruby Payne• The Fragile Mind, Jarik Conrad