This is fvking stupid. Let me tell you about two office roles Ive had in the past.
1. This role was for one of the most successful companies in its industry. Their main office was in the middle of the city, but I worked for their new branch 30 minutes into the suburbs.
This was my first real office gig out of college, so it was entry level, and you didnt really "take orders" per se. You had a daily productivity goal, and a goal for the quarter. My boss had been with the company for over a decade and was a really chill guy.
He was the type of guy that used to go to jam-fests and huge festivals. He'd listen to hippie music in one moment, then metal or hip hop in the next. He wasnt an overweight beta....just an average shape guy who always wanted the family life. He was an all round nice guy, and even when he had to give you an order or reprimand you, it was in a nice way. One of the best bosses I ever had.
I never ever had to ask to use the rest room. I went to the break room as I pleased, and I took lunch when I wanted to. He was also really cool about leaving early or coming in late when need be.
And to top this all off, the office environment was very liberal. As long as you dress business casual, they didnt mind visible tattoos or small piercings. As long as you covered and removed things when clients came by, it was all good. Super laid back in the suburbs office. Im not sure if the main city office was similar...as the executive officers were all down there. From the one time I was in the main office it did seem a little more strict.
2. This job was in the main office headquarters of a small manufacturing company. They are very profitable and well known to their industry. This job stunk and felt like some rules were straight out of the 50s. The atmosphere was old school and uptight. My immediate boss was a nice guy, and some might see him as a "beta"...but the upper management (executive officers) were all close by and a couple of them were real jackasses.
They scheduled everyones lunches and breaks at the same time (they had the office workers scheduled along side the bells used out in the factory). They were very strict about coming in late or leaving early (unless you were female). Upper management clearly flirted and favored the female staff. And despite all the money management made, they paid everyone else like crap.
I never got directly ordered around or yelled at...but I saw it happen to my immediate manager. And there were times when upper management gave him sh!t because they thought he needed to keep me in line more. A female supervisor did try giving me sh!t a couple times, and I didnt stand for it. That said, she got her attitude and character from how upper management ran things. Oh, and regarding the bathroom...I didnt have to ask to go...but the atmosphere made it that I was always as quick as possible.
Im so glad Im out of that place. In my experience, laid back bosses = happier and more productive workforce.
My final summation? The 2nd job I talked about, with the very alpha upper management, led to killing masculinity more so than any other job I had. The job killed my time, zapped my energy, decreased my morale...etc...etc. I was too tired or annoyed to deal with dating, working out, or eating properly.
The first job on the other hand, had a gym on the premises, decent benefits...a nice kitchen to prepare a decent meal, a bistro on the premises for good eating...and if it werent for my commute, Id have been able to date more.