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Daniel Levine
interviewed by Emma Taylor on December 12, 1995
"[Disgruntled] takes a look at the darker side of the world of work."
Daniel Levine is the editor of "Disgruntled," a Web site that takes a look at the darker side of the workplace.
Tripod: What is the philosophy of Disgruntled magazine?
DL: The philosophy of Disgruntled magazine. Well, what we're trying to do is take a look at the darker side of the world of work, and report it from the perspective of employees. I think a lot of the business reporting that goes on is viewed from a company perspective, a shareholder perspective, a CEO perspective, and a business perspective. But very little of the time are you reading the point of view of the employees, as the majority of us are.
Tripod: What is your background?
DL: I've had a background, fairly mainstream, of a business reporter. After five years as a stockbroker, I left for UC Berkeley, graduate school to get a masters in journalism. I freelanced for the New York Times, the Examiner. My first full-time working job was as a business reporter for the Oakland Tribune. I left there to write full time for the New York Times.
Tripod: What's your workplace like? Do you think you are a good boss?
DL: Well, right now, I'm the only employee, so I'm a terrible boss. I work myself to death and I don't particularly pay myself well, so you know, it's as bad as it gets, but it keeps this focused on Disgruntled.
Tripod: Is Disgruntled only on the Web?
DL: That's correct.
Tripod: And how long as it been going?
DL: We officially launched November 9.
Tripod: Would you say Disgruntled is more about education or consolation?
DL: Well, it's a combination. You know, one of the things that's wonderful about the Web is it can be a place to create a dialogue between all these people. I don't know if you've been on the site, but that's one thing that's developed very organically. We're pleased about the results. So in that case, it's a place where people know that they're not alone. There is a common feeling and faith that we all share.
Tripod: What is your biggest concern about the workplace today?
DL: I think the biggest concern is, in a broad sense, civil liberties. I'm very concerned about rights in the workplace, privacy, and everything that goes with it. I think that a lot of people are made to feel they should thank God that they have a job. They're often willing to put up with a lot of things that they really shouldn't have to. They don't question the fact that maybe some of the things that are a little abusive in the workplace have to be part of the territory.
Tripod: What's your view on voicemail and email in the workplace -- should they be private?
DL: No. I think unfortunately we don't have much choice in the matter. Voicemail, email -- there's a piece on that in Disgruntled right now. I think we have to be aware as much as possible, keep informed about what our rights are, and kind of deal with that. If email isn't private, and you understand that, then you can think of ways more private -- whether it's logging on to your own account in your company's computer, where things are segregated, doing something more private, or whether it's understanding the computer system at your office better than your boss does.
Tripod: Is that what the Boss button is about? [The Boss button appears all over the site -- if you click on it, a spreadsheet appears in place of Disgruntled]
DL: No, no. The Boss button is mearly a reflection of the awareness that a lot of people will be accessing this site from work, and it's tongue-in-cheek, but it does have a function.
Tripod: In your letter from the Editor, you joke about being a Groucho Marxist -- what is your ideal workplace?
DL: In all honesty, there's not an ideology behind this publication. It was a joke in regards to the fact that there's a very famous line from Groucho Marx about not belonging to a club that would have someone like him as a member, and it was a play on that. It's not something that's ideologically driven.
Tripod: Has Disgruntled made you feel better?
DL: Oh yeah, much. It's an enormously cathartic experience. And the flow of email and the stories people send in about their own experiences -- and also, you know, paying much closer attention to the issues. There is some solace in it, particularly when you read about what's going on outside of the U.S., and realize how badly workers are treated.
Tripod: What's the funniest gripe you've received?
DL: As far as a worker gripe? It's not so much funny, but you read this stuff and your mouth just drops open in disbelief. It's not that you just shake head going, "No, you've seen and heard it all before;" it's just mindblowing. There was one that comes to mind recently: a newspaper in your neck of the woods. They've been trying to negotiate a union contract for two years. The union wanted a guarantee of two weeks' severance for every year of service for anyone they lay off. The owners came back a week later and said, "That's fine, but in return, we want anyone who quits to give us a week's pay in compensation for training and rehiring a new worker." Needless to say, they haven't reached a resolution in their contract.
Tripod: Have you received any complaints about your magazine?
DL: No, I haven't. I mean, a lot of mail I haven't posted, which is just saying "thank you" and "this is great, we need this." There really haven't been any complaints. ... There's a lot of dark humor out there but there's also a very serious element. We're trying to deal with issues that are underdealt with or ignored by the mainstream press.
Tripod: Do you think of Disgruntled as a kind of union?
DL: I think we're providing a public service. We don't collect dues. We don't negotiate contracts, we don't collect dues, we don't call strikes.
Tripod: But you hope to gather some kind of community?
DL: I think we've already done that. This is a place where people can exchange ideas. There's a letter from an attorney this month, warning people about some pending legislation that could have a negative effect on settlements for harassment.
Tripod: So would you say Disgruntled actually has a mission to make some change, or are you just providing information?
DL: I'd like to believe that we're going to have some effect on the way people think about work and make them, if nothing else, more aware of their own power in the workplace, their ability to take control of their work.
Feeling disgruntled? Before you lose your temper with your boss, let off some steam by visiting Disgruntled, at http://www.disgruntled.com
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