[Jtsummers]

IBM was controlling, not infantilizing (at least with that example).

Infantilizing is companies thinking that they can win over employees with ping pong tables, free sodas, and not give them, you know, actual compensation.

Of course, as the dot com boom demonstrated, many in our industry fell for it.

[walshemj]

Well I think having a company songbook and starting the day with a song just like primary school is.

[Jtsummers]

That's fair. I was specifically referring to the McDonald's bit (and what I know of their former dress code). I had meant to look up the songbook thing.

EDIT: Actually, looking at that songbook, I'd still say it leans more towards controlling than infantilizing. By having people participate in a common display like that you get them to act as a group (positive thing), but based on the lyrics they're almost like corporate versions of jingoistic/nationalistic songs. It's a brainwashing thing.

This is still very different than infantilizing. It does signal a lack of respect for their employees (to a degree). But it does not indicate treating them as children.