[marssaxman]

Spoken with the cheerful idealism of a person who has always had a safety net.

My stance is that you cannot pretend the power dynamic does not exist. Boss can fire worker, worker cannot fire boss. Consquences of getting fired range from irritating to life-threatening, depending on worker's resources. Consequences of having to fire someone... not such a problem. You ignore that reality at your peril.

If the boss wants workers who can say "no", the boss has to create an environment where people don't have to fear the consequences of doing so.

[malfist]

There's a area between "power dynamic is everything and I can never say no" and "power dynamic does not exist and I can always say no" that I'm arguing from.

Power dynamics can't be ignored, but just because someone has the upper hand in that dynamic means you always have to be subservient and do everything they ask you to do. Always saying yes to a boss is probably a faster way to get fired than being a partner and pushing back when needed.

[marssaxman]

Sounds like we actually agree on this, we are just emphasizing opposite ends of the scenario. Sorry to have claimed that you did not understand what I was talking about. I've had some painful life experience which leaves me a bit sensitive here.

[malfist]

We're all human :-)