What’s worse than being at the corporate kid’s table?

Ever been "included” but not worthy of the shrimp? 

We were invited to the celebration, reminded us to be grateful... and told not to eat the good stuff. 

That message? Loud and clear. 

So there we were, 20+ years ago, knee deep in T-1s, private lines, and my personal favorite: the real-life Bat Phone. 

We worked in the partner program in telecom, and once a year, they’d throw a party to show “appreciation.” We were also invited which felt like a nice change from the daily grind of the office. 

Cue the rah rah speech, the motivational music, the reminder that we were lucky to be there. And then, just before heading out: 

“Oh, and don’t eat the shrimp. That’s for the partners.” 

We were seen but not valued. 

Included, but not important. 

Told we were lucky, when in reality, the company was lucky to have us. 

I think about that a lot. 

Especially when I reflect on the case studies that came later, like Southwest Airlines, when then CEO Herb Kelleher flipped the script and said:  “The customer isn’t always right, not at the expense of our employees.” 

It was a radical idea at the time. 

Put your people first. 

Trust that they’ll take care of your customers. 

Break the rules that keep morale in the basement. 

So I ask you: What have you said without saying it? 

Through your policies. 

Your tone. 

Your shrimp rules. 

Are you signaling trust, value, and respect? 

Or sending a silent message that people pick up loud and clear? 

Sitting at the corporate kid’s table