Ben Stiller's Severance: A Comparison Of Lumon Industries And Apple

Luna Greco

5 min read

Post on May 17, 2025

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The Cult of Secrecy and Information Control in Lumon and Apple

Severance's "Innie" and "Outie" Divide

Lumon Industries' signature procedure, "severance," creates a stark physical and mental separation between an employee's work life ("innie") and personal life ("outie"). This extreme compartmentalization mirrors the deliberate information control often found in large tech corporations. Lumon's extreme measures to maintain secrecy, exemplified by the severed memories of their employees, are a stark, fictional representation of the reality many experience in large organizations.

• Lumon's extreme measures to maintain secrecy: The complete memory separation between "innies" and "outies" prevents leaks and ensures complete control over information flow within the company.
• Apple's famously secretive approach to product development and internal workings: Apple is known for its tight-lipped approach to upcoming products and internal operations, prioritizing secrecy over transparency.
• The implications of this secrecy for employees and the broader public: This secrecy can limit employee freedom of speech and public accountability, potentially hiding unethical practices or harmful working conditions.

Technological Control and Surveillance

Lumon employs advanced surveillance technology, impacting employee behavior in insidious ways. The "Overtime Contingency," for example, demonstrates Lumon's willingness to push ethical boundaries for increased productivity. This parallels the increasing use of technology to monitor employee productivity and digital footprint in real-world tech companies, raising important ethical questions.

• Examples of Lumon's intrusive technology: The pervasive surveillance within Lumon, including the monitoring of employee interactions and emotional states, creates a chilling atmosphere of constant observation.
• Apple's collection of user data and its implications for privacy: Apple collects vast amounts of user data, raising concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of this information.
• Discussion of ethical considerations related to workplace monitoring and data collection: The balance between productivity monitoring and employee privacy is a critical ethical consideration in the modern workplace.

The Allure and the Grind: Lumon's "Wellness" Programs vs. Apple's Employee Perks

The Illusion of Employee Care

Lumon Industries presents a façade of benevolent corporate wellness, masking manipulative tactics designed to control employees. While Apple offers generous employee benefits packages including comprehensive health insurance and stock options, the comparison highlights the potential for corporate "wellness" to be a tool for control rather than genuine employee care.

• Lumon's wellness programs and their underlying sinister purpose: Lumon's wellness initiatives are cleverly designed to suppress dissent and maintain a compliant workforce.
• Apple's generous employee benefits packages (health insurance, stock options, etc.): Apple's benefits are undeniably attractive, but they don't necessarily negate the pressures of a demanding work environment.
• Discussion on the potential for corporate "wellness" initiatives to be used to control employees: The line between genuine care and manipulative control can be blurred in corporate wellness programs.

The Work-Life Balance (or Lack Thereof)

Severance depicts a grueling work culture that takes a significant emotional toll on Lumon employees. This resonates with reports of intense work cultures and long hours in highly competitive tech environments, raising concerns about employee burnout and mental health.

• The grueling work schedules and emotional toll on Lumon employees: The show emphasizes the psychological cost of Lumon's demanding work culture.
• Reports of intense work culture and long hours at some tech companies like Apple: The pressure to succeed in the tech industry can lead to excessive work hours and burnout.
• The impact on employee mental health and burnout: The demanding nature of many tech jobs can negatively impact the mental and physical well-being of employees.

The "Revolving Door" of Employees: Retention Strategies in Lumon and Apple

Lumon's Employee Retention Tactics

Lumon employs extreme measures to retain employees, going beyond typical corporate retention strategies. The show highlights the unsettling methods used to discourage employees from leaving, underscoring the ethical challenges of prioritizing company loyalty above employee well-being.

• The psychological manipulation used by Lumon to retain employees: Lumon utilizes subtle and not-so-subtle psychological manipulation to ensure employee compliance.
• The high turnover rate observed in some tech companies: The tech industry is known for its high turnover rates, often due to demanding work environments.
• The methods used by companies like Apple to attract and retain top talent: Apple employs various strategies to attract and retain talent, including competitive salaries and benefits.

The Price of Loyalty

The show explores the negative consequences of prioritizing company loyalty over personal well-being, a theme relevant to both fictional Lumon and the real-world tech industry. It emphasizes the importance of setting healthy boundaries between work and personal life.

• The negative impact of a culture of intense loyalty in Lumon: Lumon's culture of intense loyalty ultimately harms its employees.
• The importance of setting boundaries between work and personal life: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for employee well-being.
• Encouraging a healthy work environment in tech companies: Creating a supportive and ethical work environment is vital for attracting and retaining top talent.

Conclusion: Unpacking the Parallels Between Lumon Industries and Apple in Severance

Severance masterfully uses Lumon Industries to highlight the potential pitfalls of unchecked corporate power and technological control, echoing concerns about certain practices in companies like Apple. While Apple offers generous benefits, the show prompts reflection on the ethical implications of intense work cultures, information control, and the potential for manipulative corporate practices disguised as employee care. Dive deeper into the unsettling world of Severance and draw your own conclusions about the parallels between Lumon Industries and today’s tech giants. Explore the chilling comparisons between Lumon Industries and Apple in Ben Stiller’s Severance – what lessons can we learn?