“Severance” & Workplace Survival

By Anna Denette, Graphic Designer

In my cubicle, when work is slow, I sometimes think back to my hominin ancestors. I imagine a hunter-gatherer society in the eastern reaches of Africa. Survival, while not particularly easy for my forebears, could be defined simply: find food, defend against predators, and care for the young. They did not have to worry about performance reviews, project deadlines, commuting to the office, or the anxiety-inducing Google Meet calls labeled “Chat.” Survival means something different now. 

In 2022, freshly graduated from design school, I was thrust into the professional world, hired at my first real graphic design job (yes, this one). For longer than I care to admit, I found the adjustment to corporate-life difficult. The pressure felt awkward, the stakes seemed higher, and at times (like during a project presentation that wasn’t going too well), I felt the ancient part of my brain—the monkey part—activate my fight or flight response. 

I’m not exaggerating. The workplace is a complex machination of social cues, hierarchy, physical effort, and mental fortitude that must be navigated. We must find ways to survive and endure. 

Pivot: Let’s Talk About "Severance"

Spoilers ahead. Seriously. Go watch it now if you haven’t already.

Okay? Here we go…

“Severance” is an Apple TV+ original that is a mix of psychological mind-screwery and dystopian corporate science fiction. The series centers around the enigmatic biotech company Lumon, and a radical surgical procedure that they have pioneered: “severing.” Employees of Lumon who choose to work on the mysterious “severed” floor are required to go through this procedure to split their consciousness into two entities: “innie” and “outie.” 

The innie entity exists solely in the workplace, and their memories and experiences are limited to their time spent at Lumon. The outie entity, meanwhile, is the normal person who lives outside of work and who opted in for the severance procedure, they have no recollection of their time at Lumon. “Severance” follows four severed characters who work in the Macrodata Refinement Division of Lumon as they begin to uncover the truth behind their jobs.

What “Severance” Gets Right About Corporate Survival

In the winter of 2023, a little over a year after starting at Mad Genius, I caught Severance for the first time. Something immediately clicked. Not only is this show one of the most original, entertaining pieces of fiction ever made, but it intelligently highlights the realities of office life—even if it does blend it with some dark humor and conspiracy-level mystery. Everyone, at some level, can relate to the mundanity, bureaucracy, and sterility shown at the corporate offices of Lumon Industries. 

I began to reflect on my struggles of adapting to the professional world. I thought if Mark S. and the other severed employees at Lumon can survive working in this quasi-evil corporate setting, then I can survive any corporate office. I can carry my lineage like my hominin predecessors did, so long ago. After watching Severance all the way through, then watching it again for funsies, I gleaned some how-to-survive-your-workplace insights I thought I’d share.

Set Clear Work-Life Boundaries

In Severance, the idea of a “work-life boundary” is taken to the extreme. That doesn’t mean it’s without truth. Work is not your life, and life is not your work. Take breaks, spend your lunch break exploring the labyrinthian halls of your mysterious workplace, use up your vacation time, and leave on time at the end of the workday.

Have Fun at Work

The surgical technology to sever your consciousness is fictitious. Sorry. And while having fun at work also sounds made up, I promise you that it is possible. Make a genuine effort to inject fun into your workplace. This could mean yapping with your work bestie, planning after hours events with your coworkers, or taking a break from work to have a music dance experience with some defiant jazz.

Try to Befriend Your Coworkers

Your coworkers are not just the unscripted side characters in your main character journey. These are real people. They are the well fleshed out, complex, and often lovable side characters. Having a supportive network of friends at work has many advantages: it makes work more fun, creates stronger team bonds, and can reduce stress at work. The Dylan G. to your Irving B. is out there, I promise.

Employee Appreciation Goes a Long Way

Lumon Industries shows its appreciation to employees through several incentives: Chinese finger traps, laser etched crystals, a melon bar, and the coveted AF egg bar, just to name a few. Working in a place where employees are actively appreciated makes a positive difference in the day-to-day experience. You deserve to work in a place where you feel valued. Go find that place.

Prioritize Your Mental Wellness

In any high-stress environment, stress and negative feelings build up over time and inevitably spill over. It’s going to happen. That’s why it's critical to make your mental health a priority. Do not hold on to the stresses of the day. Exert your tensity and negative feelings during the workday by talking to a trusted coworker or friend, going for a walk, meditation, or by visiting the wellness center and receiving facts about your outie.

Find Purpose in Your Work

Your work may not be that mysterious, but I’m sure it’s important at some level. Doing the daily grind day in and day out with zero room for reflection will inevitably lead to burnout in your life—professional and personal. While work isn’t everything, having a professional purpose can provide a sense of meaning and growing ambition. Attend conferences, connect with others in your field, learn new skill sets for your profession, and reflect on why you do what you do to help reignite the professional spark. 

Your Work Does Not Define You

“The You You Are” is not your work. It’s easy to lose yourself in your job and lose sight of the things that really matter in your life. Take a step back from work now and then, just for a minute or two, to do nothing. Maybe go outside and touch some grass. Outside of work, reconnect with your passions and hobbies. Or just take your time off to try something new. Water your soul.

Get Up & Move 

If all else fails, get your blood moving and go for a walk, or a run in Mark S.’s case.