Respect in the Work Place

 This is one of those rants really, more or less an opinion piece, because there aren't actual laws, regulations, rules, or policies to cover all the necessary things one needs to know about how to be respected and how to respect others in the work place. It's really just going to be me explaining what I would rather see in these situations.  You can add to it in your own blog. You can disagree with me, and you can even contact me and share with me your thoughts.  I don't have my comments section activated on the blog itself. I don't really want to deal with negative nellies and I don't. Sorry. It's my blog. You can start your own. If you do want to comment and know I actually read your comment, you can email me. I really do read my emails. 

    So, the work place has been changed for a great deal of folks in America, and probably around the world. There are more (so many more) people working from home these days. Do you remember a little over two years ago when you wanted to work from home but your employer(s) told you they didn't think that could work; you'd be too distracted. They also said you wouldn't do your work. They claimed that you, the employee, needed to be supervised, watched, managed, and otherwise put under THEIR microscope so they could lord over you. Remember that? Well, gone gone gone are those days for many companies, and really, that's a good thing. I for one, am super excited to be home most of the time. I do have distractions; mainly dogs, cats, and the roommate cackling like the loud-mouthed brat she is, but I (we) get our work done. We stay in the top percentage of our productivity. We always have.

    A good friend of mine is not so lucky. They've hired her to work in a call center away from home, while allowing other employees to work from home doing the exact same thing she's doing.  They're watching her like a hawk and complaining every chance they get about her metrics not being up to par; she's slightly under, but she's consistent and she's personable. I would much rather have someone like her listening to me on the other end of the phone than someone trying to rush me through a situation to get her "time" in on time and her numbers up where they need to be. Solve my issue, don't push me to the next guy who will likely push me to the next guy. Take the time to be a customer service rep if that's your title. Employers are the problem, not the ones actually doing the work.

    Returning to the office has been quite difficult on a few people because of the lax ways they've had at home these past several months or even years. They don't dress to work now. They may put on a clean pair of pajamas or if they're going to be seen in a teleconference call they may put on a business type shirt with their pajama pants and socks. No one shaves to go to work now. No one wears their make up in their home office. No one is expected to keep their area clean, not really.  No one is expected to not fart, burp, belch, or God forbid - - sneeze! Remember when you could sneeze or cough at work and the others around you would actually bless you? That was a good feeling. They cared.  You try that now and two or three of them will report you to HR and drag out their disinfectant. 

    I was trying to explain to another friend, a nurse, who hasn't really been able to do her job from home since babies aren't being born in her living room, that she should command a bit more respect from her employers for not only showing up on time, but staying later and not complaining about it. She's not bilingual and her boss has literally told her she has six months to get the conversational Spanish down or she'll be out of a job.  First it was the jab, now it's the invasion of her personal time to learn a new language. You know what? If the employer needs her to be bilingual, and she was hired (27 years ago) without that skill, the employer should arrange for her to be trained! Why should my friend or anyone, feel the obligation to learn a new language to do their job if they were hired to do it without it? I understand we have Spanish speaking patients, and having that skill would be awesome. You just don't mandate that sort of thing, and if you do, then the employer should pay for it, and the employee should do it on the employer's time!

    The one I really hate is the lack of respect for those who are self employed.  They are often seen as being lazy, not-employed, not busy, able to be imposed upon, or worse. They are mocked by the corporation types who feel that a "real" job is one that chains you to your desk from 8-5 every week day, and if you deign to complain about it, or try to have a personal moment, you just aren't compliant now are you?  It's no wonder I have always worked better when I work for myself. I had to start my own business to work! I was fired, terminated, let go, released, or asked to leave so often that opening my own business was really the only way I was going to be respected by the boss.  I don't understand it really, because I try so so so hard to respect others and I really do a great job at it too. I guess I'm just insane to expect the same treatment. I know this; as a boss I am really good to myself and I do allow the work/home balance to be an utmost priority. 

    What am I saying? I'm saying that no matter what you do you should be respected and you should show respect. Show up to work on time. Do your job. Don't take too long to return from lunch or break. Clock in and out as you're asked to, but on the same thread of thought, the employers need to realize that traffic sucks, ice is sometimes an issue, and no, it's not always going to work out the way you think it should. Get over it! Metrics are not the way to live! Guidelines are the way to go. Be diligent, do your best, but don't expect a human to be a robot, and don't hire a robot to replace a good human! With the technology we have today, most people can work from home if social distancing is your thing. We can come into work, get the gist of what we're supposed to do, have meetings, socialize, and then head back to the house to actually work. It's one of those new normals. It's not bad.

    I can't see a cop, firefighter, surgeon, or judge being able to do the same - - maybe a judge, but that would be annoying as heck too.  You show up on the tele-court video recorded session and the internet goes out on you - - you can't testify because your mic isn't working! No, some jobs need to be physical and others don't need to be. HOWEVER, in all the cases, and in every single situation, respect and good work ethics are a must. It's a two-way street, and it should be understood that just because one holds the reins doesn't mean they are the end-all answer to the problems. They may actually BE the problem(s).  We have learned a great deal about human nature over the past couple of years. Lets see if we can use that knowledge to bend like the Willow rather than breaking like the Oak would in a stronger wind.

    That's my rant. I'm going back to study now. I like doing that on my spare time. Pray for me. I'm a sick puppy!

Photo Credit:  MakeOffices.com