When a company recruits you, does it hire your services or acquire you? This is a question that has been in my thoughts for days. The reason: expectations were different when I started working 15 years ago; it used to be eight hours a day for five days and 4 hours on Saturday. Now, it’s 24/7.
Agreed that new recruits on average do earn at least 5 times more than what I used to when I started my work life. But then costs have also increased by at least 6 times [half a glass of tea (called cutting in Mumbai lingo) costs Rs.3 now compared to 50p 15 years ago. Companies are also making more money than ever. So if they are paying more, they are doing so more out of compulsion than choice. Of course, there always are exceptions to the rule, but I ain’t talking about exceptions.
What is it with companies nowadays that a workday never seems to end at a reasonable hour? People are expected to be in office by 9 am latest; however, no boss will be willing to commit a time when one can call it a day. Bosses proudly tell job aspirants that you come in by 9 in the morning but there is no saying when you will get to go home. And with a satanic smile, they ask, how does it sound? Does it interest you? To me, that’s akin to asking a man how he feels on the day he is going to be hanged. O yeah! He is going to say on top of the world, right?
So how does one analyze this trend of why do companies expect people to kill themselves? What is so great that any company offers that would want people to push themselves to tipping point? I am in no way saying that people should not work hard; if people can work smart, even better.
What I am talking about is a proper work-life balance. What are companies doing to ensure that the large majority of the people who enable a few at the top to become billionaires lead a full life? By full life I do not mean having coffee machines, five star canteens, television sets, and bunk beds at work. I am talking about ensuring that employees reach home at a reasonable hour, spend at least an hour with family during earthly hours, and get a good night’s sleep.
I don’t think companies are at present bothered about such niceties. The attitude is if I am paying, I need you to be my doormat. My question: Do companies have the right to have such expectations bordering on exploitation; exploitation of a person’s need to earn a livelihood, take care of his family, and provide for his future? I say NO.
I have asked myself many times that after working for 14 to 15 hours a day 24/7 if I happen to fall seriously ill and am rendered incapable of working for a year, will the company grant me a year’s paid leave to recuperate, and return to resume my duties? No matter how desperately I want to believe this will happen I know that 99 of 100 times it won’t.
Then the key question is how can any company expect me to kill myself? Some may find my thoughts to be Leftist. To them, I say NO, my thoughts are just plain human without a political agenda. I am no Prakash Karat or Sitaram Yechury, and I thank God for that. I am just looking for answers to a question that all of us must have thought about at some point of time.
I know it’s a tricky problem, but one that demands solutions. Many may argue, it’s a person’s choice whether to work for a company or not. To them I say, yes you are right. But at what cost, is my question.
2 comments:
Well, I have been thinking about this myself over the last few days! And its no surprise I say, coz the pressure is now felt!
I think people have forgotten that its a two-way contract between the company and the employee. The company pays us for our services for 40-45 hours a week. Companies need (or ideally should) need our services as much as we want to offer them. It has now almost become like the company is "acquiring" or "buying" the employee and once the contract is signed, the employee better forget about the 9 hour per day policy as that will only be true on the paper and not in reality.
I think its not just the mistake of the companies here, as were the employees not willing because they recognized that they werent doormats and they h ad a life other than work, and had they stuck out to the 9 hour per day routine, probably it wouldnt have gone out of hands today.
So, the change, I believe, has to be started from all of us. We need to stand up for what we believe and do the right thing, rather than doing it under pressure from bosses and other colleagues. I hold the employees from middle to upper management even more responsible as they have more power (apparently) and are more experienced and mature (hopefully) to have not let this situation happen.
So, I'd say, lets make the change and work 9 hour per day or ask for overtime :) (and with all the RIGHT, as we are offering them extra services afterall).
At no COST, should, according to me, work become so important, and by work I mean just doing something because your boss or your company expects you to do, that we should sacrifice our dreams, hobbies, parents, family, ourselves without even realizing it!
Yes, it's two way. But 8 of 10 times people need jobs. If one stands up, companies find ways to ease you out. And believe me, the misery doesn't end there. Nowadays all companies conduct reference checks. I guess you get the drift. The option before the employee is to either put up or ship out. If one tries to take a company to task, then the company has more than one way to get back at you. That is what most put up than speak out. For someone whose family is dependent on her/his salary alone, speaking up is not an option. Yes, bosses must take care of this problem. But they are paid fat packets to ensure that they squeeze the last drop of people below them. And for 30 silvers bosses are sold. That, dear Rima, is the problem. It's like the Abhimanyu chakra. There is a sure way in, but none out. Employees are no better than prostitutes with hardly a way out.
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