THE CHANGING NORMS
Today I read in newspapers a very interesting news. This news is that RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka has asked his employees to call him and each other by the first name. This step will bring in a cultural change at workplace, making it more informal. In the Indian context this is somewhat unusual. Centuries of slavery has created a social hierarchy in India. To put it bluntly, you will notice that we go great lengths to please people who are placed ahead of us in the social pecking order and look down upon people placed below us in the pecking order.
It is a common to see the pictures of IAS/IPS officers in newspapers/television touching the feet of politicians publicly and the same IAS/IPS officers getting their shoe strings tied from their juniors. It is very sad that even after 68 years of independence we have not liberated mentally. Even now people occupying high positions treat people working under them as their slaves. The reason for this is that the rajas, nawabs and zamindars of yesterday have become MPs/MLAs and industrialists of today. The feudal system might have been abolished years ago but that mentality is still alive in our psyche. I won't blame only rich and influential people for this malaise in our society. Disparity between rich and poor, and lack of education has kept attitude of our masses unchanged. They still treat the people occupying position of authority as superior to them and instead of asking for their rights, they beg them.
The urban youth of today is educated and is aware of what is going on around the world, thanks to internet and other mediums of communication. The young generation of today asks questions, it gives and expects respect and it is not prepared to cater to bloated egos. So even at workplace they want to be treated as equals. They don't feel that their employer has done them a favour by giving them a job, they feel that they are being paid for their professional services.
The modern organisations are understanding this shift in the attitude of today's generation and trying to provide a more informal atmosphere at the workplace. I think it is a step in the right direction. This change will create a more cordial and congenial atmosphere in the organisations which will lead to more productivity and overall well-being of the employees. I think more and more Indian businesses should change their attitude and start treating their employees on equal footing.
