Navigating Workplace Politics: How to Handle Harassment and Delayed Justice in Network Marketing

Hi friends,

I'm new to this community, but I like the serious discussions and suggestions given on the topic. So I would also like to narrate my experience. For the last 7 years, I've been working in network marketing where I was introduced to a small team as a senior with experience in the field. With time passed, I implemented a number of new thoughts and ideas to boost the business. I also bought a projector, laptop, a C-class car, and a personal office for the sake of the business. On the other hand, my immediate seniors were enjoying every moment being senior, dominating the entire team, and making decisions as they liked, all while being jealous of my popularity in the team for being a result-oriented man. Now, they started harassing me for very funny reasons such as me SMS-ing people who don't know how to read the message, so I am insulting them, and carrying juniors in my car, etc.

In the development process, I hurt one person who was lethargic in his duty. In a state of vengeance, he physically attacked me. When I was admitted to the hospital, the police did their duty by lodging an NC against the culprit. Here, these people (as mentioned above) started blaming me for approaching the police instead of team seniors, and so the company's stature is at stake. Despite the fact that my wife did intimate the incident to one of the seniors who was later found to be the reason behind all the mess and didn't even bother to visit me once and misled me in the entire matter.

The so-called 'my SENIOR' asked me whether I trust him, and I said yes. He advised me to keep a distance from the entire team for the next 3 months, and I obeyed him. In the meanwhile, he stopped my payments. So, I registered my objection with the management, and the director released my payment. But till date, he (the director, who is a FRIEND of my senior) is trying to convince these two/three seniors. But they insist that I should be terminated from the rank. More than 80% of the team juniors are with me, but I have to wait for the management decision, and they are delaying the meeting by giving a number of reasons.

I'm still following the matter, and the director assures me of positive results. For the last four months, I am waiting for the decision. I can't approach any authority outside of the company as this may cause real problems for the entire company and the thousands of people optimistic for their earnings by way of the commission they get working as field workers.

Please give your suggestions... Thank you in advance.

Dear msmhaskar,

I can understand your frustration. You have a number of years of experience and consider yourself quite senior in your field. As per your narration, you are obviously in a hostile professional environment with a very uncertain future. I can understand how unnerving it could be.

Given your seniority, I am curious as to why you have not yet taken your destiny into your own hands. Why are you "waiting" for some decision? It has been four months since the incident, and it appears to me that you have been put on some kind of professional stasis/hold. What I do not understand is, why are you putting yourself on hold? What are you really waiting for? Keep in mind, if once an employee's relations with his immediate superiors go bad, it has to be quickly resolved and turned around with some serious trust-building measures. If this is not done, very soon the employee will be at a point of no return. Even if you get a decision in your favor, it would only vindicate your stand and boost your ego. It will not do any tangible good for your career in this company in the long run.

My suggestion is that you take charge of your future and career. Instead of waiting for someone to decide your fate, take your fate into your own hands. While you still have a job, look for another one and move on with your life. In the meantime, make peace with your senior management so that they don't influence your future (once you've moved on).

Hope things work out for you.

All the best.

-Som G

Dear Som G,

Thank you very much for your valuable suggestion and understanding of my state of frustration. The real problem is that I have come a long way, working hard for this team, helping it grow from 100 to 5000. Now, I have to leave everything behind and start a new chapter. At the age of 44, you know it's not easy to build a new team structure from scratch, especially when you have to manage your monthly financial commitments. I hope to have this matter resolved within a fortnight. Otherwise, I may have to take some extreme measures to maintain my earnings.

By the way, I am receiving my monthly payouts without any deductions, but I feel very guilty about it as I am not actively serving the people.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards

Dear Ms. Mhaskar,

What you are narrating is a typical story in many organizations, including the government. People like you, who are genuine and refuse to become hypocrites, suffer. However, as Som G has said, you have to chart your own destiny.

You must have made a lot of contacts outside of being a popular person. Even among your colleagues and juniors, you may be a leader of sorts professionally. Think about it, start something on your own. If you just take one step, people who have confidence in you will join you. All great success stories started with that one small step. Please read the attachment with this message. You will succeed.

S.N. Prasad

Smart workers face these kinds of issues... it's typical. You need to consider all the pros and cons. If management is not making any decisions, they may want you to stay and are interested in seeing how you deal with the situation. There are a few things you can change, like not sending SMS to those who cannot read. Remember, life is about continuous improvement; keep improving things around you. Nobody is perfect, so be flexible and open-minded. Consider that others may be right about certain things. Professional jealousy is common in every workplace; it's how some try to compete with others.

I don't see it as leaving everything behind. You will be taking with you the extremely valuable experience of building and growing a team by 50 times. Not many people are out there who could have accomplished such a thing. With the right attitude, you can replicate your success any number of times in any variety of situations. I am sure that your future employers would see the value in bringing you onboard. Just polish your resume, flex your industry contacts, and see what comes up. You can even have some casual conversations with your contacts (nothing formal, just send out some feelers) just to assess where you stand.

If you are confident that everything will be sorted out to your satisfaction in a couple of weeks, hang in there and continue doing what you are doing. If things don't work out, you at least have some groundwork done for your next move.

Regards, -Som G

Dear Ms. Mhaskar,

I understand your agony. Improvements can happen anywhere, and they should be taken positively by the management to further motivate you. If the management is suppressing your thoughts and trying to maintain the old culture by avoiding your attempts to convince someone, you may need to consider leaving the company, as justice may not prevail. Infosys' Narayana Murthy also emphasizes that we should always love our work and not just the company. Therefore, let your suggestions and improvements be useful to other companies.

Regards

Yes, Som, I am thinking over this option seriously.

Good news is... I just called the company director, and he told me that a meeting is fixed on 1st February. If everything goes the right way, I am splitting over with my original team and starting a new story to rise once again as I did before. Life never gives you straight ways to travel; we have to face curves occasionally. I hope my story will guide many people who are facing the same kind of situation in their job. I will let you know the outcome of the meeting... Thanks for being in touch. Wishing you and all community members a very "HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY."
Regards,
_msmhaskar

Dear Msmhaskar,

One day, Fazlu, an elder son of Mulla Nasruddin, returned home with dirty clothes, and Mulla slapped him hard, saying, "Learn to earn first and then make your clothes dirty. Do you know how much the clothes cost?" Fazlu could not utter anything except some cries.

Another day, Mulla saw Fazlu returning home with a broken hand, dirty and torn clothes, and he became furious, starting to beat Fazlu. When asked, Fazlu told Mulla that all his marbles were snatched by Raheman, who is not only older but also stronger. There was a fight with Raheman. On hearing this, Mulla slapped him again, saying, "Learn to be strong and defeat an enemy."

When the results of the terminal exam were declared, Fazlu failed, and he asked Mulla to sign his progress report. Mulla slapped him hard and told him, "Learn to be first in the class; you are the son of Nasruddin."

Fazlu decided to work hard to be the first.

Today was the result day of the final exam, so Fazlu went to school in new clothes. When the results were declared, Fazlu scored the highest in all subjects and stood first. Today, he was very happy and returned home almost running to surprise Mulla Nasruddin.

However, when he handed his progress report to Mulla, he was immediately slapped hard. This time, Fazlu cried out, "Why are you slapping me today? Neither are my clothes dirty, torn, nor have I been beaten or failed. On the contrary, I stood first in my class, yet you slapped me? Why?" Mulla said, "Learn that there is no justice in this world."

This is the hard fact of life. I hope this humorous story will answer your query. My master used to say, "Changing the situation is not in your hand, but changing the mindset is. So change yourself rather than expecting the situation to change."

His Blessings,

Sharad Shah

Dear Ms. Mhaskar,

I agree with Winnerstrack (Dr. Satish). If you really have the support of all your juniors in the MLM team, take them and join a new MLM team. If you wait with this current company, assuming the issue is resolved, there are chances of it cropping up again. The director of this company took 4 months to resolve this conflict. Most companies terminate a person who assaults another fellow employee [in the interest of preserving integrity & moral ethics]. Your MLM has not done that. Shows what they actually stand for and what their values are. You deserve a better environment for showcasing your talents.

Leave this MLM and join another and take your team with you. It's a winning situation for you.

Regards,
Rose S