How Can I Encourage Respect Among Employees When Age Gaps Are Minimal?

Hello Seniors, I need your help.

I am working with a domestic BPO, specifically in data entry back end. In my organization's structure, there is very little age difference between operators, supervisors, and team leaders. The juniors are not showing proper respect to their respective superiors. I have spoken to my employees many times, but they are not improving their behavior.

What should I do in this case? Please guide me.

Thanks,
Shobhana Bhati
HR

Dear Shobhana,

Reasons Why Juniors Do Not Respect Seniors

Juniors do not give respect to seniors because of the following reasons:

- **Excessive Informal Attitude of Seniors:** BPO companies often insist on an informal culture. This is the other side of the culture that you promote.

- **Inappropriate Conversations:** Seniors may not know what to talk about and what not to talk about in front of juniors. They might criticize the weak aspects of the organization in front of juniors.

- **Centralized Leadership:** Your organization could be led by a single person, leading to heavy centralization of power. As a result, for everyone, that one person becomes important, while others are not considered important at all.

- **Rampant Politics:** There might be rampant politics within the organization.

- **Lack of Training:** There is a lack of training for newly joined employees. Start training on business etiquette and how to maintain a professional relationship.

- **Lack of Authority:** Seniors may not have any authority to speak of and depend too much on their managers. This belittles the position of team leaders. Juniors might wonder why they should deal with a "powerless" person.

- **Direct Interaction with Juniors:** Managers and HODs dealing directly with juniors bypass supervisors or team leaders, reducing their value.

- **Code of Conduct Communication:** Instead of you talking to employees, your CEO or COO should pass a circular on the code of conduct in the office. Always ensure that the message comes from a highly senior person.

- **Seriousness in Code of Conduct Violation:** Deal with violations of the code of conduct seriously. Your CEO or COO should take some individuals to task. Only then will juniors start respecting seniors.

Thanks,

Dinesh V Divekar

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.

Excellent reply from Mr. Dinesh. A culture that gives respect and promotes HUMAN VALUES/ETHICS, follows DISCIPLINARY STANDARDS, adheres to ORGANISATIONAL WORK CULTURE, and more can only help employees to behave NORMALLY/POLITELY/KINDLY/PROFESSIONALLY.

Any organization practicing "LANGUAGE OF REQUEST" will never scope for "LANGUAGE OF COMMAND". It's a part of EFFECTIVE & PRODUCTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS building HEALTHY EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS @ ALL LEVELS.

But still, I would like to know the major root cause from Mr. Shobhana Bhati, since you are an HR, only in case if there is a point missed by Mr. Dinesh and myself.

With profound regards

Thank you very much for your reply. We are also facing the same problem in my organization. Your reply is very helpful to us.

One more reason is that youngsters have high ambitions to achieve and want to move up the career ladder in a short time. This happened to me as I am working in a British BPO. The juniors have direct access to Top Management, and through their polite attitude and pretense, they create a strong impression in the minds of TMT. TMT also is not bothered about consulting the seniors in many cases, and it doesn't occur to them that there is a protocol that should be followed! This leads to their indifferent attitude towards seniors.

The juniors' attitude is to achieve the goal anyhow, and they are not bothered about scruples! For sensitive-minded seniors, it affects them! The best thing would be to ignore them, concentrate on your work, and show your true worth, superior knowledge, and skills. They will come around. This has happened to me.

Regards,
M.J. Subramanyam, Bangalore