Respected seniors,
I am in a state of dilemma. I am working as an executive in a manufacturing industry. My office is 35 minutes away from the city. Office timings are from 9 to 6 in a corporate setting. The office bus leaves at 8 am and reaches at 9 am, but my HOD comes to the office at 10:30 am or 11:00 am, and he expects us to work till 8 or 9 pm. Even though we have raised this issue to him, suggesting to give work in the morning so we can show our potential, we always get the reply, "Don't use your brain, do as I say," and "I don't like people going early." He is 58 years old, and there is a vast age and position gap between us, so we can't argue much. He directly reports to the MD, so we can't raise such small issues to him either.
Kindly suggest what to do as I want to work with the company but not with such a boss. (18 HRFs facing the same problem) Waiting for a realistic reply from seniors.
Regards
From India, Ahmadabad
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2I am in a state of dilemma. I am working as an executive in a manufacturing industry. My office is 35 minutes away from the city. Office timings are from 9 to 6 in a corporate setting. The office bus leaves at 8 am and reaches at 9 am, but my HOD comes to the office at 10:30 am or 11:00 am, and he expects us to work till 8 or 9 pm. Even though we have raised this issue to him, suggesting to give work in the morning so we can show our potential, we always get the reply, "Don't use your brain, do as I say," and "I don't like people going early." He is 58 years old, and there is a vast age and position gap between us, so we can't argue much. He directly reports to the MD, so we can't raise such small issues to him either.
Kindly suggest what to do as I want to work with the company but not with such a boss. (18 HRFs facing the same problem) Waiting for a realistic reply from seniors.
Regards
From India, Ahmadabad
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Dear Ankur,
As authority grows, responsibility also grows. That is the sole reason why a person sitting in a higher position may not be seen as regularly as those at lower levels. In fact, the point is that they are on duty almost every minute of the day. At higher levels, they are even responsible when on holidays or sleeping, as if anything goes wrong from anybody, it is their responsibility.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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As authority grows, responsibility also grows. That is the sole reason why a person sitting in a higher position may not be seen as regularly as those at lower levels. In fact, the point is that they are on duty almost every minute of the day. At higher levels, they are even responsible when on holidays or sleeping, as if anything goes wrong from anybody, it is their responsibility.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear Saxena,
I understand your difficulty. It's not good from your manager's part to ask employees work after office hours. Since he reports directly to MD, you need to be strategic in handling this situation.
Try sending out a message to your MD that the team or you would like to have a one over one discussion with him. These meetings normally happen during appraisal discussions. As a practice for all levels try organizing this kind of meetings periodically one in 3 / 6 months.
If you have weekly meetings give an hint to the management on the difficulty being faced. May be, if there are any female employees their statements are taken much seriously.
If your MD is really professional you yourself can send out a mailer asking to shell out 5- 10 mins so that you can speak to him on this. Do not mention the issue in you mail, but just tell him that you want to speak to him on something which you cannot discuss with your boss. Never say that you are representing the whole team because they will think that you are into collective bargaining favoring unionism.
Hope this is of help.
Regards
Sathiya
From India, Madras
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I understand your difficulty. It's not good from your manager's part to ask employees work after office hours. Since he reports directly to MD, you need to be strategic in handling this situation.
Try sending out a message to your MD that the team or you would like to have a one over one discussion with him. These meetings normally happen during appraisal discussions. As a practice for all levels try organizing this kind of meetings periodically one in 3 / 6 months.
If you have weekly meetings give an hint to the management on the difficulty being faced. May be, if there are any female employees their statements are taken much seriously.
If your MD is really professional you yourself can send out a mailer asking to shell out 5- 10 mins so that you can speak to him on this. Do not mention the issue in you mail, but just tell him that you want to speak to him on something which you cannot discuss with your boss. Never say that you are representing the whole team because they will think that you are into collective bargaining favoring unionism.
Hope this is of help.
Regards
Sathiya
From India, Madras
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Hi,
I too agree with Sathiya. This is the only way to get yourself heard in the management desk. Once the voice is raised, next is all management decision on it. Try to get things to work for you.
Good luck.
Raul
From India, Madras
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I too agree with Sathiya. This is the only way to get yourself heard in the management desk. Once the voice is raised, next is all management decision on it. Try to get things to work for you.
Good luck.
Raul
From India, Madras
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Dear Sahiya,
Thank you for the feedback. However, since my boss (Senior VP) has joined, the trend of meetings has stopped. He strategically keeps all HR functions separate. Previously, we used to have weekly reviews, but for the past 10 months, we have not conducted any reviews.
I understand that he is senior, with better understanding and experience, and has his own way of looking at things. He is not very communicative; he often presents a different picture to management and lacks trust and support for team members.
Yesterday, I called all members for a discussion, but none of them had the courage to speak up in front of management or provide written feedback. This issue has led to a few employees quitting.
Do you advise me to:
1. Quit
2. Wait for appraisals and then quit (as the situation is likely to remain the same)
3. Something else?
Regards
From India, Ahmadabad
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Thank you for the feedback. However, since my boss (Senior VP) has joined, the trend of meetings has stopped. He strategically keeps all HR functions separate. Previously, we used to have weekly reviews, but for the past 10 months, we have not conducted any reviews.
I understand that he is senior, with better understanding and experience, and has his own way of looking at things. He is not very communicative; he often presents a different picture to management and lacks trust and support for team members.
Yesterday, I called all members for a discussion, but none of them had the courage to speak up in front of management or provide written feedback. This issue has led to a few employees quitting.
Do you advise me to:
1. Quit
2. Wait for appraisals and then quit (as the situation is likely to remain the same)
3. Something else?
Regards
From India, Ahmadabad
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I have given you the most practical and 100% successful solution. Other members may advise you to speak to the MD, etc., but take my word, from the situation, nothing is going to work. Neither your boss is going to change himself, nor is he going to allow you to leave early. Believe me, quit; no one can provide a better solution than this. Quit ASAP and search for a better job. It is impossible to change the mindset of your boss.
From India, Pune
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From India, Pune
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Dear Saxena,
It's true that most people who talk won't take action because of the fear they create within themselves to go against the boss. However, if your MD is committed, he should definitely allow you to share your views in the 5-10 minutes where you will have an opportunity to speak for the team as well.
I would advise you to confront a situation rather than running away from it. Working under a tough boss will provide you with tremendous learning opportunities. If you can challenge him effectively, then you are more strategic than him. Otherwise, if you are considering a change, evaluate the growth opportunities, learning potential, and other positives of your current employer. If you feel you can handle it, then carry on; otherwise, look out for a change.
When you get an opportunity, challenge your boss, be brutally honest so that you leave a lasting impression with the organization. Ensure that your boss doesn't conduct the exit interview; involve a neutral party instead.
Regards,
Sathiya
From India, Madras
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It's true that most people who talk won't take action because of the fear they create within themselves to go against the boss. However, if your MD is committed, he should definitely allow you to share your views in the 5-10 minutes where you will have an opportunity to speak for the team as well.
I would advise you to confront a situation rather than running away from it. Working under a tough boss will provide you with tremendous learning opportunities. If you can challenge him effectively, then you are more strategic than him. Otherwise, if you are considering a change, evaluate the growth opportunities, learning potential, and other positives of your current employer. If you feel you can handle it, then carry on; otherwise, look out for a change.
When you get an opportunity, challenge your boss, be brutally honest so that you leave a lasting impression with the organization. Ensure that your boss doesn't conduct the exit interview; involve a neutral party instead.
Regards,
Sathiya
From India, Madras
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Dear Ankur,
Please do not take advice to quit into consideration. The only thing you can do as an employee is to work happily in whatever conditions are available. You have to be in the system to gain something from it, and there is no guarantee that the new job and boss will be better than the previous one.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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Please do not take advice to quit into consideration. The only thing you can do as an employee is to work happily in whatever conditions are available. You have to be in the system to gain something from it, and there is no guarantee that the new job and boss will be better than the previous one.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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Yes! Mr. Saxena, I agree with Mr. Ravi's statement. Try to change the situation; otherwise, the situation will try to change you as a 'Slave,' which will result in a lack of confidence and will create fear. If you have these two things, then only God may save you. Options are there, the choice is yours, and this is not the only place to prove your mettle. To prove your mettle, the world is not enough. Make the right decision at the right time.
If you throw food on your roof, numerous crows will come to pick.
All the best.
Regards,
Kumanan. A
From India, Madras
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If you throw food on your roof, numerous crows will come to pick.
All the best.
Regards,
Kumanan. A
From India, Madras
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Dear Ankur,
Practicality says that the survival of the toughest, and I believe that you are a good professional. Quitting is not at all a solution to any problem. Try to fight the conditions and slowly bend them as per your likings; this is a trait of a successful HR.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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Practicality says that the survival of the toughest, and I believe that you are a good professional. Quitting is not at all a solution to any problem. Try to fight the conditions and slowly bend them as per your likings; this is a trait of a successful HR.
Thanks and regards,
Jayendra Chaturvedi
From India, Gurgaon
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Hi Ankur,
As you have mentioned, your office is 35 minutes away from the city. Office timings are from 9 to 6 in the corporate world. The office bus leaves at 8 am and reaches at 9 am, but your bus also leaves at sharp 6 p.m., right? You can mention the distance problem.
And one more thing you can do is write an email to your MD: IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS BEING VERY HARD-WORKING & 100% COMMITTED, ETC.
While it is common to see employees putting in long hours in India, the key difference in China is that the long hours are put in with the sole intent of completing the job, rather than putting on a show of work or staying in the office till the boss is there.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE! Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
Never put in extra time unless really needed.
Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company's work culture, which will, in turn, cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
Convey this message to your MD.
Let's hope for the best.
Cheers,
Shubhada
From India, Pune
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As you have mentioned, your office is 35 minutes away from the city. Office timings are from 9 to 6 in the corporate world. The office bus leaves at 8 am and reaches at 9 am, but your bus also leaves at sharp 6 p.m., right? You can mention the distance problem.
And one more thing you can do is write an email to your MD: IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS BEING VERY HARD-WORKING & 100% COMMITTED, ETC.
While it is common to see employees putting in long hours in India, the key difference in China is that the long hours are put in with the sole intent of completing the job, rather than putting on a show of work or staying in the office till the boss is there.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME. SIMPLE! Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!!
Never put in extra time unless really needed.
Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company's work culture, which will, in turn, cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
Convey this message to your MD.
Let's hope for the best.
Cheers,
Shubhada
From India, Pune
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Hi Rahul,
Nice advice, Shubhada. I am also facing the same problem myself. When I joined my present company, which is 20 minutes from my house, I had left my previous company due to long-distance issues. However, the employer and senior employees at this organization have the same traditional belief that people working after office hours are more committed and contribute significantly to the company's progress.
In my case, our Managing Director (MD) also shares this traditional mindset. We face challenges daily when leaving the office before other employees. Do you think it is possible to change this traditional thinking among Indian employers? Can you suggest some good ideas?
Regards,
Rahul
From India, Bangalore
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Nice advice, Shubhada. I am also facing the same problem myself. When I joined my present company, which is 20 minutes from my house, I had left my previous company due to long-distance issues. However, the employer and senior employees at this organization have the same traditional belief that people working after office hours are more committed and contribute significantly to the company's progress.
In my case, our Managing Director (MD) also shares this traditional mindset. We face challenges daily when leaving the office before other employees. Do you think it is possible to change this traditional thinking among Indian employers? Can you suggest some good ideas?
Regards,
Rahul
From India, Bangalore
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every indian know the above, but never leaves on time for some reason or the other,, thats why we indians dont succeed.
From India, Pune
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From India, Pune
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Hi, first of all, we are employees, not slaves. Late sitting every day is not a good sign; it shows that you are not able to complete your work on time. However, many companies expect employees to stay after office hours, as they believe it demonstrates sincerity towards work.
The second thing is, if the work is not completed within the specified period, then late sitting is acceptable. If the company requires you to stay late, then the company should provide allowances and other facilities.
If you are against late sitting, changing jobs is always a good suggestion. However, switching offices may not always be possible, as other employees stay late due to various reasons such as not finding a second job or inefficiency in completing tasks, which may impress the manager.
In these cases, you may lose confidence in your work, and unnecessary pressure may build up, causing headaches. Do not worry; this does not always happen.
From India, Pune
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The second thing is, if the work is not completed within the specified period, then late sitting is acceptable. If the company requires you to stay late, then the company should provide allowances and other facilities.
If you are against late sitting, changing jobs is always a good suggestion. However, switching offices may not always be possible, as other employees stay late due to various reasons such as not finding a second job or inefficiency in completing tasks, which may impress the manager.
In these cases, you may lose confidence in your work, and unnecessary pressure may build up, causing headaches. Do not worry; this does not always happen.
From India, Pune
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Thanks a lot to all for the valuable feedback. Mr. Jatendra, I completely agree with what you say. I always fight back and have a lot of patience. Even my boss admits that I have good spirits and patience. Even when filled with so many negative thoughts, I always keep motivating other employees and boost their morale. However, it has been 8 months since I have been trying to make a change. In fact, now my boss has hired his relative for a senior position who is not even an MBA and has less experience than all of us. This relative has become a barrier between us.
This problem is becoming complex. I am very committed to the company. I worked for 4 months without a single day off, sometimes for 24 to 28 hours continuously on a special pilot project. In return, I got a deduction in my salary for one day as I reached the office late.
In front of other SBU heads, he blames us for no reason – like saying, "You must not have emailed the SBU head." We say we did email and can provide proof, but he doesn't understand and tells us to leave. Once an HR officer said that he would resign, and the boss responded by saying he would find a better replacement.
From India, Ahmadabad
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This problem is becoming complex. I am very committed to the company. I worked for 4 months without a single day off, sometimes for 24 to 28 hours continuously on a special pilot project. In return, I got a deduction in my salary for one day as I reached the office late.
In front of other SBU heads, he blames us for no reason – like saying, "You must not have emailed the SBU head." We say we did email and can provide proof, but he doesn't understand and tells us to leave. Once an HR officer said that he would resign, and the boss responded by saying he would find a better replacement.
From India, Ahmadabad
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Ankur,
It's very easy actually. You don't have to quit the job. And you don't have to first convince your boss also, in order to leave the office at 6 pm. Just stop the work and leave your seat to board the bus.
Let the boss worry and spend sleepless nights about how to convince you to stay beyond 6 pm :-) One of my friends did this and it simply worked. Next day, never explain/apologize or give excuses. But do make it a point to see the boss face to face, smile and talk about work. Also ask about his health and wellbeing before beginning the day's work. Never get into arguments even if provoked.
But to balance this, you should also give serious thought to what you are going to do with the extra time you will be getting in the evening. Plan something such as going to the gym, helping children with studies, playing badminton rather than just lying on the sofa watching TV and thinking about how your boss would react the next day.
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It's very easy actually. You don't have to quit the job. And you don't have to first convince your boss also, in order to leave the office at 6 pm. Just stop the work and leave your seat to board the bus.
Let the boss worry and spend sleepless nights about how to convince you to stay beyond 6 pm :-) One of my friends did this and it simply worked. Next day, never explain/apologize or give excuses. But do make it a point to see the boss face to face, smile and talk about work. Also ask about his health and wellbeing before beginning the day's work. Never get into arguments even if provoked.
But to balance this, you should also give serious thought to what you are going to do with the extra time you will be getting in the evening. Plan something such as going to the gym, helping children with studies, playing badminton rather than just lying on the sofa watching TV and thinking about how your boss would react the next day.
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Dear Mr. Ankur,
It seems you are confused about what to do so that you can work with the company and also overcome the said problem.
Firstly, I would like to suggest that you don't even think of quitting. If you quit now, it means you are running away from the problems. Instead, face it and ask for an appointment with your boss when he is free. If he is not available, raise the issue in an open forum of the company. If you still don't get a solution, escalate the matter to your management and inform them about the efforts you have made to resolve the issue.
Lastly, do not lose your temper because that is your strength.
With Regards,
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It seems you are confused about what to do so that you can work with the company and also overcome the said problem.
Firstly, I would like to suggest that you don't even think of quitting. If you quit now, it means you are running away from the problems. Instead, face it and ask for an appointment with your boss when he is free. If he is not available, raise the issue in an open forum of the company. If you still don't get a solution, escalate the matter to your management and inform them about the efforts you have made to resolve the issue.
Lastly, do not lose your temper because that is your strength.
With Regards,
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Ankur,
It's very easy actually. You don't have to quit the job. And you don't have to first convince your boss in order to leave the office at 6 pm. Just stop the work and leave your seat to board the bus. Let the boss worry and spend sleepless nights about how to convince you to stay beyond 6 pm :-) One of my friends did this, and it simply worked. Next day, never explain/apologize or give excuses. But do make it a point to see the boss face to face, smile, and talk about work. Also ask about his health and wellbeing before beginning the day's work. Never get into arguments even if provoked.
But to balance this, you should also give serious thought to what you are going to do with the extra time you will be getting in the evening. Plan something such as going to the gym, helping children with studies, playing badminton rather than just lying on the sofa watching TV and thinking about how your boss would react the next day.
Hi, The reply given by you is excellent. But it is not assured that what happened in the above case will happen with Ankur. Because no two persons are similar. Ankur's boss may write a memo to Ankur for disobedience, or fire him for leaving early. Also, this may further hamper the relations between Ankur and his boss. Here we, as members, don't know exactly the situation that Ankur is facing, as we just get to know the case in a para or so. So, Ankur should not act directly on advice but take the points, ideas, and see whether it suits the environment that he is in.
Ravi
From India, Pune
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It's very easy actually. You don't have to quit the job. And you don't have to first convince your boss in order to leave the office at 6 pm. Just stop the work and leave your seat to board the bus. Let the boss worry and spend sleepless nights about how to convince you to stay beyond 6 pm :-) One of my friends did this, and it simply worked. Next day, never explain/apologize or give excuses. But do make it a point to see the boss face to face, smile, and talk about work. Also ask about his health and wellbeing before beginning the day's work. Never get into arguments even if provoked.
But to balance this, you should also give serious thought to what you are going to do with the extra time you will be getting in the evening. Plan something such as going to the gym, helping children with studies, playing badminton rather than just lying on the sofa watching TV and thinking about how your boss would react the next day.
Hi, The reply given by you is excellent. But it is not assured that what happened in the above case will happen with Ankur. Because no two persons are similar. Ankur's boss may write a memo to Ankur for disobedience, or fire him for leaving early. Also, this may further hamper the relations between Ankur and his boss. Here we, as members, don't know exactly the situation that Ankur is facing, as we just get to know the case in a para or so. So, Ankur should not act directly on advice but take the points, ideas, and see whether it suits the environment that he is in.
Ravi
From India, Pune
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Hii, I would say work for few days say year or so and when you become an important person in the company stop sitting late.................. Maybe you might get a new job in between Regards MPd
From India
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From India
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Hi,
You need to sit down and first weigh your mental satisfaction and motivation. Are you happy with what you are doing? Working late hours is one of the worst punishments. I think you should decide for yourself. You can easily get another job. Please understand money is not everything. Why suffer internally?
Also, a suggestion: I think while going for interviews, one should clearly state that he/she would work wholeheartedly during office work and avoid late sitting. I have done this in my interviews and worked in the best of India's companies and am still working...
So guys, don't be afraid... rather be clear than suffer later!
Fayeg
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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You need to sit down and first weigh your mental satisfaction and motivation. Are you happy with what you are doing? Working late hours is one of the worst punishments. I think you should decide for yourself. You can easily get another job. Please understand money is not everything. Why suffer internally?
Also, a suggestion: I think while going for interviews, one should clearly state that he/she would work wholeheartedly during office work and avoid late sitting. I have done this in my interviews and worked in the best of India's companies and am still working...
So guys, don't be afraid... rather be clear than suffer later!
Fayeg
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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See, even when you ask whether you should quit, since no one is supporting you, think in a different way. What would quitting do? Put you out of the office? So, try to make yourself be heard by the MD. Let's say your MD goes against you; then, that would be a situation where quitting would be a solution, not now when you have not even tried your level best to resolve the problem. Quit, but let everybody, including your MD, know the reason. Who knows, luck and your MD might go in your favor?
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Hi,
Good suggestions by many. I would like to add - drop an email to your boss regarding your early arrival and demonstrating your potential so you don't feel the need to stay back late. Also, address any issues you face with staying back late. See how he responds; maybe he will suggest you need to work on proving yourself during this crucial time.
Next, speak to your Managing Director (MD) about the situation and explain the problem. Your MD might advise you to discuss this with your boss; then you can mention that you tried but he is unwilling to understand your concerns, showing him the email exchange. This approach may assist you.
Even if you are contemplating leaving, consider trying to improve the current situation. Your relationship with your boss will be affected negatively if you involve the MD, so proceed with caution.
Wishing you the best of luck.
From India, Mumbai
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Good suggestions by many. I would like to add - drop an email to your boss regarding your early arrival and demonstrating your potential so you don't feel the need to stay back late. Also, address any issues you face with staying back late. See how he responds; maybe he will suggest you need to work on proving yourself during this crucial time.
Next, speak to your Managing Director (MD) about the situation and explain the problem. Your MD might advise you to discuss this with your boss; then you can mention that you tried but he is unwilling to understand your concerns, showing him the email exchange. This approach may assist you.
Even if you are contemplating leaving, consider trying to improve the current situation. Your relationship with your boss will be affected negatively if you involve the MD, so proceed with caution.
Wishing you the best of luck.
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Ankur,
I have decided to resign. The solution provided by Sahiya is absolutely perfect. At my age (58), changing my mindset is not feasible. I need to find a suitable job and leave this company as soon as possible.
With warm regards,
Shekhar
From India, Pune
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I have decided to resign. The solution provided by Sahiya is absolutely perfect. At my age (58), changing my mindset is not feasible. I need to find a suitable job and leave this company as soon as possible.
With warm regards,
Shekhar
From India, Pune
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Hi,
I am going strictly by the comments you have made about your boss's behavior.
My recommendation would be:
1) Give us more information about your MD, viz. the kind of person he is. If he is the opposite (more or less) of your boss, then go speak with him.
2) Also, start looking for another job simultaneously. You must be prepared for the wind to change direction.
3) With respect to sitting late - sit with your boss in the morning or noon when he comes in, draw out a list of activities/tasks for you to perform in discussion with him. At the end of the day, give him a status report on the completeness. SUBTLY imply to him that you would like to make his work easier by doing your work in an organized manner because you plan your day well.
4) With regard to his attitude towards staff, please refer to point 2 of this post - there is no other way to deal with it, save for sending him on a development LAB, which doesn't guarantee a 100% change in attitude or behavior.
5) Do your exit interviews and analysis thereof, and present the report to the MD and mark a cc to your boss. Make sure your data is properly substantiated because you can be sure that your boss will come screaming at you verbally and on email. As a test, you can request the MD to take an exit interview himself, preferably outside the office. Ensure that the resigning employee is not met by your boss or one of his allies since he may be threatened by virtue of holding back relieving documents, etc.
In the scenario you describe, I don't see much use in wasting your skills by staying with the organization, except perhaps to complete a year or 2 of service. I am assuming that there is a good opportunity for on-the-job learning for you.
Trust this is useful to you.
Regards,
Ryan
From India, Mumbai
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I am going strictly by the comments you have made about your boss's behavior.
My recommendation would be:
1) Give us more information about your MD, viz. the kind of person he is. If he is the opposite (more or less) of your boss, then go speak with him.
2) Also, start looking for another job simultaneously. You must be prepared for the wind to change direction.
3) With respect to sitting late - sit with your boss in the morning or noon when he comes in, draw out a list of activities/tasks for you to perform in discussion with him. At the end of the day, give him a status report on the completeness. SUBTLY imply to him that you would like to make his work easier by doing your work in an organized manner because you plan your day well.
4) With regard to his attitude towards staff, please refer to point 2 of this post - there is no other way to deal with it, save for sending him on a development LAB, which doesn't guarantee a 100% change in attitude or behavior.
5) Do your exit interviews and analysis thereof, and present the report to the MD and mark a cc to your boss. Make sure your data is properly substantiated because you can be sure that your boss will come screaming at you verbally and on email. As a test, you can request the MD to take an exit interview himself, preferably outside the office. Ensure that the resigning employee is not met by your boss or one of his allies since he may be threatened by virtue of holding back relieving documents, etc.
In the scenario you describe, I don't see much use in wasting your skills by staying with the organization, except perhaps to complete a year or 2 of service. I am assuming that there is a good opportunity for on-the-job learning for you.
Trust this is useful to you.
Regards,
Ryan
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Ankur,
I understand your situation, Ankur. When you are working in a professional atmosphere, it doesn't matter where you are staying or how much time it takes for you to travel. You should think about the situation and consider whether the time you are spending in the office is worth staying long hours. Simply waiting for long hours is of no use.
Get into a discussion with your HR manager, who would be the right person to speak to or escalate it to your reporting manager's manager. Explain the exact problem to him. Let him know that you are ready to work if there is a necessity, and hopefully, that would help you. Your stability and reasons for leaving the company do matter, dear. You should be able to handle stress and pressure.
Take care. All the best.
Regards,
Soumya
From India, Mumbai
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I understand your situation, Ankur. When you are working in a professional atmosphere, it doesn't matter where you are staying or how much time it takes for you to travel. You should think about the situation and consider whether the time you are spending in the office is worth staying long hours. Simply waiting for long hours is of no use.
Get into a discussion with your HR manager, who would be the right person to speak to or escalate it to your reporting manager's manager. Explain the exact problem to him. Let him know that you are ready to work if there is a necessity, and hopefully, that would help you. Your stability and reasons for leaving the company do matter, dear. You should be able to handle stress and pressure.
Take care. All the best.
Regards,
Soumya
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Ankur,
If an HR Head is unable to boost the morale of his own team, how can he perform his primary responsibility? Quitting the job is not a solution. If you are next to the VP in HR, you can ask all your colleagues to leave promptly at 6:00 pm. Powers are not given; they are exercised.
You have the right patience and attitude. Tell your boss that you can handle the situation in your team members' absence. Act like that for a week. Your boss seems to have a lot of EGO. Host a small pizza party and invite him. Make him feel important. It's very easy to deflate a person with a great ego. It's not a cheap technique; it's a strategic move. Many times during counseling, we (HR) apply such tactics to convince and boost employee morale. Why can't you use the same tactics with your boss?
The entire HR seniors are ready to provide you with quality input and moral support. Wishing you all the best.
From India, Hyderabad
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If an HR Head is unable to boost the morale of his own team, how can he perform his primary responsibility? Quitting the job is not a solution. If you are next to the VP in HR, you can ask all your colleagues to leave promptly at 6:00 pm. Powers are not given; they are exercised.
You have the right patience and attitude. Tell your boss that you can handle the situation in your team members' absence. Act like that for a week. Your boss seems to have a lot of EGO. Host a small pizza party and invite him. Make him feel important. It's very easy to deflate a person with a great ego. It's not a cheap technique; it's a strategic move. Many times during counseling, we (HR) apply such tactics to convince and boost employee morale. Why can't you use the same tactics with your boss?
The entire HR seniors are ready to provide you with quality input and moral support. Wishing you all the best.
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Ankur,
Do not do anything. Just sit down quietly and introspect and answer the following questions to yourself:
What do you want in your life and from your career? Which job are you more comfortable with? What are your dreams and how do you want to achieve them? I think you will be able to find your solution. The question is not if you sit late or come early. The question is if you are able to complete your tasks or not. You mentioned that your boss comes late and then gives you work. Why can you not be proactive? Why does he need to assign you work? I am sure that you are handling a particular role. Do your work beforehand. There is no shortcut to success.
I hope this will help.
Thanks and Regards
From India, Mumbai
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Do not do anything. Just sit down quietly and introspect and answer the following questions to yourself:
What do you want in your life and from your career? Which job are you more comfortable with? What are your dreams and how do you want to achieve them? I think you will be able to find your solution. The question is not if you sit late or come early. The question is if you are able to complete your tasks or not. You mentioned that your boss comes late and then gives you work. Why can you not be proactive? Why does he need to assign you work? I am sure that you are handling a particular role. Do your work beforehand. There is no shortcut to success.
I hope this will help.
Thanks and Regards
From India, Mumbai
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I would suggest you finish your work by the mentioned time and try to log out for the day. One extra hour is advisable to complete the remaining work. If necessary, prepare a timesheet for everyday and send it to your reporting manager by the end of the day.
All the best!
From India, Hyderabad
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All the best!
From India, Hyderabad
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we can very well make the schedule..but the problem is that we dont have sufficient work...i just sit idle whole day
From India, Ahmadabad
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From India, Ahmadabad
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My MD is a very nice professional person, but he is moody. He fires people on the spot without any reason, putting me in a difficult situation. This has happened to many seniors (VPs, GMs, etc.) and juniors in the past.
From India, Ahmadabad
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From India, Ahmadabad
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There is no guarantee that I will be getting a better boss on the other side, and the grass always seems greener on the other end. Even though I am well familiar with Charles Darwin's survival of the fittest, I have tried every possible way to overcome this situation.
"Employee care," commitment of the employer, etc. matters...
(Note: I have corrected the spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors in the text. I have also adjusted the paragraph formatting to ensure clarity and coherence in the message.)
From India, Ahmadabad
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"Employee care," commitment of the employer, etc. matters...
(Note: I have corrected the spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors in the text. I have also adjusted the paragraph formatting to ensure clarity and coherence in the message.)
From India, Ahmadabad
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Hi Ankur,
I read all the comments given by Cite HR members.
Fight, don't quit. Quitting is the thing that makes our politics worse. Not a single good person can survive in politics. We can't do the same with our office culture. Make your own principles, your priorities, and maintain a balance between work life and office life. Do your work on time and leave on time until someone questions you. And if someone questions, then reply why you are leaving early.
Thanks,
Manish Mishra
From Denmark, Copenhagen
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I read all the comments given by Cite HR members.
Fight, don't quit. Quitting is the thing that makes our politics worse. Not a single good person can survive in politics. We can't do the same with our office culture. Make your own principles, your priorities, and maintain a balance between work life and office life. Do your work on time and leave on time until someone questions you. And if someone questions, then reply why you are leaving early.
Thanks,
Manish Mishra
From Denmark, Copenhagen
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Hi Ankur,
I understand your situation. One has to have mettle to handle a few bosses, keep cool, and do your work allotted to you. Try to understand the professional and personal background of your boss. It will give you more insight and suggestions. If time permits, ask him to share his experience with you. Make him feel that your learning curve has been on the rise since you joined him and try to handle him with a lot of patience.
All the best.
From India, Hyderabad
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I understand your situation. One has to have mettle to handle a few bosses, keep cool, and do your work allotted to you. Try to understand the professional and personal background of your boss. It will give you more insight and suggestions. If time permits, ask him to share his experience with you. Make him feel that your learning curve has been on the rise since you joined him and try to handle him with a lot of patience.
All the best.
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Ankur,
I have read all suggestions, but I think that you shouldn't fear. You have dedicated your 8 hours of potential to the company. Try to make your boss realize that he is wrong in some aspects. As he is in the HR department, he will definitely consider your opinion. If he doesn't change his ways, you may consider quitting. However, remember that giving up the fight is not the solution to the fight.
Thanks & Regards,
Narender Sharma
From India, Jaipur
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I have read all suggestions, but I think that you shouldn't fear. You have dedicated your 8 hours of potential to the company. Try to make your boss realize that he is wrong in some aspects. As he is in the HR department, he will definitely consider your opinion. If he doesn't change his ways, you may consider quitting. However, remember that giving up the fight is not the solution to the fight.
Thanks & Regards,
Narender Sharma
From India, Jaipur
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Dear Ankur,
I completely agree with Mr. Jayendra. Quitting is not the solution to this problem. I am also facing a similar issue here in my office. I work as an HR Executive with a Broadcasting Company and report directly to the VP HR. She too has the problem of arriving late, leaving late, and expecting me to stay late. However, I do not even consider quitting this job as I am quite satisfied with my work profile and responsibilities in this organization.
So, what I think is, you should first determine whether you love your job or not, and then address the other minor issues such as timings.
Regards,
Swati
From India, Gurgaon
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I completely agree with Mr. Jayendra. Quitting is not the solution to this problem. I am also facing a similar issue here in my office. I work as an HR Executive with a Broadcasting Company and report directly to the VP HR. She too has the problem of arriving late, leaving late, and expecting me to stay late. However, I do not even consider quitting this job as I am quite satisfied with my work profile and responsibilities in this organization.
So, what I think is, you should first determine whether you love your job or not, and then address the other minor issues such as timings.
Regards,
Swati
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear, I love my job, but my problem is here we don't have sufficient work. The work which I can do easily in 1 hour, I get in the evening after wasting the whole day sitting idle when you are exhausted.
I am that kind of person who has worked for months without having a day off for almost 20 hours a day, and I enjoy it. But the problem is insufficient work and that too after office hours.
Whatever response I got from all members, I have summarized in a format and made an analysis. I will revert back to all on Saturday. Thanks a lot, keep in touch.
From India, Ahmadabad
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I am that kind of person who has worked for months without having a day off for almost 20 hours a day, and I enjoy it. But the problem is insufficient work and that too after office hours.
Whatever response I got from all members, I have summarized in a format and made an analysis. I will revert back to all on Saturday. Thanks a lot, keep in touch.
From India, Ahmadabad
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Dear Ankur,
I think you are facing so many problems. My suggestion is that you go and speak with your MD or write a detailed email. Don't decide to quit the job because this is a small issue. You have to face many big problems in your life. Keep trying until you succeed. Try to express your opinion to whomever it may concern; age is not a problem, it depends on your personality.
Your 58-year-old colleague is really a sadist. I think you are aware of the give-and-take policy. Don't mind him. Try to share things with your MD; he can better understand your problems.
We are born to win. Don't quit... never... ever...
I wish you all success.
Regards,
SJ
From India, Bangalore
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I think you are facing so many problems. My suggestion is that you go and speak with your MD or write a detailed email. Don't decide to quit the job because this is a small issue. You have to face many big problems in your life. Keep trying until you succeed. Try to express your opinion to whomever it may concern; age is not a problem, it depends on your personality.
Your 58-year-old colleague is really a sadist. I think you are aware of the give-and-take policy. Don't mind him. Try to share things with your MD; he can better understand your problems.
We are born to win. Don't quit... never... ever...
I wish you all success.
Regards,
SJ
From India, Bangalore
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Dear Friend,
You have two options.
1. Please forward the same to your boss from an unknown ID or from an employee's mail ID who is very close to your boss personally as well as in the office. I've tested with the desired result. Next day I saw my boss out of the office at 6 pm.
Note: Not very sure whether it is sent by Mr. Narayana Murthy but is certainly true to a large extent.
Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:
It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on... PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing... And who's at work? Most of them??? Take a closer look... All or most specimens are?? Something male species of the human race... Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors... And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!! Any guesses??? Let's ask one of them... Here's what he says... "What's there to do after going home... Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late... Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!"
This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.
Bachelors "Time-passing" during late hours in the office just because they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what are the consequences...
"Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.
With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers, and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!). They aren't helping things too... To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!
Very soon, the boss starts expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when you get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and That's when the problem starts... because you start having commitments at home too.
For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become an "early leaver" even if you leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers... Girls who thankfully always (it's changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they are spoiling the work culture at their place and never realize that they would have to regret at one point of time.
So what's the moral of the story?
Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!! Never put in extra time *unless really needed* Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
There are a hundred other things to do in the evening... Learn music... Learn a foreign language... Try a sport... TT, cricket... Importantly get a girlfriend or boyfriend, take him/her around town... And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.
Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: "Life's calling, where are you??"
Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT, ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME.
SIMPLE!
2. The person who has resigned or who is resigning can help others by citing the reasons (late sittings, etc.) in his/her mail as well as a hard copy to your Super boss before leaving.
Risk-taking during uncertainty is a great quality and any one of you can look for a job, be ready with it, and then request a 1 to 1 discussion with your boss. Depending on his maturity levels and your presentation quality, he would give it a thought and take it constructively or he would discard it outright.
If the first situation arises, he would have a positive impression of you for your forthrightness and initiative.
If the second situation arises, you have a job ready anyway.
I hope the MAIL OPTION should work...
Regards,
V.R. Rajesh
From India, Hyderabad
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You have two options.
1. Please forward the same to your boss from an unknown ID or from an employee's mail ID who is very close to your boss personally as well as in the office. I've tested with the desired result. Next day I saw my boss out of the office at 6 pm.
Note: Not very sure whether it is sent by Mr. Narayana Murthy but is certainly true to a large extent.
Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:
It's half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on... PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing... And who's at work? Most of them??? Take a closer look... All or most specimens are?? Something male species of the human race... Look closer... again all or most of them are bachelors... And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!! Any guesses??? Let's ask one of them... Here's what he says... "What's there to do after going home... Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late... Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!"
This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.
Bachelors "Time-passing" during late hours in the office just because they say they've nothing else to do...
Now what are the consequences...
"Working" (for the record only) late hours soon becomes part of the institute or company culture.
With bosses more than eager to provide support to those "working" late in the form of taxi vouchers, food vouchers, and of course good feedback, (oh, he's a hard worker... goes home only to change..!!). They aren't helping things too... To hell with bosses who don't understand the difference between "sitting" late and "working" late!!!
Very soon, the boss starts expecting all employees to put in extra working hours.
So, My dear Bachelors let me tell you, life changes when you get married and start having a family... office is no longer a priority, family is... and That's when the problem starts... because you start having commitments at home too.
For your boss, the earlier "hardworking" guy suddenly seems to become an "early leaver" even if you leave an hour after regular time... after doing the same amount of work.
People leaving on time after doing their tasks for the day are labeled as work-shirkers... Girls who thankfully always (it's changing nowadays... though) leave on time are labeled as "not up to it". All the while, the bachelors pat their own backs and carry on "working" not realizing that they are spoiling the work culture at their place and never realize that they would have to regret at one point of time.
So what's the moral of the story?
Very clear, LEAVE ON TIME!!! Never put in extra time *unless really needed* Don't stay back unnecessarily and spoil your company work culture which will in turn cause inconvenience to you and your colleagues.
There are a hundred other things to do in the evening... Learn music... Learn a foreign language... Try a sport... TT, cricket... Importantly get a girlfriend or boyfriend, take him/her around town... And for heaven's sake, net cafe rates have dropped to an all-time low (plus, no fire-walls) and try cooking for a change.
Take a tip from the Smirnoff ad: "Life's calling, where are you??"
Please pass on this message to all those colleagues and please do it before leaving time, don't stay back till midnight to forward this!!!
IT'S A TYPICAL INDIAN MENTALITY THAT WORKING FOR LONG HOURS MEANS VERY HARD WORKING & 100% COMMITMENT, ETC.
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY SIT LATE IN THE OFFICE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME.
SIMPLE!
2. The person who has resigned or who is resigning can help others by citing the reasons (late sittings, etc.) in his/her mail as well as a hard copy to your Super boss before leaving.
Risk-taking during uncertainty is a great quality and any one of you can look for a job, be ready with it, and then request a 1 to 1 discussion with your boss. Depending on his maturity levels and your presentation quality, he would give it a thought and take it constructively or he would discard it outright.
If the first situation arises, he would have a positive impression of you for your forthrightness and initiative.
If the second situation arises, you have a job ready anyway.
I hope the MAIL OPTION should work...
Regards,
V.R. Rajesh
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Mr. Saxena,
Do something very innovative in your morning hours so that you do not feel the burden of late sitting. You cannot accomplish much in late hours since your boss is unlikely to change his mindset, and you will have to adjust accordingly. Alternatively, you can explore better options for yourself.
Take care,
Aashima
From India, Mumbai
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Do something very innovative in your morning hours so that you do not feel the burden of late sitting. You cannot accomplish much in late hours since your boss is unlikely to change his mindset, and you will have to adjust accordingly. Alternatively, you can explore better options for yourself.
Take care,
Aashima
From India, Mumbai
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WORK LIFE BALANCE.ppt
Work Life Balance.pdf
Questionnaire on work life balance.doc