Not Sure You Want to Stay with Your Company? Ask Yogesh Sood
Dear Yogesh,
I work in a technology company and manage a small team of web developers and graphic designers. When I joined, everything was great, and the company took great care of its employees and nurtured a healthy employer-employee relationship. However, cut-throat competition has taken its toll, and there has been massive organizational restructuring.
Several people have resigned, including my boss, who was a great mentor and exceptional in team building. This sudden overhaul has created insecurity, chaos, and disharmony among employees. Recruits are brought in hordes, and personal favorites are preferred over hard-working and worthy employees. The office is divided into Team X, Team Y, and a bunch of old guards. No effort was made to integrate new and old employees, which led to internal conflicts, trust deficits, and loss of productivity.
Amid all this, I am a little lost as earlier promises and corporate values are broken. Combined with disillusionment and continued bias, I am in a dilemma whether to continue in the organization or finally call it a quit. Please help me out.
Regards,
Shobhit
Dear Shobhit,
The corporate world is intriguing, and it is challenging for employers and employees to maintain healthy relationships. The stiff underlying competition further leads to the typical “mass hiring and firing” scenario. Organizations don’t shy away from hiring, retaining, and laying off employees according to their changing business dynamics. Your overall tone seems disappointed and helpless. But ignoring the problem and behaving like an Ostrich burying his head in the sand won’t take you anywhere.
I would suggest a few things that might help you with your problem. To begin with, you need to start respecting your intuition and execute your moral right to question whether your corporate values are still intact or not. Is your company still bound to its founding principles and values? Is your hiring process following a fair assessment, or is favoritism rampant? If the answers are not per your liking, they require a quick introspection.
Talking about the question of corporate equality, I would advise you to check whether it was a verbal promise or a legally written contract. If you don’t have anything in writing, you have nothing to fret about. Further, your ship is going down, and it is your choice whether you want to go down with the sinking ship or abandon it on time.
Elaborating further on your manager's situation, it comes under your sole discretion whether you want to continue with an inconsiderate and rude manager or not. If your gut feeling is saying about your numbered days in the organization, you have every right to be cautious and make informed decisions. But, don’t defy logic and analyze any corporate decision by analyzing its pros and cons effectively.
Although loyalty is a great virtue, but the people and the organization that made you believe in this quality are nowhere in sight. As you can’t find your driving factors, it is okay to switch your loyalties as your notion of “ideal corporate culture” has already died. So, your too much optimism will only lead to disappointment and resentment later on.
Of course, you have invested considerable time, effort, and loyalty in your existing organization, but the situation has suddenly turned upside down. And, you are nowhere to be blamed if you are feeling disconnected. Undoubtedly, it is a hard feeling, but it is time to analyze where your loyalties and commitments lie in the current scheme of things.
Not to forget, you have immense talent, and numerous opportunities await outside your office door. All you need is to make up your mind and move ahead with the same tenacity, work ethic, and positive mindset.
Regards,
Yogesh Sood
The above is an adaptation of a blog written by MADELEINE HOMAN BLANCHARD on July 16, 2022.