Offices have committees to tackle sexual harrasment at work. They even have the mechanism in place to ensure that the basic and even the unwritten rules of code and conduct at work are being implemented. But why doesn't any workplace have a rule book or a code of conduct handbook for bosses -- to lay down some rules or limits when it comes to interacting with their subordinates?
This idea comes in the wake of some stories I have heard in the recent months about a different kind of harrasment at work - which is forcing the subjects, whose examples I am about to bring up shortly, to live perpetually on the brink of a nervous breakdown. No I haven't watched "The Devil wears Prada" yet. It's just that almost everyone I know seems to be driven to plotting evil thanks to the bosses in their lives.
Instead of rambling on with the stories, let me list down the characteristics exhibited by the Devils at work:
1. They position themselves as efficient task masters interested in helping you grow. Everything they do is for your good.
2. This is the worst I've heard of so far: They announce in an email before the annual appraisal results are out that you are due for a promotion this year. When the letter finally arrives there is no trace of that announcement. The excuse given is: "I forgot when I was sending it out." Yes this is true.
3. Their idea of delegating tasks is to sms you during non working hours. Every single day. When you don't reply to their sms-es out of frustration, they sms a few others in your team to inform them about your "irresponsible behaviour".
4. When you want to avail of those 10 days of paid leave for the first time in two years for your sister's wedding, they avoid you whenever they see you and avoid giving you a time to discuss whenever you bring it up. When you finally write in a request after a week of waiting, they completely deny your attempt at trying to give a prior notice
5. Some call up on off days and Sundays to "discuss" ideas and schedules for the following week
6. Some even call when you've left for home to ask where you are and whether you received their sms or email about the next few tasks that they sent out a minute after you left work - almost DAILY.
7. Some firmly believe that it is okay to lose their temper or vent their frustrations on you in front of your subordinates and peers and at the same time thinking it is perfectly okay to be asking you to go out with them for shopping the very same day or accompanying them for a drink when they have no company that day.
8. Some take you out for a monthly official lunch at their "favourite resto", and then bitch to another friend who heads the other department about the abominable pigs her team consists of. The other boss in turn happens to spill that out one day, in perhaps a drunk moment, at another lunch!