After my 'O' level exams, I picked up an admin job before entering Junior College. I was only a temp staff back then and I sat at the edge of the office together with other temp staffs of the same department. We were a bunch of young girls while the rest of the office staffs were much older. The conflict arose when the perm staffs who sat near us (also known as the "buyers"), were annoyed by the little things that we did.During work, we were particularly busy. As such, we packed food back to the office to eat and work most of the times. This created some unhappiness in the buyers who complained to the Head of our department. The reason that the buyers gave was that "the smell of the food made them unable to concentrate on their work when some of them did not have time to go for lunch". So, we were banned from bringing food into the office.
Subsequently, another ridiculous event happened. There was a dinner party held for the perm staffs and they were given half day off. Coincidentally, one of the temp staffs' birthday fell on that day, and we bought a cake to celebrate for her during tea break when most of the perm staffs had left.
Despite knowing the presence of a few staffs that had not left for the event, we still sang a birthday song in the office (at a moderate voice level). To our surprise, one of the buyers who had not left complained to the Human Resource (HR) department the next day. The issue escalated when the HR department questioned our Head of department and we were scolded for the reason that "we were creating chaos in the office". As we did not have any strong sense of unjust, the conflict was sort of a "silent" one. What made us irritated was that the buyers did not talk to us up-front but did things discretely behind our backs. They also like to pick on small mistakes such that we had to do things carefully since then.
This brings me to a question of why some people could not be more accommodating with small issues like these. Was it because we were not abiding to the office etiquettes? Or was there a difference in mindsets between different generations? Or was it the differences in ranks that allowed them to exercise their authoritativeness recklessly?
The permanment staff and other staff normally are under a lot of pressure. Most of them are trying to find reasons to tell their superiors why they are lagging behind in their work. It would be normal to see a handful of people who are lagging behind to stay back during lunch hours and day offs. If a particular "buyer" couldn't finish his workload that he has planned to finish, he would try to find blame somewhere. (This is one of the main mental blocks.) Since the temporary staffs are in the office, they might be blamed for distracting the "buyer" from not finishing his work.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe the buyers would be at the lowest rank of the corporate ladder without the temp staff. Hence they are taking the opportunity to vent their frustrations, felt from their superiors, on the temp staff. If you look at it this way,you may feel better because as a temp worker, you can quit anytime you want. This is a luxury that the permanent workers cannot afford.
ReplyDeleteSometimes mundane office work can really drive people to make a mountain out of a molehill, so they will have topics to talk, grumble or get excited about.
Im not sure about the extend of the 'chaos' you guys make. I remember though, when I was working as a temp worker in some government association, I was quite rebellious, as I was a teenager still. I do believe that age gap can be a barrier to effective communication. What a teenager deem is camaraderie, can be chaos to an adult. If the environment is adult-dominated, then teenagers will have to abide by the adult's regulations and vice-versa.
Yuan, I just love those cute comic strips you post on your blog. >_<
ReplyDeleteOffice politics is making our lives more challenging and interesting that we would like our lives to be. In any case, I would put it down to emotional interests of the buyers. I am assuming that the buyers and the temp staff do not need to work together on common tasks. Maybe the buyers are envious of the temp staff who seem to be so happy working in the same company they are in, when they feel considerably more miserable than the temp staff. As such, they tried to make things difficult for the temp staff so that it is more fair for them (since I'm miserable, you have to be miserable too).
In any case, I don't know what is the best idea to diffuse such tension other than increasing the communication with the buyers. For example, going for lunch together or something. When I was working in the law firm with colleagues who are so much older than me, I could still get along well with them because I go out for lunch with them. With increased communication comes increased understanding and mutual tolerance. That's just my take. >_<
I think this conflict is because of difference in mindset and age gap. There are office etiquettes. I feel that meals should be consumed in pantry for example or canteen, as the aroma of the food can travel real far and may affect other people who are working or rushing for deadlines.
ReplyDeleteTo minimize such conflict will need mutual understanding and compromised. Maybe for young people they prefer upfront interaction to solve any misunderstandings, not like back-stabbing. But in the buyers’ point of view, they may think that it would be better for the HR to handle such issues and do not wan to make it worse if they confront the part-timers directly. Or they feel that it is the HR responsibilities to maintain the behavior of the part-timers.
Nevertheless, two way communications are important to maintain good relationship and a healthy working environment. :)
Hi Yuan，
ReplyDeleteI would just take it as the “buyers” are jealous of how energetic and youthful the teenagers are, as they are not. Hahaha~
I agree with Bernard that maybe the perm staff are just looking for excuses for their delay in work given the high stress level.
Or maybe they thought it is common sense that no lunch is allowed in the office, they think the teenagers should be taught this rule, and they don't want to be the "old boring lady" who was always teaching people rules. Therefore they turn to the HR for help so that the teenagers can get to know the rules and not feel embarrassed. But because of age gap or different mindset, the teenagers didn't think in the same way as they did. And there comes the issue.
But if both side can be more considerate, life will be much easier. And communication will be much more effective.^_^
Wow, that sounds like a not-so-fun place to work. Your insights about their communication and lack thereof sound well developed and well grounded. I really like how you build on your non-verbal, ‘actions speak louder than words’ theme.
ReplyDeleteI can relate a story from my neighborhood. In my area, it is illegal to hang your clothes up to try (clothes lines are illegal). (This is because people they are ugly and will lower their property value. Yeah, I know... white people.) Anyway, my neighbor, being environmentally friendly, but up a clothesline in his backyard and used it. No policeman would ever enforce such a law unless someone complained or it was being done in a brazen manner. Well, a neighbor called the police without first talking to him.
In retaliation, he put up a plywood cutout of a cartoon old woman with a large bottom bending over in his yard right as close as he could legally to her windows. I believe he actually gave the cutout an old pair of socks to wear as a reminder.
My friends thought it was pretty funny, but the thing stayed up for many years, and to my knowledge still is today. Obviously, the conflict was never resolved.
I know you were not in a position to partake in any counter-hazing, but it is fun to imagine. What might you have done?
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ReplyDeleteHi Bernard and Lu,
ReplyDeletePerhaps that is what was on their mind too. If office politics were to be minimised, I would suggest on putting personal feeling aside during work. However, I believe that office politics is inevitable.
Hi Matt
ReplyDeleteThat was a really interesting account of the conflict! Being a Singaporean, I would not have done what your neighbour had did. Perhaps asians (especially Singaporeans) are more conservative in dealing with conflicts like this.
If I were your neighbour who was complained, I would have taken the clothes line down to show that I'm not doing anything illegal. But if I were the other neighbour who called the police, I would have told him that it is illegal to hang up his clothes before resorting to the police.
However, I supposed what I have suggested might not work in your neighbourhood? Because the Americans and Singaporeans have different communication cultures and we use different ways to resolve a conflict. (: