The Problem with Our Current Work Culture
Disclaimer: Of course, this is viewed through the eyes of an individual who has officially yet to join the working force and what I say may carry little meaning to professionals who have been working for years. Who knows, in a few years I may retract what I say in this small little segment, but as for now I would like to voice the concerns I have with office environments and conventional work cultures.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time working here. However, like any long-term event in your life, there are moments that you are free, angry, worried, irritated and contemplative if what you are doing now is something you can do for a future for the period of time that you have to go through it. For example, after your first day in high school you would probably do a quick assessment if you think that you can survive in the school environment based on your first impression. When dating you would you be asking if you can spend your entire life with this woman and in my case, if I can survive working here as a career if I decide to work here full time upon graduation. It's not like I was seriously considering it, but an internship is a temporary placement for a job and of course every intern would be wondering the same thing, although the degree of seriousness may vary.
Regardless of what my assessments reveal, I want to spend this time to post about something that I find interesting in our work ethic whether I see it in work life or in school life that I think should change.
1) Free time does not mean I am lazy
Or vice versa. Many people are priding themselves on how little sleep they had working on a project all night, or get worried when people call other coworkers out for being "free all the time". I don't think this is not the right work ethic that we should have. For one, having little sleep to me just says that you don't care about your personal well-being and that you have effectively decided to waste your life away working for a company in a replaceable position. On the flip side, having free time to me just shows that you are able to handle your time wisely, and if you are able to get your work done, why do I care, and why should your coworkers consider you lazy for getting your job done? On the other hand if you are free and you see your coworker bogged down in work and don't lend a helping hand, you're another kind of person.
2) Do away with office hours
I've worked in enough places to see everyone doing anything else but work to pass the time towards 6pm. They're not doing anything productive to their work or to their lives. Just let them go home for heavens sake! Some come up with excuses like "I'm going to buy some office supplies before heading home" and leave early. Why is this a thing? If you are not in the mood to work, just go home. Of course, you have to keep to the deadline set to you. If you go home prematurely and do not get your work done, then it's a work issue on your end. If there is a bottleneck in your work, it is your responsibility to get it solved before your deadline if it is doable.
3) Do away with formal clothing
There is no reason to come to office in uncomfortable work clothing to other people who do not want to wear work clothing. Granted if you are meeting clients, and have to wear appropriately, please do. However if not please work in the most comfortable manner possible. I'm fortunate enough to work at a place where formal clothing is not enforced at all.
4) "Big Boss" role needs to disappear
There are moments that you want to take a break smack in the middle of your work. That's perfectly fine as long as you get your work done on time. Then the boss comes in and you have to change your sitting posture, your language and the YouTube video you were watching before (I'm not saying this personal experience by the way), give a personal report to the Boss and wait for him to walk away before switching back. I'm not sure how to solve this issue, perhaps ridding the stigma of the role is what needs to happen, but this will take time.
Overall I think I voiced out the wants of every millennial in the world. If I had a golden rule for it I think it would be "As long as you do the work, nothing else matters", which I think is a valid point. I pay you to do work and complete it, not for anything else. Everything else (office materials, office computers) should be there to assist you. These are just my two cents. What do you think readers? Am I being a bit too delusional? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time working here. However, like any long-term event in your life, there are moments that you are free, angry, worried, irritated and contemplative if what you are doing now is something you can do for a future for the period of time that you have to go through it. For example, after your first day in high school you would probably do a quick assessment if you think that you can survive in the school environment based on your first impression. When dating you would you be asking if you can spend your entire life with this woman and in my case, if I can survive working here as a career if I decide to work here full time upon graduation. It's not like I was seriously considering it, but an internship is a temporary placement for a job and of course every intern would be wondering the same thing, although the degree of seriousness may vary.
Regardless of what my assessments reveal, I want to spend this time to post about something that I find interesting in our work ethic whether I see it in work life or in school life that I think should change.
1) Free time does not mean I am lazy
Or vice versa. Many people are priding themselves on how little sleep they had working on a project all night, or get worried when people call other coworkers out for being "free all the time". I don't think this is not the right work ethic that we should have. For one, having little sleep to me just says that you don't care about your personal well-being and that you have effectively decided to waste your life away working for a company in a replaceable position. On the flip side, having free time to me just shows that you are able to handle your time wisely, and if you are able to get your work done, why do I care, and why should your coworkers consider you lazy for getting your job done? On the other hand if you are free and you see your coworker bogged down in work and don't lend a helping hand, you're another kind of person.
2) Do away with office hours
I've worked in enough places to see everyone doing anything else but work to pass the time towards 6pm. They're not doing anything productive to their work or to their lives. Just let them go home for heavens sake! Some come up with excuses like "I'm going to buy some office supplies before heading home" and leave early. Why is this a thing? If you are not in the mood to work, just go home. Of course, you have to keep to the deadline set to you. If you go home prematurely and do not get your work done, then it's a work issue on your end. If there is a bottleneck in your work, it is your responsibility to get it solved before your deadline if it is doable.
3) Do away with formal clothing
There is no reason to come to office in uncomfortable work clothing to other people who do not want to wear work clothing. Granted if you are meeting clients, and have to wear appropriately, please do. However if not please work in the most comfortable manner possible. I'm fortunate enough to work at a place where formal clothing is not enforced at all.
4) "Big Boss" role needs to disappear
There are moments that you want to take a break smack in the middle of your work. That's perfectly fine as long as you get your work done on time. Then the boss comes in and you have to change your sitting posture, your language and the YouTube video you were watching before (I'm not saying this personal experience by the way), give a personal report to the Boss and wait for him to walk away before switching back. I'm not sure how to solve this issue, perhaps ridding the stigma of the role is what needs to happen, but this will take time.
Overall I think I voiced out the wants of every millennial in the world. If I had a golden rule for it I think it would be "As long as you do the work, nothing else matters", which I think is a valid point. I pay you to do work and complete it, not for anything else. Everything else (office materials, office computers) should be there to assist you. These are just my two cents. What do you think readers? Am I being a bit too delusional? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
Comments
Post a Comment