ADWISE workplace counselling NAMRATA SINGH
‘My boss makes me work on holidays. Is there a way out?’
04.07.2019
Question: I recently joined an MNC and this is my probation period. The organisation has a policy of Saturday/Sunday offs. In addition, it has declared 12 public holidays. However, my reporting manager makes me work on weekends. He rejects my request for a compensatory off. I am also made to travel/work on public holidays, like Holi and Good Friday. This is painful and demoralising. I am a 44-year-old male and, currently, I do not have another job option. How do I deal with such a boss?
S Ramesh Shankar replies:
It’s unfortunate that you made a change of job and ended up in a not-so-pleasant situation. In my view, you may consider converting a negative situation into a positive one. In our life, we cannot choose our parents or our boss. I am sure you decided to join the MNC after due consideration of role, image, brand, etc.
Since you are less than six months in your job, it may be an opportunity to make your first impressions. You may like to focus on giving your best and proving your value to your boss and thereby to your organisation. Once they realise that you bring immense value to your role, you will be considered an invaluable asset. At this stage, you could consider renegotiating with your boss regarding your weekly offs or working on public holidays.
It is true that employees in multinationals as we well as Indian organisations have to work on weekends or public holidays at times due to work exigencies. However, if someone makes working on weekends a habit, it may be neither good for their health nor for the productivity of the organisation. We need to first prove our worth in a new organisation we join before we start negotiating our terms and conditions at work. Otherwise, it may end up being evaluated as someone whose focus is not to give their best at the workplace but keep negotiating on terms and conditions of employment.
I would recommend the following steps:
A. Focus on your performance and become the best in whatever you do within a year of your joining the MNC
B. Once your boss realises your value, you could negotiate on weekly offs and talk about work-life balance
C. You have to determine what your priorities are: work-life balance, salary, working conditions or career progression
D. Establish your credibility before highlighting wrongs of others I hope these suggestions are useful and help you reflect.
S Ramesh Shankar is former HR head, Siemens
Talk to us
Are you dealing with a tough boss? Are your colleagues being mean to you? Is your workplace culture hindering your growth? Is there anything that’s bothering you at work, which you’re wary of discussing internally? Talk to us. Our panel of experts will assist you in resolving your workplace related matters. ‘AdWise’ will appear on these pages every Thursday to help you with your workplace matters. Write to us at adwise@timesgroup.com
‘My boss makes me work on holidays. Is there a way out?’
04.07.2019
Question: I recently joined an MNC and this is my probation period. The organisation has a policy of Saturday/Sunday offs. In addition, it has declared 12 public holidays. However, my reporting manager makes me work on weekends. He rejects my request for a compensatory off. I am also made to travel/work on public holidays, like Holi and Good Friday. This is painful and demoralising. I am a 44-year-old male and, currently, I do not have another job option. How do I deal with such a boss?
S Ramesh Shankar replies:
It’s unfortunate that you made a change of job and ended up in a not-so-pleasant situation. In my view, you may consider converting a negative situation into a positive one. In our life, we cannot choose our parents or our boss. I am sure you decided to join the MNC after due consideration of role, image, brand, etc.
Since you are less than six months in your job, it may be an opportunity to make your first impressions. You may like to focus on giving your best and proving your value to your boss and thereby to your organisation. Once they realise that you bring immense value to your role, you will be considered an invaluable asset. At this stage, you could consider renegotiating with your boss regarding your weekly offs or working on public holidays.
It is true that employees in multinationals as we well as Indian organisations have to work on weekends or public holidays at times due to work exigencies. However, if someone makes working on weekends a habit, it may be neither good for their health nor for the productivity of the organisation. We need to first prove our worth in a new organisation we join before we start negotiating our terms and conditions at work. Otherwise, it may end up being evaluated as someone whose focus is not to give their best at the workplace but keep negotiating on terms and conditions of employment.
I would recommend the following steps:
A. Focus on your performance and become the best in whatever you do within a year of your joining the MNC
B. Once your boss realises your value, you could negotiate on weekly offs and talk about work-life balance
C. You have to determine what your priorities are: work-life balance, salary, working conditions or career progression
D. Establish your credibility before highlighting wrongs of others I hope these suggestions are useful and help you reflect.
S Ramesh Shankar is former HR head, Siemens
Talk to us
Are you dealing with a tough boss? Are your colleagues being mean to you? Is your workplace culture hindering your growth? Is there anything that’s bothering you at work, which you’re wary of discussing internally? Talk to us. Our panel of experts will assist you in resolving your workplace related matters. ‘AdWise’ will appear on these pages every Thursday to help you with your workplace matters. Write to us at adwise@timesgroup.com
No comments:
Post a Comment