BY DEBASREE BANERJEE
Workplaces worldwide are in a state of flux. Employees are
clamoring for empowerment and freedom while managements are struggling to keep
a balance between discipline and workplace rights. All the time, management
control is imperative for productivity and profitability.
Workplace research has revealed that workers who feel they
are free to make choices in the workplace, and be held accountable for them,
are happier and more productive than employees who are more restricted. The
problem, however, is that there is no universal cross-cultural and
trans-national definition of autonomy.
However with the workplace constantly evolving and globalization
increasingly important, cross-cultural research into workplace autonomy is more
important than ever. Freedom for employees changes from one context to another,
and has to be carefully defined to prevent abuse.
There is nothing that makes one happier than the sense of
freedom. The freedom to flex your work hours to accommodate family life while
still meeting organisational goals; freedom to air new ideas and opposing
viewpoints with the management; freedom to do things differently, freedom to
have a healthy work-life balance.
In the Middle East, however where managements deal with an
expatriate workforce, employee freedom and flexibility has to be subject to
certain checks and balances.
Global search giants Google for example offers a casual and
easy work culture for its employees. The Google office reveals a colourful
ambience--furniture and game boards--creating a fun atmosphere.
This environment of freedom is nurtured by a group of very
smart people who are self-motivated, passionate to come out with innovative
products which have a bearing on peoples' lives. Google has provided an
environment without hierarchy and restriction, thereby giving abundant freedom
to the employees. It has placed ideas above hierarchy and tried to make it easy
for Googlers to make things happen. It's not uncommon for one person's
interesting idea to grow to a larger, even company-wide, initiative.
While the walk to freedom has never been easy, workplaces
are no longer "sweat shops", it's important to define employee freedom
in different contexts and implement them for better profitability.
(ENDS)
HANDY HINTS
- Workplaces are no longer sweatshops
- Employees perform better when they are given options
- It is important to balance discipline with worker rights
Debasree Banerjee is the Corporate Communications Manager of
Blue Ocean Academy.
