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Discipline
Saturday, January 9, 2010 I had a conversation yesterday with a woman who mentioned that she was stressed about her work. When I asked why, she said that a junior employee had just quit after she had "disciplined" her, and now she had a position to fill.
Hearing the word "discipline" in terms of employer/employee relations always gives my gut a sickly twist.
In many work environments, it seems to be acceptable to view the employer/employee relationship as one not unlike that of a parent and child where an imperfect employee is treated to the never-lovely discipline of a stern parent. It is both demeaning and disheartening to the employee. Discipline is for children.
In a work environment populated by adults working together toward a common goal, better ways to reach that goal together should definitely be a part of the community discourse. Discipline, though? That is for puppies who pee on the rug.
Reader Comments (8)
I could not agree more. Everyone is on the same boat, just different roles to keep the boat moving toward shore. I HATE that about the employment scene in the US (and elsewhere, probably). Glad to have opted out!
Completely agreed! Was this person really surprised that the "disciplinee" quit? Especially for someone like me who is just starting out in the workforce with not a lot of experience, it's hard enough to even get hired, much less find a job where the people are decent enough to respect you and treat you as an adult.
Hells yes. It makes for a toxic workplace and who wants to work in that kind of environment.
Speaking from the position of a now retired 35-year drudge (I was never management), it seems to me that if the employee has work to be done and he or she is seen watching videos or messing around on Facebook, discipline is in order. That should start off low-level, a warning, and esclate as recurrances of the unwanted behavior are found. The highest it should go in the first year should be a bad performance review. All through my career I saw "adults" exhibit childish, inappropriate, non-work related behavior in the office. They generally didn't last long.
I had a lot of trouble with one of my bosses once, and after a while I realized it was because I would talk to and treat him like a colleague. Once I realized that he had no idea how to handle an employee who didn't behave like a dog, I just stopped talking to him. Things improved after that.
I so agree with you. One should not "discipline" an employee. Perhaps if the daily approach had been positive and constructive, there would not be in a position to fill.
On the other hand, having managed oodles of staff over the past 24 years, there is always one employee who just needs theis ass kicked out the damn door.
But discipline has never been in my management ouvre.
"Discipline" as a term does have a whiff of something to it.
I've sometimes had difficulty getting along in certain work environments because I didn't toadie to people higher up the rungs. I don't see why I should act like a subservient and ignorant person to someone who hasn't even earned my respect. I guess the people with more power could reasonably expect their underlings to be respectful and responsible, but cowed? No. This is what "discipline" brings up for me.
I don't see a problem with managers expecting proper behavior, but when some managers get miffed that their underlings are not acting deferential enough, well... I guess that leads to threatened feelings. On the other hand, it's hard to work with people who don't recognize any authority.
Absurd.
When I hear the word 'discipline.' I always think of the movie 'Afterhours' where the main character is futzing about something and the German S&M guy says to him "Lack of Discipline?"
I don't like that word used that way. Ew. I don't even say that about my child. I can't put my finger on it though. Yes, it is bothersome when one free adult uses it about another free adult. But I think it is an icky word in that context. Maybe because discipline comes from disciple? And one can only freely choose that. Of course, I have no idea what the etymology of discipline is.