Friday, April 17, 2009

Avoiding The Sackable Offences @ Work

With the hurricane of economic recession blowing all over the place, I feel the need to do a 'sankofa' on recession-proof value systems at the workplace. To avoid becoming a statistics, I am trying to make a list of offences that normally give bosses reasons to terminate contracts and appointments.
My list of offences that will trigger an instant firing at most companies are:
  • Using company computer for viewing 'otherworldly graphics'. The IT department regularly monitors the websites company staff visit. They will sooner or later take a look at what you are watching and raise a hell of alarm. Then you will be toast. So I stick to the trustworthy and decent websites as much as I can.
  • Office Affairs. Hanky pankying around with work colleague(s) especially if either one or all of you are married. Most companies will boot you out pronto before you could say 'bra ha'. I don't play around. I am no angel but I choose to stay true to my wife and to myself.
  • Frauding the System. There are always those who are smelling the rat even where there are none. Any fraud will eventually bring out the stink. I allow integrity to rule in everything I do as far as possible. They say a good name is better than riches. I truly believe that this is fundamental.
  • Professional misconduct. Professional misconduct at the workplace is tantamount to suicide. It will destroy your career. I have made a choice to become an ethical practitioner of my profession. No matter what happens my conscience must stay clean and clear. That is my choice.
  • Failure to fit in the team. The inability to work independently within a team is perhaps the greatest sign of lack of commitment to the company. I have really come to appreciate the fact that the workplace is not just a place to accomplish tasks and deliver targets by deadlines. It is also a social platform to showcase one's humanity. Showing an interest in the well-being of others is as much important as building shareholders' value. I really put premium value on the emotionally intelligent folks who are able to get along with both their principals and their juniours without any hidden motives.

Why am writing all this? I suppose I need to capture for myself some of the value systems that I hold so dear. I hope I will live long enough to share them with my children's children.

Have a blessed weekend, pal!

6 comments:

Adaeze said...

Good post and good points.
And well said, being a human and showing interest in others is part of making the work place a comfortable place to be. After all, the place we spend so much time in should be something we appreciate.
hmm you scared me about the websites o. I only go to Blogger, facebook, e-mail and newspaper browsing. that's not so bad is it? Please tell me I'm right. lol

posekyere said...

Thanks Adaeze.
Some companies allow workers to visit the sites you mentioned.
Others are totally against and form of blogging altogether at work.
The main problem is when the company's computer is used to visit porn sites etc.
That will result in dismissal as far as I know.
People need to be on the gaurd especially now so that they don't become easy targets for dismissal at a time when many companies are seeking whom to lay off.

Adaeze said...

true, I've thought about that too. I'm quitting soon anyway though to go back to uni! ANd they love me here ;-)
Porn is never going to be a problem for me lol.

posekyere said...

I realize that.
Who can resist adoring you.
You have got a beautiful personality.
Btw what do you intend pursuing at uni. this time?

Adaeze said...

Aww you're too sweet!
I am going for social economy with anthropological, development and environment majors. Hard to explain since the way you build up your studies are different in different countries, but that's the best way I can explain it. To say it simple though; SOCIAL ECONOMY. I just think the name is too boring to represent what I'm getting into, lol. I got the clue you have a love for numbers, what do you do?

posekyere said...

Thanks Adaeze.
Wish you the very best in your quest to become a Social/ Development Economist.
I am a quant. Basically I am a Financial Mathematician. I do financial modelling for various derivatives and other financial instruments.