A company in Iowa fired a worker for posting the following Dilbert cartoon in the workplace.
You can read the story here.
This brings up an interesting point. When is this ever justified…the firing, I mean. From time to time, we have counseled employees who seem intent on ‘pulling the nails out of the floor.’ This is a shortcut way of describing those comments that are directed at some other person within the Company. I have always felt that these small things, if left unchecked, do harm to the culture in a new company. Call it disrespect, cynicism or whatever, it really should not be ignored.
This maybe unpopular and I don’t think this person should have been fired. “Counseled?” YES.
Here is why. Think A-B-C. Antecedent–>Behavior–>Consequences.
We have known cases where someone within the company has done something disrespectful to a co-worker or boss. This goes on daily, I understand. Just be aware that this behavior does have a consequence. Example: manager Roy is overhead commenting on his boss’s incompetence (behavior) in front of his department. Roy had a skirmish with his boss over a matter earlier in the day. Roy’s behavior is definitely disrespectful and the likely consequence is that his department, not knowing the boss like Roy does, has less respect for the boss. It matters NOT that the boss does happen to be incompetent.
This consequence leads back to antecedent which is a general lack of respect for others, which will lead to behavior being changed, eventually a loss of respect and a loss of control.
Another example and a way to handle it. Let’s say that this cartoon is posted in your workplace. And you are the boss of the person who did it. What would you do? I think the manager should talk to the person and have a discussion about it. He should make sure that this behavior leads to a consequence that everyone else learns about…ie, a small ass chewing, the point being that it is not acceptable to post things that serve to show disrespect to others, bosses or not. I am not saying this person needs to be fired…just counseled and coached is all. I would hope that others would recognize that such behavior is not condoned or endorsed. That way the consequence leads back to an antecedent for correct workplace behavior.
Remember the phrase ‘pulling nails out of the floor.’ It is easy to allow this to happen. Let it go on too long, and pretty soon your floor is not quite as strong as it once way.
Last minute hint—the fastest way to identify future leaders for your company is to observe people who are self-policing this kind of activity. There is no greater sign of a potential leader than how to watch them effectively deal with this issue.
3 users commented in " Getting Fired Over a Comic: Pulling the Nails Out of the Floor "
The last point you make in this article is really good. Employees with leadership potential will have imbibed the company culture. They will promote and defend the company. They’re the ones that take pride in the company they work for and the work they do. They squash water cooler complaints and counteract negative employees.
Incidentally, these employees tend to be the best performing. You can put them in charge of projects and know that they’ll get done. Like I said, they take pride in their work and it shows. Whiners are usually the poorest performing, but they’re the most dangerous.
One way to deal with when employees post this type of cartoon is to make light of it. Don’t let it bother you… just ask people to own up and make suggestions. They should see this company as theirs, and if they see the boss doing something wrong, they should be encouraged to say something. Don’t be contemptious about it.
Raza Imam
http://BoycottSoftwareSweatshops.com
Not only is this a great article—the comment from Raza above was well articulated.
One does have to rise above the status quo, but like GL-(who by the way is a great business cheerleader) I feel an atmosphere of free speech must exist.
I have to admit negativity can feel like a lazy river sweeping one along, and nothing short of reading this blog will save you.
Merry Christmas to all.
I would like to know if you would feel the same way, if you were informed the business was closing, by reading it in the local newspaper and customers telling you. That is how we were informed. That’s after being told for over a year we would not close.
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