Workplace Favoritism

[HelenRose]

Every work place is different so there can be no blanket correction for a poorly run work environment. Unless the is obvious abuse going on you have no control over other people expecially your supervisors.

Prayer is important.
Your behavior is also important. Treat everyone involved with respect. Do not talk about this with other employees. Do not choose sides. Do your job the best you can.

Start looking for another position.

 

[sedonaman]

How so?

Correcting in private and praising in public are two inherently unequal treatments.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Please, what am I suppose to do when i witness favoritism everyday at work? I want everybody to be treated equally, I clearly see the person behavior changing from person to person.

Step back and look at the situation and what’s happening and educate yourself on workplace harassment and bullying… Are you witnessing workplace harassment/bullying? Many provinces in Canada now have laws prohibiting such, and many work places have policies against it.

Support the person who is being bullied/harassed. Write down what you have witnessed objectionably and factually (leave your feelings out of it). Report it to the next person above the person whom your grievance is. If you’re part of a union, you can also report it to the union, but if possible, I would first try to resolve the issue without the union.

There are people who get supervisor/management positions who really have no business being in a state of authority over another human being. Unfortunately their antics and tactics go on without being reprimanded because they either happen in private behind closed doors with no witnesses (I had a supervisor like this. I had panic attacks before I would have to go into her office. I was new and she wasn’t willing to train me, as was her one of her duties. She didn’t like that a new employee required training and couldn’t do the work of someone who had been doing the job for a number of years. There was a church close to the office which I would visit during lunch and simply breakdown in. My rosary was used so many times, the beads got worn down. I made frequent use of the Memorare and holy water in my office. I became desperate for literally anything which would relieve me of having to deal with her.), or because no one stands up for the person and reports it. Often times these people are well-liked in the office, so unless their are people to corroborate what goes on, they’re not taken seriously.

 

[johnnyjones]

I’ve dealt with this issue in my career. If you work in a union job you could find out if others see what you see and get a joint venture of complaints going. Favoritism destroys morale and effects efficiency. In the private sector you have a more difficult path. If you don’t have some form of job security you should leave it alone and keep looking for other employment before you tell upper managment. Or:

When you have some chain of command you can go above the offending party or approach them directly and state your complaint, but make sure you frame it showing that your complaint isn’t just because YOU don’t like it but because it somehow impairs job production or morale. See if other will back you up when you take this step. Sometimes one good boss needs (name removed by moderator)ut which can then facilitate the weeding out or admonishing of bad supervisors.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Correcting in private and praising in public are two inherently unequal treatments.

I do realize that some extremely weak management types. Attempt to prevent any sort of team mentality in the work place. I suppose they are afraid of being essentially shut out of the action. These managers attempt to promote likewise weak managers in an effort to surround themselves with people that will not “show the up”.

It’s better not to work in such a place.

In a work place where teamwork, and goal attainment are important. The prudent manager makes it a point to protect the dignity of each co-worker. So, they make any necessary corrections in private. If a worker however does a excellent job. They are praised in the company of their fellows. This way, they are recognized, and their fellows see the praise.

Of course, it would be foolish to give false or undeserving praise. This has a likewise negative effect on morale.

Do you worry about morale at your place of employment?

 

[sedonaman]

I do realize that some extremely weak management types. Attempt to prevent any sort of team mentality in the work place. I suppose they are afraid of being essentially shut out of the action. These managers attempt to promote likewise weak managers in an effort to surround themselves with people that will not “show the up”.

It’s better not to work in such a place.

In a work place where teamwork, and goal attainment are important. The prudent manager makes it a point to protect the dignity of each co-worker. So, they make any necessary corrections in private. If a worker however does a excellent job. They are praised in the company of their fellows. This way, they are recognized, and their fellows see the praise.

Of course, it would be foolish to give false or undeserving praise. This has a likewise negative effect on morale.

Do you worry about morale at your place of employment?

None of this addresses my comment.

 

[sedonaman]

I do realize that some extremely weak management types. Attempt to prevent any sort of team mentality in the work place. I suppose they are afraid of being essentially shut out of the action. These managers attempt to promote likewise weak managers in an effort to surround themselves with people that will not “show the up”.

It’s better not to work in such a place.

In a work place where teamwork, and goal attainment are important. The prudent manager makes it a point to protect the dignity of each co-worker. So, they make any necessary corrections in private. If a worker however does a excellent job. They are praised in the company of their fellows. This way, they are recognized, and their fellows see the praise.

Of course, it would be foolish to give false or undeserving praise. This has a likewise negative effect on morale.

Do you worry about morale at your place of employment?

You asked

How so?

, and I stated that the two were unequal. None of this addresses my statement.

 

[SamH]

You asked , and I stated that the two were unequal. None of this addresses my statement.

I don’t think was intended to. It was to divert attention from his obviously flawed advice.

 

[sedonaman]

I don’t think was intended to. It was to divert attention from his obviously flawed advice.

I’m accustomed to criticism from subordinates. I then challenge them to apply for a supervisor’s position so they can prove their ability to do things better. The inevitable reply is, "Oh no!!! You could never get ME to be a supervisor!!!"

 

[Mickey_Finn]

So, you don’t worry about morale? Thats too bad.

 

[KWR_1]

Please, what am I suppose to do when i witness favoritism everyday at work? I want everybody to be treated equally, I clearly see the person behavior changing from person to person.

I tell you the best thing to do is to just go along with it. I once complained about conditions at a job I had worked at for years. I was immediately laid off and black balled in the county I lived, then I had to move away to find work. A word to the wise.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I tell you the best thing to do is to just go along with it. I once complained about conditions at a job I had worked at for years. I was immediately laid off and black balled in the county I lived, then I had to move away to find work. A word to the wise.

This is horrible advice. If someone is being oppressed, you should stand up for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re black labelled for it. You will be rewarded in Heaven for it. This is why we aren’t supposed to become attached to our jobs. Patience bears all things (including being black listed. I’ve been black listed in the government job sector where I live. That’s okay because I know I don’t need to be making $30/hr with uber awesome benefits in exchange for my soul. There are other places to work.

 

[sedonaman]

So, you don’t worry about morale? Thats too bad.

I supervise professionals. Professionals know what their job is, and they do it. If they don’t know, they go find out what it is and do it. They are responsible for their own morale.

 

[johnnyjones]

This is horrible advice. If someone is being oppressed, you should stand up for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re black labelled for it. You will be rewarded in Heaven for it. This is why we aren’t supposed to become attached to our jobs. Patience bears all things (including being black listed. I’ve been black listed in the government job sector where I live. That’s okay because I know I don’t need to be making $30/hr with uber awesome benefits in exchange for my soul. There are other places to work.

It is bad advise but remember , the loss of ones job may be involved if you challenge the status quo. I know, I lost my job due to retaliation and punishment from the department heads. Of course how you approach the rampant unfairness is a factor, never the less prepare for a possible backlash unless you are not standing alone as I mentioned on a previous post. Strength in numbers. One person complaining can look like a cry baby.

Gather facts, write them down. Show (prove) the harm done to job production and morale. Have all your ducks in a row.

 

[didymus]

Please, what am I suppose to do when i witness favoritism everyday at work? I want everybody to be treated equally, I clearly see the person behavior changing from person to person.

I’m afraid my reaction is that the world is an imperfect place & there are a lot of things we cannot change.

Are you really in a position to help the situation? Would your efforts really help the victim or possibly hurt them (and yourself)?

It also depends on what kind of favoritism you mean; praising or and belittling another? Allowing all person A’s vacation requests while denying person B? If so B is actually being robbed.

 

[MissRose73]

No work place is perfect, and I’ve been in many jobs since I was a teenager. There will be places that seldom reward people, some places that reward equally no matter what, and places that reward based on certain criteria. Some people may thing certain things are showing favoritism but when asked to back them up cannot do so.

Example: my work place is a call center. My department was trying to bid for new schedules based on a combination of statistics where each person was ranked and the highest ranking person could choose the schedule of their choice from a list made by the scheduling team, and each person down the list got to choose. When the list was published after all got made selections, many complained to management and claiming they did not know the new way for bids. Eventually the schedule was scrapped but when we rebid in late summer, now people will be prepared to get their overall statistics up in hopes of a better rating for a favorable schedule. But at the same time, people may get a schedule not favorable as we must have coverage of some kind 7 days a week, 16 hours a day for the needs of the business.