The Bad Eggs!

July 30, 2020

(photo credit- ar.pinterest.com)

COVID-19 struck and we did not lay off our staff or executives.  We did this openly, with our hearts in it, and fully mindful of the economic impact to our family & group.

Our reasoning … where will these people go, how will they live, eat, buy medicines – especially our Associates – as there’s no social network or institutionalized setup to support them.  It was (and is) our responsibility to look after them and their family.

We didn’t do this expecting anything in return – because that’s not what “helping” is about.

Trust & a helping hand is given implicitly – one should not do charity expecting anything in return. 

Little did we know, there always are the bad eggs … the back stabbers … those few people who would take advantage of this good will ☹ … and “stab the hand that feeds him”! 

After several months of this closed period, we decided to call back team members in batches from their homes & villages so as to continue – if nothing else – training programs so that people remain more productive.

What excuses did we get when we started …

• Some pretend to be ill and don’t submitting any medical proof so as to skip training;
• For some, they or their “dependant” were ill – for the last 2 months! – and so could not attend the job;
• Some responded that they are out of the respective city or in another province and due to Covid they can’t get transport … (hmmm, last I remember, Inter-province and Inter-city transport started before last Eid);
• This last one is classic – “schedule our duty for a continuous 2-3 weeks and then let us go back to our village”!  So, not only do we pay them their salary but, it now seems, they will even schedule their own work hours while on our payroll.  I’d like a job like that 😊!

My point is, why do we give our trust to others, our hearts to others, our energy and resources for others, only for these “others” to stab us in the back?

It’s sad actually …

it does shake the trust we put in humanity and in our team members

(photo credit- english-the-easy-way.com)

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

(Image source courtesy- https://www.google.com/search?q=profit&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNmpuOvsfhAhUQlIsKHSlmDEYQ_AUIDigB&biw=1422&bih=652#imgrc=DgUdcZ0TJmCpBM:)

April 11, 2019

Business and family groups are defined by their philosophy and values under which they operate.

We have 4 core philosophies under which our family operate, one of which I’ll take up here –

We are in the business for profit BUT AT THE SAME TIME, we have a responsibility towards our employees & society.  It is our moral obligation to assist our employees where necessary.

Somehow, here, “profit” is a dirty word.  Why?

If we don’t make a profit, how can we plough our resources back into employee welfare & engagement and social uplift & charity!?

If we don’t make a profit, how can we support our own team members’ genuine issues and society’s charitable endeavors!?

We have a “womb to tomb” philosophy – that doesn’t mean we force “you to work till you drop”.  What it means is that for our Associate & Supervisory cadre, generally, we let them work till THEY want to retire.

Pakistan doesn’t have any safety net for retired people. What do old people do?  Where can they turn?  No government since inception has ever provided or supported them.  It is upto us to look after them – whether by extended employment or pension or medical or education.

But how can we do this if there is no PROFIT!

 

What’s Your Weakness 🤔!?

March 8, 2019

I am impatient, many times, and I do interrupt – especially when I try to finish someone else’s sentence (isn’t that annoying!) … not a good thing.   Short attention span!  What else … umm, let’s see … I tune off in a conversation!  When I can’t work further, I pack up and leave for home! … and I can go on and on.

However, when we’re interviewing candidates (and these are “Executive” level people), and my colleagues or I ask them about their weakness (and I still believe this is an important question … tell you why in a moment), answers range from –

1. Oh, I can’t think of any off hand
2. Honestly, I don’t have anything major
3. Lies irritate me
4. Impatient when the work isn’t done on time

(…and I can go on and on)

So, we’re human and does that makes us … perfect?  Errr, I don’t think so!

Don’t “lies” irritate or gall most of the 7 billion humans on Earth?

Generally, wouldn’t most people get irritated if the work assigned by them is not completed on time?

(On one skype interview, when I heard “I don’t have any”, I completely tuned off and that was the end of his candidature!)

I mean, these are not “weaknesses” per se, so why say it?  Why not be upfront and honest about your [personality] traits because [it] is going to be apparent to your bosses and peers within a week of joining!

If you have a short attention span or if you anger easily or if you like to do work yourself or you don’t delegate … why not say it honestly?  This is not a rhetorical question- I truly don’t know know why this happens (maybe it’s because I’ve always worked in the family business and never got on the job market)!

Why is this still an important question?  I believe it shows how communicable the candidate is – how open she is – how approachable she can be.  If she’s willing to share a character flaw, in my books, she’s worth taking on board because her open approach will benefit the team and her peers.  By mentioning your “weakness” one acknowledges we are human – and we are NEVER PERFECT.

Personally speaking, if your professional side is fine, I much prefer honesty up front rather than finding out a month later that you cannot take, say, criticism.

… as Commodus says in “Gladiator”, “It vexes me … I’m terribly vexed!”

(Image credit- https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+your+weakness&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgn8WT2fHgAhUBElAKHeViDLMQ_AUIDigB&biw=1422&bih=652#imgrc=sFBmXEqbT77SKM:)