There have been a series of allegations of workplace bullying after the apparent suicide of a civil servant at the Ministry of Labor’s Workforce Development Agency’s northern branch was alleged to be related to workplace bullying and harassment by the branch director.
These allegations have emerged in a way that is similar to the #MeToo movement. The prevalence of workplace bullying could be attributed to bureaucracy, heavy workload, immense work pressure, poor emotional control, an inability to mentally adapt to the work environment and an intolerance to setbacks.
However, what needs to be reviewed are the management’s mentality and what they choose to do with their power.
Miles’ Law says: “Where you stand depends on where you sit.” To express this in positive terms, one should have a new way of thinking that embraces responsibility and focuses on achieving goals. To put it in a negative way, as one’s duty, position and level change, one has to have a new image, a new attitude and a new style to show off one’s authority.
To be a good official or an oppressive one depends on one’s objective — whether it is for the public interest or personal benefit.
The oppressed becoming the oppressor is what usually happens after one gets promoted. They would use the same tactics used by their former superiors against their new staff.
People with creative ideas can be demanding, and make their staff work as if they are fighting a war. Some make themselves at home when they are in the office. They do as they please, as if they are the “master” or the “boss.”
Employees dare not voice their anger and grievances. Instead, they tolerate it because they are afraid of losing their job.
Supervisors who are eager for promotion would refurbish their office with the advice of a feng shui master. They would get a bigger office, while their staff would be crowded together. Some senior managers like to be escorted and look powerful. Some treat their subordinates like elementary-school students by organizing recreational activities and competitions. These all demonstrate the ugly and petty side of bureaucracy.
Administrative management is about leadership. It emphasizes the culture of an organization and the atmosphere of the office. Smart supervisors should play the role of mentors who encourage their subordinates to voluntarily make an effort, instead of treating them like worker bees and themselves as the queen bees.
Fondness for the grandiose and pragmatism are two totally different administration dimensions. Whether one chooses to bully others for pleasure or use their power to help others is the benchmark for determining one’s moral integrity.
Workplace bullying usually stems from a manager’s bureaucratic mentality and eagerness for power.
Leading with heart, winning people over with virtue and treating coworkers like family are key to uniting a team and encouraging them to work together toward a common goal.
On the contrary, being condescending and arrogant, throwing documents and yelling at staff — all while claiming one’s actions as having a “kind and good purpose” — is harmful to subordinates’ dignity and the unity of a team.
Officials who bully their subordinates are as hated as corrupt officials, because they are the ones who abuse their power.
No one remains an official for their whole life. We are human beings after all. We should put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Would anyone want to be treated like this?
Shiao Fu-song is a lecturer at National Taitung University.
Translated by Fion Khan
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