Let me start with the common example of asking an intern or a fresher to get water. It is important to note that every individual has the right to say no. In a profession whoever the person might be, he/ she doesn’t own you.
The start point of a person’s career involves a mixture of good and bad experiences.
We have peers preaching ‘no pain no gain’. But the work experience doesn’t involve only the individual gaining the experience; it also involves the person from whom you get the experience.
We seldom forget that professionalism is also expected from the other end. An employee is supposed to follow orders but even the bosses or the seniors in the office are supposed to maintain a professional code of conduct.
Especially in the media, TV and film industry the lines get blurred and a fresher is often treated wrongly.
Let me start with the common example of asking an intern or a fresher to get water. It is important to note the profile of the person hired for.
What if the employee doesn’t wish to fetch water… but it becomes more of an obligation.
It is important to note that every individual has the right to say no. An employee isn’t a servant and if he/ she isn’t comfortable doing a particular task then he/ she should be allowed to voice opinions.
We see even reality shows promoting disrespectful treatment with freshers.
For example the famous show – Roadies and yes how can I not talk about Raghu.
There is no questioning of his behavior and yes every individual comes at his/ her own risk but isn’t it high time we judge the professionalism of the people on the other side of the table?
This is obviously a reality show and the content is for “entertainment” purpose. Hence it shouldn’t be considered as some ideal way of treating a fresher.
If a person isn’t comfortable with a slang then it is absolutely fine to take a stand. You need to make the person realize that you will not take this kind of abuses and violence.
The more you are going to tolerate the severe this might lead to.
We have read many articles about the struggles faced by successful people. If someone gives you example of Amitabh Bachchan sleeping on the bench and expect you to slog and follow stupid orders indicating that you also need to struggle then ask him if Mark Zuckerberg had to sleep on a bench.
There would be many people expecting you to oblige to whatever their demands are. It might be something as trivial as getting a Xerox copy but if you think that you ain’t the correct profile to do that task then you have every right to say no.
No I won’t fetch water, no I won’t get Xerox… it is easier said than done but tolerance isn’t the solution.
If the office isn’t much of a corporate one then the situation gets super messy. For example if you are assisting a director or a photographer then do every work related to assisting him/ her in shoots but nothing beyond that.
No one but you can help yourself. It is better to quit a discomforting job than tolerate unjust behavior.
Especially girls if you think that your peer is crossing the line…may be abusing you or touching you wrongly…be bold and say no you won’t take that s**t.
In a profession whoever the person might be, he/ she doesn’t own you and hence if anyone is putting you out of your comfort zone then it is extremely important that you take a stand and say no.
It is about time that the bosses are questioned and if a boss is making or in a way forcing any employee then there should be a law wherein the fresher can go and lodge a complaint without any fear.
The fear is of revenge by bosses. Obviously nobody would like to risk their career at the very start.
But it is important to get rid of the fear and believe in oneself. May be try explaining to your boss if you feel his/ her code of conduct is unprofessional. Also it is high time that people from the industry should realize this and take a stand against anything unjust.
Stop being just a mere spectator and speak for the fresher in your office.
Even if the matter is very small don’t encourage for it to turn grave. It is important to voice against any ill practice and support the fresher.
