Sanity...

Living in our environment today, I often wonder if we are “sane and strong enough” to face the day and to walk through the day without getting mangled and mashed up throughout the day. I am particularly concerned as more and more people are diagnosed with medical hypertensive conditions and depression. These two medical conditions go hand in hand despite our constant denial of its existence or rather playing it at safe levels. Sometimes, it is mind boggling that people still do not understand the constant dangers as one live on the thin verge on these two medical conditions. There is certainly a huge denial among the professional individuals as such people are constituted as “weaklings” or “weak links”. In all honesty, these are very real “sanity” questions as the mind and expectations are stretched beyond the capacity of a person.

Well, weaklings or weak links, these two medical conditions exist to plaque our society each day as many fell against their fight each day. Many too have survived these ordeals and I am glad for them. But the question remained :- So, what is the root cause of this? Simply, the ever present human need to be better than the rest and the ever bouncing high expectations. I would rather put it down to induced pressure and in-born pressure. Induced pressure is when your company or your boss “expects” you to produce greater input in your work or production to compensate the salary you take home each month.  They don’t care how you do, just do it. Just like NIKE slogan, actually. This is when the impossible tries to be or have to be possible while the possible is no more the expected impossible. It goes beyond the boundary of impossible or possible but “I don’t care ; you just make it happen”.  In the world we live in today, that is what a worker is expected to do. Nothing less or else the consequences are just too great. I guess, I may be wrong but I am speaking for myself and the many I have seen slumped on their working desk and just die. I am speaking primarily of myself who had had experience of knowing how colleagues are run down with harsh and uninspiring words while the sleazy and rats executives and balls carriers are often given recognition they neither worked for nor worked at. More often than not, the down trodden are troddened even further while the ego massagers/patters/balls carriers and sleaze cheese are given more opportunity to spin their deceits and other webs of spin story.

I often hear big bosses especially the enormously a lot of white hairs or thinning hairs ones exclaiming their wisdom and profane proudness that they can distinguish between the hardworking employees from the lazy employees and yet the shit continued to splatter on their faces as these wolves in sheep clothing continue to massage the inflated egos of such big bosses. Yeah, claims such as “I’ve eaten more salt than you.” Or “ I know every trick in book.” are sure indicators of excess proudness, decadence of trickery ways and mule stubbornness are at the forefront. This is how those sleaze balls executives get away with so much rubbish that even the 1MDB scandal would look like child’s play, man. I guess, the real hardworking ones are the ones that slogged behind those high cubicles out from the eyes of the boss and just barely making ends meet despite hours poured into their never ending work as files and work piled up. They are often been given works by the cunning executives who themselves do not want to do or even the bosses passing the “dead end” works for these staff to do. When the job is done, these same idiots will claim the glory/accolades and the initiatives for themselves. Sometimes, that put enormous pressure unto the hardworking staff over the years but their outlook that it was for survival and to earn a living are factors that made them continue to work without recognition. So many times, I have seen and witnessed undeserving individuals with suspectful/colorful characters and behavioural patterns getting recognition and positions for their trickery ways.The annoying part of it all is that this is an “acceptable” trait/ trend in our society today. These people are lauded for “being smart”, “work smart” and “play their cards right to the top.” What happened to honesty and hardwork or even humble ways? Have we all forgotten the ways and take the short cut of success?  I would put it as “riding over the success of others” and “riding over the hardwork of others.” Is there no shame in that type of “glory”?

Uncaring management and uncaring policies have been one of the contributing factors of stress related inducement and causes the increase in mental health disorderly in our people today. Unrealistic targets, late night works, unnecessary demands, poor public relations with clients and unrealistic demands of clients often wears and tears our minds. I am realistic and well aware that the company we work in is NOT a charitable organizations but we definitely can identify and ensure the sanity of our staff are in balance. A warped and snapped mind will do anything and usually it ends up in a tragedy. Believe me, the Mental Health Ward in the hospital and the daily patients registered at the GH to seek treatment are on the increase each day. I have seen young students going for mental health treatment and running around at the clinic prior to seeing the doctor for the day. Parents, in all their loving ways, running after their sons and daughters at the clinic, calming them and cajoling them to see the doctors. What about parents or friends who had to restrain their loved ones from going over the windows at the 2^nd floor of the Mental Health Ward? It is a devastating sight as far as I am concerned. It is so sad, really. Look, we cannot shoot all these down by citing poor time management, not-so-quick mind nor not-so-bright EQ or IQ or whatsoever. Even the cleverest people will turn to be stupid and depressed if he/she is continually told that he/she is not up to mark, lack ingenuinity, lack drive or even barrage of unsupported criticism day in day out.  I would call that mental bullying, mental abuse or badgering.   

Yes, we would be buoyed by mental stress from time to time but people who are constantly in such pressure cooker each day would find it hard to release themselves from such strain. Yunno, I am sad that we have turned out like that. I am sad too that it feels like a mortuary each time I take a step into the office with zombies working alongside. That’s my rendition of office setting these days. Yeah, maybe that‘s difference from your office setting. I can’t argue with that. It is just an example.

I am sad that Chairmans, CEOs, Directors and big shots have failed to see that which eventually culminating in the death of an employee. To some of them, death of an employee is just some compiled money of “pak kam” or putting out fistful of monies or even a big wreath of flowers but hell, it would not resurrect the dead employee who may be a father, a mother, an auntie, an uncle, a grandpa or a grandma or even a good friend to people who care for them!  We can all prevent the death of an employee. There are better and more glorious way to die than to be slumped on the work desk! I most definitely don’t want to end up like that, my dear friends.  

Here is what we can do. Allow care and concern to come into our hearts. We can all play a part by being concerned with our staff and friends. A cup of coffee session or even a short break for the employees goes a long way. Even if our bosses don’t show concern for our staff, we can all help out by being a friend to our colleagues. Do not ply any more misery to the already miserable staff. Show your heart by being a friend. Listen intently and understand. Give solutions and ideas for solutions rather than orders.

Have surprise birthday party or small “makan” in your office to celebrate birthdays or even any good occasion of success. Allow flow of communications and caring gestures to move through the staff and not create “competition” which mostly happened between staff and groups within the staff. Stop emphasizing the need to reward to successful individuals but rather reward a team/group effort rather than individual selfishness. We may be selfish in many ways than you’ll ever know. Gain respect and trust from staff by understanding their predicament rather than their shortcomings. Lend a helping ear and give constructive criticism rather than demoralizing scorn or show of power. Genuinely care for your staff or your family members. Listen to what they have to say to you. Show faith and utmost good governance of people by leading a good example and doing things the right way.

Let us all make an effort today to help our colleagues and our loved ones. The plot on the ground is not big but the implication of losing someone you love or your family members goes beyond the 6’X4’ plot…..and the echoes of losing that someone rings so much farther than you can ever imagine…………believe me, the loss of loved ones can be deafening.....crushing to the soul.............