Monday, April 13, 2020

A Chai tea journey.....

Foraging in the old mind of mine, I am reminded of how things were in my days at work and as I sipped my Chai tea last night after a long day in the office ( even during MCO period! ) I really had a good working environment those days. Sure, there were workloads, deadline and enquiries but everything was done in the great spirit of mutual respect and great understanding. I am very respectful in saying this because I did have a good working environment in those years. Everyone was helping out every one in every possible way and never thinking of being selfish or who was greater and so on. Individuality and personal glory comes second while the team needs and yearly team production matters. I must say that there was much respect even in the hierarchy of things. Over the years, I have grown fond and had good wonderful working relationships with colleagues whom I have regarded as close friends and family in a sense. Helping out one another was something that was often done and without hesitation. Nowadays, we have grown cynically apart and selfish because of the indoctrination and emphasis of the personal production and branch production for the egoistic, couldn’t care less and fatten bloodhounds.  

As years go by, the old made way for the younger group of people to take over and this was done smoothly without upsetting the great balance of working relationship and expectations. I must admit with much chagrin that when you have young, ambitious and blood hounds wanting to pounce on the tower of climb and doesn’t mind bringing down others or letting others to fall to die, somehow the dynamics of that working relationship changed. People tend to stand back and watch the blood hounds tearing at the leaders first; to take over by hook or by crook. Then, equipped with promises of better production, increase in intensity of work and spewing the word of more production and more money for the organization, these blood hounds get the attention of the Management who always welcome more money into their pockets in whatever ways or means possible. Hence, starts the downfall or the ecological good balance of the office dynamics. Young blood hounds always felt that they are far superior from the older ones in terms of motivation, drive, expertise and all that.  Well and good ,actually but not on other people's heads and backs, for Christ sake!  There is no doubt that these young blood hounds have all these “qualities” but they forget a couple of things along the way, actually. They forget that many others extended their help to them when they were younger in the office. They forget too that everyone has a limit in patience, work stress and temperament. They forget too that we all have a shelf life with GOD and they forget that they will one day be old too. 

Life is really a bitch when it comes to vicious cycles. There are just too many to see in our lifetime. That’s why I am laid back when I see young bloodhounds claw their way by means of  devices & plans for takeover or to push out the older leaders and so on. I am concern of their unscrupulous tactics of intimidation, verbal assault and even belittling tactics all in the name of putting more money in the pockets of the directors; their own pockets actually. As they go two or triple jumps in the hierarchy, their own coffers grow and they enjoy such benefits and perks while the actual genuine workers languished steadfastly at the bottom rung. I have learnt over the years that good  leaders are the ones who work alongside their staff and out of the sight of limelight. I am a very firm believer that you do not need to blow your trumpet as others will do it for you eventually as they do know who is helping and who is not helping.

I have heard meaningless phrases like, “You are the pillar of this company” shaking your hand profusely and aggressively but in the same breath a week later, “ You did not hit your target.” “ You should be working more or even”, “You are not a team player, are you?” “You are so experience, you should not be making such mistakes.” “I don’t care how you do it, you need to get this done by this week.” ect.etc.  You get an insincere accolade and then in the same breath you get chided for your work performance.

You busted both your nuts and ass working in the office when no one is looking or even in a catastrophic conditions and then the very same blood hounds tells you that you did not hit your target and hence, a lower bonus or worst still, no increment in your salary adjustment. Then, they confused you even further by paying your remunerations half here and then the other half later and then you totally forgot whether you are paid or not in the first place as letters of remuneration are not issued. A very normal situation nowadays but you worked on because you just needed to put food on the table for your kids and your family at home. Sounds familiar? Well, this has been the story of many many good employees over the years. Such hypocrisy of the highest level! To be honest, so-called praises and accolades doesn't move me one inch at all at where I am standing, baby! I am deeply rooted and that's on the ground. Just a load of insincere crap and a load of bullshit, actually.

It is a crying shame for good workers to then deteriorate into just a zombie like worker with no mind of its own, without motivation and without the ability to do what is right any more as everything is dictated by these bloodhounds who are only out to get rid of you or to put you under their thumb of control. Worst still, their way or the highway threat is very real indeed. 

How many of these young blood hound even speak to or speak off  staff who had worked hard and goes back home at 9.00pm or even 11.00pm at night? That is how pressured some staff are nowadays. I believe, staff like these really care for the work they do. They are conscious of their responsibilities or maybe they are saddled with their own problems. No matter what, they needed that space and time to sort out what they go through. Don’t need to bite on their neck or breath down their neck each day. 

Anyway, these are what young blood hounds do each day. Chasing their dreams by pressing others to achieve that dream for them. My question is simply, “When are you going to be satisfied?” There can never be the word “Enough” for these bloodhounds because there is always more to take, more to conquer and more to lust after. The heart is deceitful and lusty which will only lead to destruction. I have learnt a long time ago that feeding the dreams of these young blood hounds are a dangerous journey and eventually, there will be a revolt in the body,mind and soul.

Maybe, I am already at the last leg of my life and the bullshit that I am still young is just another play ploy to feed another adrenaline rush for the wicked blood hounds. To me, count your blessings and take a good look at the people below you; away and past the sides of these young blood hounds. Look at those who had been tapping on their computers faithfully and suffering in silence. Look at those who drag their weary, bruised and battered physical bodies back to see their awaiting family only to slump on the sofa without a word being said. Look at those who are so abused by words and demeaning words throughout the day. Look out at those who remain quiet and suffer in silence every time someone else gets the credit for the works done. Look out for the ones who would just do their work responsibly without muttering or murmurings as they suffer in silence while the boisterous blood hounds reaped the glory and accolades.

These are truly the everyday heroes that I get to see in this little office of ours. These are the heroes that trudged on despite losing their bonuses and wronged in the first place. These are the heroes who still continued working despite being told that they are fools, old and useless. This is the world we live in today. This is what is happening despite your abhorrent denial or refusal to accept such facts. Why? Simply because these things are hidden from the knowledge and sight of the upper crust of the goons too. It doesn’t take one hand to clap but it takes many hands of these young selfish blood hounds to clap together to deafen the cries of help from the bottom section.

Me? I am part of that old, fool and useless category, actually. Ahhh! The Chai tea does smell and taste good……..somehow……

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