I work in one of the best multinational companies of the 21st century. I go to my office every day and before I enter inside, I have to swipe my identity card at the entrance gate. This is applicable to every single employee of my organization. This is irrespective of the project, team, city, facility or country of the employee. Even the CEO. No exceptions. Every time I go out and come in the office, I have to swipe the card. I cant crib and complain and protest that i am being asked to “Prove my Employeeship” everyday. Because it is not. It is just a basic security process. If I use someone else’s card to enter the premise, I can lose my job on the same day.
I have a laptop given to me by my organization for my work. But even then, every day, I have to open my bag and take out the laptop at the security desk. The guard checks the serial number of the laptop and matches it with my laptop pass. This everyday procedure of checking the laptop is greatly frustrating sometimes, especially when i have an important meeting, a call, some urgent work to be done. But I comply. No questions asked. Because I understand. That’s what I signed up for when I joined the organization. I can enjoy and focus on my work inside because I know that there is a stringent security process outside applied by my organization which will take care of me. No one can enter my place of work illegally and disrupt the peaceful and positive work culture. This is what gives me confidence and trust that me as a person and my work is in safe hands.
If tomorrow, my organization decides to kick me out for getting involved in some illegal activities, for corruption, or non-performance or compliance breach, I will have to accept it and move on. I can’t just start shouting “Discrimination, Discrimination” in front of the company’s gates. I can’t break the glass door and spill water on the computer. It’s clear breaking of rules and laws. The security guards will sure push me outside because it’s a huge disruption to the people working inside.
I have to understand that I am not living in the era of my grandfather and father anymore. The time is gone when people just stayed stuck in their Sarkari jobs, with zero performance for 25 years and then ate their pensions for another 25 years. The company I work for is not here for social service or charity. Everyone has a task to complete and a target to achieve. If I am a non-asset, if I am a liability, I will be thrown out. This is the truth and reality of today’s world. And we ourselves have brought our world to this point of no return. The faster I understand this, the better will be the transition.
Even when I go home, I have my society’s separate identity card which I have to display at the gate every time. My bike, my car and my bicycle all have my society’s sticker fixed in the front. Any guests coming to meet me or every cab entering my society’s premise has to make an entry in the register at the security gate. In fact my maid has to create her own separate identity card, even if she doesn’t stay in my society. I know it’s a frustrating process, but I understand it’s for my own good and the safety of my children.
Tomorrow, if the Chowkidaar doesn’t let me inside the premise because I don’t have my card, do I argue with him? Do I tell him “Arre tujhe meine hi naukri par rakha hai. Aur tu mujhse hi sawaal kar raha hai?” (It’s me who has employed you and you are questioning me?)
No I can’t. The Chowkidaar is doing his job by following the rules which I only set for my own safety. And if he gives in to my tantrums, it will be the failure for both – the people involved and the system itself. The better I co-operate, the easier the process will be. And in case, i find out that the Chowkidaar is not performing his job, is corrupt, is lax, is careless – there is a due process to remove him. And I will make sure, I do it diligently.
That’s what it is.
And I heard some people have a problem with NRC !!