Daily Dilemma

WORK PLACE ISSUES

In my work with organizations I come across so many people who have many different beliefs, values, and opinions. How do we as a society accept other view points? Do people just skim over the information in their brain and then discard it because it's different and uncomfortable? Here's today dilemma:

Sue works as a cashier in a large retail store. She has the most contact with customers on any given day. Monday at 7:00am is the weekly staff meeting. Managers, supervisors and associates are all in attendance. Sue likes to contribute about what types of customers she sees on the floor. She talks about the elderly customers who come in and want to talk about their younger years and how stores have changed, and they are not personalized any longer. She also talks about the younger customers who can't find anything on the floor that are their style. Then she talks about the middle aged customer who just wanders the store with no interest in buying anything.

Sue notices the more she talks about how to help her customers the more tuned out the supervisors and managers are. Why is that she wonders? Is it because they don't think I bring anything of value? Sue thinks she is doing something wrong by chiming in during the staff meeting. She thought that's what staff meetings were all about.

One day after the staff meeting her supervisor asks her to meet him in his office before her shift. Sue obeys and he scolds her for talking to much in the meetings. He told her to not say a word anymore, because it makes him look bad. Sue told him she is just trying to help. "I said don't say a word during the meetings or you are fired." Sue was taken aback by this attitude. She noticed the past few weeks after this confrontation with her supervisor, he and other associates have been treating her terribly. She does not know what to do anymore and loses confidence in her abilities for the job and other possible opportunities.

Analysis: It seems there are many issues happening in this scenario. There seems to be a diligent worker who wants to do her job and do it to the best of her ability. We have supervisors and managers that are not allowing their employees to voices opinions about their job.

Solution:

What do you think about the supervisor? What do you think about Sue (the associate)? Should she have right to her opinion to make things run smoother and more efficient? Is she really making her boss look bad?