Informal Relationships in the Workplace
In Response to Wency Leung’s blog, in the Globe and Mail’s Hot Button Blog, I agree that informal relationships between employers and employees are becoming more and more prominent nowadays. This comes partially from the development of social media sites like Facebook which allow people to be more open about their personal lives. Because of this, a younger generation of workers see nothing inappropriate about adding their employers on Facebook and creating a more personal relationship between the two parties. Where older employees, who never had these sites growing up, believe that these relationships are inappropriate, the new generation of workers is not afraid to casually hang-out with their employers.
Relationships like these are beneficial for both the employer and employee. On the side of the employee, this relationship creates a more enjoyable atmosphere at work which makes intrinsically motivated and satisfied employees. When employees are intrinsically motivated and enjoy their work, they are also more productive. Therefore, it is also beneficial from the point of view of the employer as well. Despite their benefits, these affiliations can cause misunderstandings in the hierarchal stance of employers over employees in an organization. These misunderstandings can lead to disrespectful behaviour and a decrease in productivity. Due to the close relationship, discipline may also be harder to deliver as neither party wants to hurt the other.
It is my belief, that nowadays it is important for employers to have more than just an office based relationship with their employees. However, these relationships cannot be too extensive as hierarchal levels have to stay in tact and employers have to discipline employees when wrongdoings have occurred.
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