Are you aware of the devastating effects of favouritism in the workplace?Are you aware that it is similar to that which is experienced in the home? Are you aware that it affects employees in the same manner that it affects members within a family? Well, think about it for a moment. Reflect upon your family of origin or your immediate family. Try to recall any situations whereby acts of favouritism were given to another and how it affected members within the family.
Favouritism means giving preferential treatment to one or more persons. When this is done, it breeds all sorts of negative emotions – anger, bitterness, frustration, resentment, jealousy, envy, fear, worry, vindictiveness, anxiety, hostility, depression, hatred, malice, aggression, just to name a few.
It must be remembered that employees, like family members, are humans too – with feelings – and are susceptible to those emotions as well. So it is important that managers are aware of it. It is considered as bad management practice, as it has the tendency to breed resentment, destroy employee morale, and create disincentives for good performance. For once employees see that benefits flow from being on the manager’s good side — rather than from doing a great job — there’s little point in working hard.
It is important to be aware of favouritism in the workplace because it is usually a sure sign that policies and procedures are not what they should be. While it is natural for certain people to have more in common than others, employees who hold positions of authority are expected to develop work relationships that are professional and free of bias. No employee should be subject to unfair treatment because of a supervisor’s prejudice or personal inclination to favour an individual or group.
It is wise for leaders and managers, at all levels, to be mindful that favouritism is a deadly vice because it has the potential to lead to loss productivity as employees who are not seeing fair treatment in the workplace canspend most of their time gossiping and griping about how unfair the system is – rather than giving maximum output on the job.
If you are an employer or manager engaging in preferential treatment of employees, it is time to stop. Signs that you are promoting favouritism include spending extra time with preferred workers, overlooking mistakes made by favourite employees and assigning perks to employees because you like them. If you are an employee working in an environment where a boss is practicing favouritism, double-check your impressions by looking for specific examples of preferred treatment. Once you have confirmed that this is a problem in your workplace, it is wise to bring it to the attention of the governing body or the Human Resource Management.
My friends, if you want to see or know how deadly favouritism really is, it is important that you read the stories below as mentioned in the Bible:
Joseph and his brothers – Genesis 37:4 – But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
Jacob and Esau – Genesis 27:6-17 – Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
Remember: Leaders who practice favouritism in the workplace have no chance to build a culture of trust. Anything that suggests the possibility of favouritism really begins to work against the public confidence.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in The Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. Referrals can also be made directly through the Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence, South Hill, Anguilla. By Appointment Only: Tel 497-0765
