Right to Revoke

A recent proposal at office has been the reason for much resentment as well as humour for the last couple of days. Realising that employees have started buying cars like hot-cakes and that the current parking space of over a hundered bays would not suffice with the growing demand, it has been proposed to reserve more than half the parking bays for officers above a particular grade. For the lesser mortals, the existing system of first come first park would continue to exist.

The reason for resentment revolves around the fact that why should there be a gradation in a world which is moving towards meritocracy. Why should people who reach the office early be not provided reserved parking spaces to accomodate the cars of people who come late and find it difficult to get a parking bay?

At the same time, the reason for humour revolves around the fact that people have started marveling at what could be the possible extension of this gradation - reservations in elevators and reservations in the gymnasium. Some people have also gone to the extent of imagining reservations in the wash-room and walking passages too. It was fun to see everyone laughing out loud at the rationale given by a colleague for washroom reservations - people at the higher cadre are typically of the elder generation and with age and diabetes they would have tendency to take frequent leaks!

On a serious note, I understand that the crux of the resentment is nothing but the fact that we are not acceptable to situations where the rights / privileges given to us are revoked or withdrawn. Had the same policy been there since the inception of the organisation, how many would have revolted or retaliated? This instant issue is actually an extension of what applies in our personal lives - how uncomfortable and choked we feel if people who give us certain privileges and rights to their lives / decisions / choices / preferences, revoke those privileges and rights all of a sudden and out of the blue? I guess, it is always better and comfortable not to have such privileges sooner than run the risk of being deprived and feel ackward.

It goes without saying that planning since inception of an organisation should be based on the understanding of human psyche, more than anyting else. This, for sure, goes a long way in making a great organisation.