Dear All,
In our company, employees receive a 500 rupee fine for each non-disciplinary deed (for example, mobile ringing during office hours, sitting in others' cabins, going to floors where they don't have access, leaving papers on the table after office hours, forgetting papers on the table after office hours, forgetting to switch off the light). This amount will be deducted from their salary as a salary advance.
Do you think this is ethical? Please share your views.
Regards,
Ms. George
From India, Bangalore
In our company, employees receive a 500 rupee fine for each non-disciplinary deed (for example, mobile ringing during office hours, sitting in others' cabins, going to floors where they don't have access, leaving papers on the table after office hours, forgetting papers on the table after office hours, forgetting to switch off the light). This amount will be deducted from their salary as a salary advance.
Do you think this is ethical? Please share your views.
Regards,
Ms. George
From India, Bangalore
Ignoring ESI compliance? Employees can take you to labor court! See It In Action - Book Your Demo
Dear Ms. George,
It would be easy to look at the situation in the proper perspective if you can kindly answer the following:
What is the average salary of the employees subjected to this extraordinary punishment?
What is the likelihood of an employee committing two or more such misconducts in a month?
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
1446It would be easy to look at the situation in the proper perspective if you can kindly answer the following:
What is the average salary of the employees subjected to this extraordinary punishment?
What is the likelihood of an employee committing two or more such misconducts in a month?
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Dear Ms. George,
It is surely unethical, though you may consider the average salary or perks. The salary is for executing their efforts, physically, or mentally.
Two things I could understand:
(1) You will have a high attrition rate over a very short time following this. Be geared up as a full-time recruiter instead.
(2) You are very ethical, you cannot withstand this as a custodian of HR and ethics. Kindly start for a lookout, as by your message, I am able to read that you will not be able to convince your management for a change.
All the message is quite okay, but the methodology of punishing is not good. You may only appeal to your employees to refrain from all these.
Good luck. God bless you.
From India, Madras
It is surely unethical, though you may consider the average salary or perks. The salary is for executing their efforts, physically, or mentally.
Two things I could understand:
(1) You will have a high attrition rate over a very short time following this. Be geared up as a full-time recruiter instead.
(2) You are very ethical, you cannot withstand this as a custodian of HR and ethics. Kindly start for a lookout, as by your message, I am able to read that you will not be able to convince your management for a change.
All the message is quite okay, but the methodology of punishing is not good. You may only appeal to your employees to refrain from all these.
Good luck. God bless you.
From India, Madras
Ms. George,
The practice is highly unethical. The head of the organization seems to be behaving like a headmaster of the yesteryears' schools with the philosophy of 'Spare the rod and spoil the child.' What next after deducting fines? Caning?
I agree with Capable. Very soon, you will have a horde of people leaving the company. It is not just about the money. It is the negative attitude a boss has towards his team which is a cause for concern. I am very sure there must be several such issues, which are not mentioned here. There are better ways of achieving the refinement in people. You can see this spectrum and decide on your further strategy.
- YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR SMOKING
- DON'T SMOKE
- PLEASE DON'T SMOKE
- THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING
From India, Delhi
The practice is highly unethical. The head of the organization seems to be behaving like a headmaster of the yesteryears' schools with the philosophy of 'Spare the rod and spoil the child.' What next after deducting fines? Caning?
I agree with Capable. Very soon, you will have a horde of people leaving the company. It is not just about the money. It is the negative attitude a boss has towards his team which is a cause for concern. I am very sure there must be several such issues, which are not mentioned here. There are better ways of achieving the refinement in people. You can see this spectrum and decide on your further strategy.
- YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR SMOKING
- DON'T SMOKE
- PLEASE DON'T SMOKE
- THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING
From India, Delhi
Thanks for the replies. I completely agree with Capable. We have a high attrition rate, and as of now, I need to concentrate the major portion of my time on recruitment. However, none of our employees seem to be happy. Ours is a very big organization where we have over 10,000 laborers and 500+ professional staff. We also have a high attrition rate among the staff. I have tried to convince our chairman, as I'm a member of the management. Unfortunately, the result was the worst; he told me that I am against the company policies.
As Mr. Riyaz said, currently, all our employees have a negative attitude towards management. However, nobody raises their voice as they are scared of the practice of immediate termination. I am really demotivated, but as an HR professional, I should not be. With only 2 years of experience, that too in this company itself, I'm confused. Is this really HR work that I'm doing? Should I continue my career with this company?
From India, Bangalore
As Mr. Riyaz said, currently, all our employees have a negative attitude towards management. However, nobody raises their voice as they are scared of the practice of immediate termination. I am really demotivated, but as an HR professional, I should not be. With only 2 years of experience, that too in this company itself, I'm confused. Is this really HR work that I'm doing? Should I continue my career with this company?
From India, Bangalore
Ms. George,
Thank you for sharing your situation with us. However, I have a few queries for you:
1. Do employees have the habit of leaving the lights on?
2. If you keep your mobile in silent mode, how does anyone know? It is usually a rule in most companies to keep mobiles on silent, and in some, employees are even required to submit their mobiles before entering cabins, which they can retrieve when leaving.
3. How do you access floors for which you have no permission, and why do you need to do so?
4. Do you keep your desk clean? In many offices, cleanliness is highly emphasized. You are fortunate to receive instructions to do so, as those who are not may face consequences. What are your thoughts on this?
Ms. George, imagine if you rent out your house and specify rules about cleanliness and maintenance. Those renting from you would likely comply to avoid fines. Similarly, cleanliness is crucial in a workplace setting, and adherence to such guidelines benefits all.
I have shared my thoughts with you, and while your situation may seem challenging, there are others facing worse circumstances. You are fortunate to be part of a well-mannered and disciplined company.
Congratulations on that!
Regards,
People Power Team.
From India, Bangalore
Thank you for sharing your situation with us. However, I have a few queries for you:
1. Do employees have the habit of leaving the lights on?
2. If you keep your mobile in silent mode, how does anyone know? It is usually a rule in most companies to keep mobiles on silent, and in some, employees are even required to submit their mobiles before entering cabins, which they can retrieve when leaving.
3. How do you access floors for which you have no permission, and why do you need to do so?
4. Do you keep your desk clean? In many offices, cleanliness is highly emphasized. You are fortunate to receive instructions to do so, as those who are not may face consequences. What are your thoughts on this?
Ms. George, imagine if you rent out your house and specify rules about cleanliness and maintenance. Those renting from you would likely comply to avoid fines. Similarly, cleanliness is crucial in a workplace setting, and adherence to such guidelines benefits all.
I have shared my thoughts with you, and while your situation may seem challenging, there are others facing worse circumstances. You are fortunate to be part of a well-mannered and disciplined company.
Congratulations on that!
Regards,
People Power Team.
From India, Bangalore
Dear Mr. George,
I understand your situation. The company makes policies for certain reasons. Once we step into the owner's shoes, we realize how difficult it is for him to make such decisions. He did not start the company easily, and now with over 10,000 laborers and 500+ professional staff, consider the additional pressures he faces that we may not even be aware of.
Employees are working and getting paid for their work, which is agreed upon. Neither the employee nor the employer is engaged in charity. If someone breaks the rules, they should be punished. Physical punishment is not something any employer should consider; therefore, monetary punishment is well defined.
In my opinion, it is not unethical for the MD or the management to terminate an individual and deduct a penalty from their salary. Why should the company bear extra expenses from its own pocket for someone else's mistake?
Regards
From India, Mumbai
I understand your situation. The company makes policies for certain reasons. Once we step into the owner's shoes, we realize how difficult it is for him to make such decisions. He did not start the company easily, and now with over 10,000 laborers and 500+ professional staff, consider the additional pressures he faces that we may not even be aware of.
Employees are working and getting paid for their work, which is agreed upon. Neither the employee nor the employer is engaged in charity. If someone breaks the rules, they should be punished. Physical punishment is not something any employer should consider; therefore, monetary punishment is well defined.
In my opinion, it is not unethical for the MD or the management to terminate an individual and deduct a penalty from their salary. Why should the company bear extra expenses from its own pocket for someone else's mistake?
Regards
From India, Mumbai
Hi George,
I am sure every company and every employee would have a right to their own views. However, my personal opinion is that if the employee meets his/her deadlines, then you need not bother. You may want to read the book "Maverick" by Ricardo Semler. It is a good read to know how employees perform if they are not under too many rules and regulations.
Cheers! Rohan
From India, Bangalore
I am sure every company and every employee would have a right to their own views. However, my personal opinion is that if the employee meets his/her deadlines, then you need not bother. You may want to read the book "Maverick" by Ricardo Semler. It is a good read to know how employees perform if they are not under too many rules and regulations.
Cheers! Rohan
From India, Bangalore
Ms. George,
It seems that your organization has a decade-old book of Rules & Regulations. I heard from a famous speaker, "The more laws, the more corrupt the nation." Imposing fines for non-observable acts will generate more disrespect and less ownership towards the organization. Any form of indiscipline with money involved as a fine or method to correct them will lead nowhere.
"It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean." - Mae West
Simmy Saini | Google | India.
From India, Mumbai
It seems that your organization has a decade-old book of Rules & Regulations. I heard from a famous speaker, "The more laws, the more corrupt the nation." Imposing fines for non-observable acts will generate more disrespect and less ownership towards the organization. Any form of indiscipline with money involved as a fine or method to correct them will lead nowhere.
"It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean." - Mae West
Simmy Saini | Google | India.
From India, Mumbai
There could be more solutions you can try:
Collect everyone's mobile before entering the office. If they don't have access to floors, put a scanner at the gate of the floor so that only authorized persons can enter.
Keep an office boy who will collect all the papers from everyone's desk and process them for recycling. Depending on the size of the company, there must be multiple office boys.
Ask the office boy to switch off the lights after everyone leaves.
Hope this helps.
From India, New Delhi
Collect everyone's mobile before entering the office. If they don't have access to floors, put a scanner at the gate of the floor so that only authorized persons can enter.
Keep an office boy who will collect all the papers from everyone's desk and process them for recycling. Depending on the size of the company, there must be multiple office boys.
Ask the office boy to switch off the lights after everyone leaves.
Hope this helps.
From India, New Delhi
Looking for something specific? - Join & Be Part Of Our Community and get connected with the right people who can help. Our AI-powered platform provides real-time fact-checking, peer-reviewed insights, and a vast historical knowledge base to support your search.