Hierarchy in an Organisation

Hierarchy in an Organisation

A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being “above”, “below”, or “at the same level as” one another. Hierarchy is an important concept in a wide variety of fields, such as philosophy, mathematics, computer science, organizational theory, systems theory, and the social sciences

Hierarchy describes a system that organizes or ranks things, often according to power or importance. … Also known as a pecking order or power structure, a hierarchy is a formalized or simply implied understanding of who’s on top or what’s most important.

The three levels of management typically found in an organization are low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management. The three levels of management typically found in an organization are low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management.

   

Your importance and worth in an Organisation is solely dependant on which hierarchy level you belong; I have practically experienced this in my entire work experience of almost 25 years now.

Example of discrimination by hierarchy…

My daughter was appearing for her board exams, I had accumulated all my leave over the years when she was small so that I could be with her during her crucial academic period; when I approached my Seniors I was ridiculed that children don’t study when parents are around !! Since I belonged to a middle class family with a poor financial background, I couldn’t afford best quality coaching classes for her; she studied what was taught to her in her normal school. I had planned atleast 2 -3 months of leave, but all I could manage was 2 -3 days with her to give moral support. By God’s grace and blessings of my well-wishers she scored very high marks and made us feel very proud. But till today she blames “mummy when I needed you were not with me”..

During this same period, one of my seniors from the management team had her daughter too having board exams; being a Manager she didn’t have to clock in hours in the office, coming at 3pm and leaving at 5pm was permitted to her for 6months since her daughter is studying (our office timings were 8am to 5pm and a minute here or there would entail deduction of salary) but then this rule was only for Non-Managers

Another strong example – when you are on leave

When you are on leave (your eligible leave sanctioned well in advance by your Line Manager), you have planned a small outing with your family – just a 2-3 hours drive from your residence or to your native to attend a family domestic issue (you are not a Manager so cannot afford a foreign tour). In such a situation, you receive a phone call or an urgent email from your office; you are supposed to answer and resolve with the same efficiency as if you were sitting in the office. This is applicable for weekends and after office working hours too (since you are a Non-Manager).

Once I dared to “not” answer such a phone call, it was 2pm on a Sunday– I was having my afternoon nap, so I missed the few so called “urgent” calls, I reverted the calls later around 5pm and even opened my laptop, duly completed the tasks by 7pm… all done I was glad only to discover later that there was a memo in my name, a remark in my performance review that I never pickup calls, I work in silos, I am unfit for team-building and what not…..the person who wrote about this gets promotion as a Manager and I get a life time black mark…. All because I am a Non-Manager !!

One more distinct example – you are sick

When you report sick, you are still supposed to come to office and prove that you are sick, then also someone will poke you and check whether you are acting sick, but a Manager is sick, you are not supposed to disturb them at all..

Another discreet example   – team lunch / dinner

You are Never Invited for any team lunch / dinner because we have a policy of cost-cutting. Indeed, there would be lunch or dinner invites, but then you need to shell out equal contribution (hierarchy is not important here). If you refuse then you are labelled as not supporting team building; so you pay and enjoy.

At the same time, there are quarterly team events of Managers but then they are “paid by the company” because they are Managers !!

I pray to God, in my next re-birth, please make me a Manager directly, so that atleast I will take care of a Non-Manager and their feelings, I would give them some respite so they don’t hate Managers…

Recently there was a competition and I won some Gift vouchers, I was so excited and proud of my own self – out of 13000 participants, 1000 entries were 100% and 21 winners globally, I was the only one from India – isn’t that a remarkable achievement ?? my name appeared in our Global News, my Global Functional Head even sent me a personal congratulations email, BUT none of my Indian Colleagues were happy about it, they didn’t even acknowledge having read the news !!! this made me wonder – if instead of me some Manager would have won the prize, wall posters would have been put up across the organisation…!!!

One day I wore a beautiful dress which for sure I couldnt afford, I had received it as a gift from a relative, I got a remark “ohh you also wear good clothing” I was angered and wanted to retort back “I always wear good clothing but you seem to look only at Managers”, but all I could murmur was a “thank you” and smile and move on………..

I am not interested in the fame but still back of the mind there is feeling I am so small…we work for the company thinking it is our bread-earner, we put our entire life and blood for which we just get a remark “it is your duty / responsibility” ….

When I do something good or outstanding, no one praises, but the moment I refuse to do one thing or be late in completing one task, it would be published world-wide and there would be a permanent black spot on my career…

Why ???