Introduction
Though company executives supervise the daily operations of the organization and make the most crucial decisions regarding current operations and future initiatives the fact remains that despite them wielding such power this doesn’t give them the right to mistreat and physically accost employees.
In all business organizations there are certain limits placed on behavior or rather certain behavioral codes of conduct emphasized which individual employees, whether part of upper management or the lower bracket, must abide by.
This code of conduct is known as professionalism and it is a manner by which an individual conducts themselves and treats others in a way that emphasizes respect, honesty, and no interference from personal opinion or bias.
It is the basis by which most companies design their business cultures and it is an expected mode of treatment whenever an employee is hired into a company.
It must also be noted that professionalism acts under the concept of reciprocity wherein if the company expects professionalism from its employees it must also accord them the same amount of professionalism. It is only under such a method that a proper business culture can develop resulting in open lines of communication and the sharing of ideas.
In cases where proper respect and professionalism are not returned to employees a culture of fear and mistrust is developed within the company.
This results in delayed reports, the tendency to hide problems rather than solve them, pushing responsibility onto other people rather than assuming responsibility and finally culminates into the creation of a wall between upper management and regular employees resulting in a distinct lack of communication and collaboration as well as other forms of misconduct (Mistreating workers boosts employee theft, 1996).
The result of such actions is usually the downfall of the company due to internal problems which could have been resolved if a proper professional attitude was instituted in the first place.
Statement
The actions of the Executive Vice President at the recent meeting are not at all conducive towards upholding the tenets of professionalism within an organization. As an executive of the company it his responsibility to embody the values and ethics of the company since it is to him that employees turn towards as an example for their own behavior.
Furthermore violent outbursts and scathing remarks do not promote open lines of communication and the sharing of ideas rather they result in a fearful environment where mistakes are not disclosed immediately. This results in delays in getting them fixed resulting in them causing more damage.
Lastly no employee, executive or not, has the right to physically assault another employee by throwing an object at them. Not only is this highly unprofessional but it is also unethical and against the law.
Recommended Disciplinary Action
Taking such factors into consideration it is necessary to enforce some form of disciplinary action pending a full review of such behavior over the course of this individual’s time at the company.
It is recommended that a few days suspension followed by a formal review of his actions is necessary in order to instill the idea that all activities within the company must conform to a certain degree of professionalism that not only conforms to good business practices but also respects the basic rights of individual employees as well.
Reference
Mistreating workers boosts employee theft. (1996). USA Today Magazine, 124(2611), 6. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.