I wonder and worry, “When did ‘work’ become a four-letter word?” We have been taught to accept that the only constant in life is change and those who embrace it and adapt will be happier. Those who continuously resist change can end up frustrated and discontent, always pining for “the good old days”— which, in reality, may not have been any better.

However, what happens when change is not an improvement, when it disrupts and derails basic needs and expectations? As a former schoolteacher and a long-time human resources director, I can emphatically say change is inevitable and the ability to keep up with the times is critical for success. But the changes I see in the workplace are, at best, a mixed bag.

When an employee is summoned to Human Resources (HR), a normal expectation would be that the HR person will describe whatever situation needs attention and the employee will listen carefully to the points being addressed. A discussion might ensue and, when the employee returns to work, it will be clear what needs to improve. That was the working model. Sadly, this is not the case anymore.

Recently, I spoke with a not-so-new employee about his inability to be a team player, as observed by his co-workers and managers. My intent was to encourage him to take on additional tasks to assist his team, as his predecessors had done. His response was that he was doing as much as he felt was sufficient and that should be good enough for me and everyone else. This triggered a flashback to conversations with my Dad, whose simple advice often provided clarity. He would have simply said to me, “The tail isn’t supposed to wag the dog.”

Hearing that employee’s response, I sat there dumbfounded, remembering many performance reviews I had — some fair, some harsh. Because of my own experiences, I vowed to always be kind and helpful........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)