Schadenfreude — Not a pretty thing to see.
Schadenfreude is a German word defined as pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
My phone rings and it’s the assistant manager of a store where the manager is on vacation of a store somewhere out there in the wilds of Northern America.
Mongo: “Hey Rich, it’s Mongo. I had a question about my check.”
Rich: “Yeeeees.”
Mongo: “See, my check had a raise on it.”
Rich: “You’re welcome.”
Mongo: “Right. But Roy brought their check in and they haven’t been here as long as me and their raise was a lot. They make more than me now.”
Rich: “Ah. So you’re unhappy with your raise? You’re able to just jot down on a piece of paper that you’d like to refuse it and donate it to orphaned cats or somesuch. It’s no trouble at all.”
Mongo: “No. That’s not it. Roy makes more than me.”
Rich: “So do I. So does your manager. Are you unhappy with what YOU make or with what ROY makes?”
Mongo: “Roy.”
Rich: “OK. Be right back.”
I do a quick call find that there was a clerical error and the pay raise for Roy is indeed wrong. It was a typo in payroll, and it’ll be fixed but Roy gets to keep the extra money they made this check because well… we screwed up. Lucky Roy.
Ring Ring.
Mongo: “Widgets-R-Us, this is Mongo can I help you?”
Rich: “Would you be happier if I told you there was a mistake and we’ve now reduced your co-worker’s pay to less than yours?”
Mongo: “Yes.”
Rich: “Well that’s mean of you. I think it’s really too bad that you didn’t say she was a bad person or didn’t deserve it or anything… just that you didn’t want her making more than you and you were actually happy when we took something from her that didn’t hurt you that she had. That’s horrible.”
Mongo: “I’ve been told I’m a bitch. I guess maybe I am. Admitting it’s good right?”
Rich: “No, seeing it as a flaw is good. Bragging about it is horrible.”
She was the assistant manager, who are we kidding. She still is. But the odds of her being a manager under me are pretty slim. She kind of shot her chances in the butt with that conversation. You got the Reader’s Digest version of the conversation. The actual conversation was a lot longer and went into not discussing pay with other employees, and why I thought it was too bad she enjoyed taking something from a fellow employee was a bad thing. While it’s true it would have been a horrible pay disparity, the part where she was happy that someone lost something that cost her nothing… that was the part that was bad. I never could get her to say she wasn’t happy about the other person making less. She really meant it. I’ll try again at a later to see what I mean, and understand that it’s OK to be happy for someone else’s good fortune.
The Schadenfreude — Not a pretty thing to see. by Rich Griffith, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I’m not surprised…..its reflective of the way business has treated labor for decades. I guess it just filtered down. Ethics need to be taught and reinforced by authority or quite simply people mimic what they experience, unless an alternative is demonstrated.
As a consequence of our economic realities here now the corporate bosses have us by the short ones but as with all things, this too will pass and then the day of justice comes.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I know you’re going to accuse me of being Pollyanna here, but I’m high enough now, and so are you… that WE are business. It’s up to us to make sure we aren’t doing what is described as bad business. If we model good behavior, regardless of what we have seen, then we become the model for those around us.
By doing that we break the cycle that you’re describing. I really believe that we can carve out areas where that’s not true in our demesne. We can become places people want to work because we’re great to work for. I know I’d work for you. When we worked together before I think I said that to you. You’re the kind of person who cares about their employees and does well by them and the place you work. You’re a good boss. Don’t let stress and frustration, and whatever else is going on around you catch you up and make you into a different kind of boss. I don’t think you’d be happy that way. I don’t think you’d be happy as a person or as a manager if you were to start treating people like a number or an expense to be pruned so don’t do it.
Stick to your values because they’re what make you good at what you do. Yes, there are confines we work within, and structures we abide with, but we have amazing latitude within those structures to build wonderful communities at our level. I’m positive we can all make great places to work out where we work, regardless of where that is or what the conditions are because WE are the model that those under and around us will follow if we will just lead the way, and set the example that is WORTH following. I think you’re able to do that. I thought it when I asked that you be promoted, and I think it now.
And I should have sent all that in an e-mail.
August 7th, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I agree completely. I just wish i had more ability to reward the folks who really have worked incredibly hard so far this year especially. But i agree and I have been taught by the most ethical person I know so I can only hope to at least be faithful to the example you have been to me.