Old Secretary: Are We in Calcutta, Toto?

One of the most hurtful things that I have watched occur over the past several years is the development of what I call the “caste system,” that demeaning arrangement which delineates the various levels of personnel and their respective “importance” in the firm. The resulting levels of respect or lack thereof and sporadic spasms of civility-meltdown, while not officially sanctioned by management, are certainly tolerated. Evidence of this ranking system is almost overwhelming: Identifying staff as “professional” or “support,” meting out different punishment for similar offenses, holding attorneys and staff to different standards for everything from attendance to office décor, and choosing with whom information is shared are just a few examples I can name. Not only is this atmosphere humiliating, it can totally destroy any team spirit or semblance of working toward a common goal. No one expects to be coddled or catered to, but everyone needs to feel like they’re an important, vital part of the team.

And, now, a good example: One of the best places I ever worked was Mennonite Broadcasts, where the entire staff gathered every morning for a short devotional period, followed by announcements, work assignments and dissemination of information to every single employee. Not only did I feel included, but that daily get together had a leveling effect which allowed me, a minor little player, to become and remain friends with the man whose voice was heard around the country on MBI’s weekly radio broadcasts. I understand that this was a small, church-related organization where I worked 30 years ago, but I’m still convinced that they had it figured out, and the resulting atmosphere of respect and inclusion could serve as a model for any organization.