Shaming Each Other In Public Is Never The Answer
Shaming each other in public is never the answer.
It creates a hostile work environment, it's embarrassing for everyone involved, and it rarely solves the problem. If you're having an issue with a coworker, try emailing or meeting with them privately first. If that doesn't work, report the issue to management or senior management.
We want to create a workplace where people feel comfortable taking risks and speaking up about their ideas. A place where public shaming isn't necessary because we've solved the problem through communication and collaboration. Join us in this effort by not participating in public shaming and reporting any instances of it that you see.
Continue reading to end public shaming in the workplace!
Imagine you are at a meeting with your new team and management. You are communicating in your own unique style. The material is based on the team's request. They want to hear from you on certain topics. They want to be informed. They want to be kept in the loop. They want to know beyond their immediate job.
Your content is well received by the staff. They stated as much over the phone and in emails.
Your management, however, plans to humiliate you by declaring " you talk too much." "Leaders should know how to talk", on those team calls.
This prompts your team to approach you privately and express their shock and disapproval at the manner your new management continues to embarrass and publicly shame you.
What is public shaming?
Public shaming is the act of criticizing someone in front of their peers. Public shaming can create a hostile work environment and is rarely an appropriate solution to workplace issues.
As you continue to get publicly shamed, your blood boils. Your reputation is taking a hit. Your brand, which you carefully built over many years is being tarnished. But you realize that you can't do anything about it.
Why?
You are an outsider working for management who is from a different culture. Management who is not as articulate as you. Management who does not have the experiences as you do. Management who is part of the "Old Boys Club".
Why did they hire you?
They needed you. But they did not want you. They thought you would be like the other outsiders, quietly do your job. Do what you are told. And never, ever, outshine them.
Why did you accept the position, if everyone who you spoke to, told you how that management was and how you would be treated?
Money! You had no choice but to accept because the money being offered was sufficient to meet all of your financial obligations.
So you put up with the public shaming and embarrassment for the sake of the money. But your health starts to suffer. You end up in hospital on several occasions due to chest pains. You have insomnia. And a host of other issues.
But you continue to put up with it because you have bills to pay and kids to take care of.
Your management knows this, so they use that against you, knowing you won't do anything. For one thing, you need the job/money. A second thing is, Senior Management and HR are all part of that same culture and Old Boys Club. So, even if you complained, it would fall on deaf ears.
You try to rationalize and look for the good.
You tell yourself that the management is insecure. English is not their native tongue. They lack access to the knowledge you possess. And they lack the communication skills you have to establish relationships with your new team.
Formally, their team!
So you take the public shaming. But over time, you lose credibility with your team because your management extends beyond public shaming to marginalizing you.
This is continuing to affect your health and morale adversely. So you decide to talk to your management.
Next thing you know, humiliation, marginalization, scope reduction, and performance evaluations are badly affected.
You try to reach out to senior management and HR, but you learn that, they are all part of the old boys club and don't do anything.
So what can you really do as the recipient of the public shaming?
To cope with this situation, you must first identify why something is occurring and select how to respond. Its critical to understand the WHY. Otherwise you will respond in a knee-jerk reaction which is emotionally based and can result in further complications.
If that fails, then in this situation, you can either quit and lose severance pay. Or you can file a case for constructive dismissal.
What can you do as the public shamer?
If you are thinking about addressing an issue with a coworker is in public, you should reconsider taking action. We propose sending an email or organizing a private meeting. If this does not work, you should report the issue to management or senior management.
Inflicting embarrassment on your employees can reduce morale and result in an unhappy work environment.
Consider how you wish to respond now that you have been publicly humiliated. Have you suffered a personal attack? Was there a solid reason to disgrace your reputation? Set aside time to converse with your supervisor or coworkers, and use the opportunity to request feedback and share your views.
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