It is well said that, in a watch hairspring is as important as the main spring.  It is known to everybody that if there is any fault in a small spring, the functioning of the watch will come to an end. This shows for smooth functioning of a watch, all parts in the watch has to work properly irrespective of the size of the part.

In the same way, to run the organisation or industry smoothly, collective efforts of all employees from higher-level to lower level are very essential. Of course, one cannot deny that the ‘head’ of an organisation is more important than anybody else in the organisation and because of him the organisation exists. But at the same time, other employees, who perform various functions in the organisation are also essential to run the organisation smoothly.

It is universally accepted fact that the head of the organisation alone cannot run the organisation without the help and assistance of other subordinate employees. So it should not be forgotten that lower-level employees are also play an important role in running the organisation smoothly and successfully.

To illustrate with an example, to conduct a conference, or a mega event, all employees in an organisation or industry should work unitedly from higher level to lower level for the success of the event.

While the higher authorities strive hard to find out eminent personalities to address the conference, it is the duty of the subordinate level like administrative staff, helpers and others to see that the invited guests’ stay, etc, are comfortable in all respects. Unless they feel happy about their stay and other comforts, they will have ill feeling about the organisation and its way of functioning.

So it is the duty of the higher-ups to look after the safety and well being of the lower staff in the organisation.

Their needs and requirements should be looked after. They should be encouraged to do good work and more work in a limited period of time.  They should be given all applicable allowances and other benefits to motivate them to have a good feeling about the organisation and the work environment.

They should always feel at home to do better work under congenial atmosphere. They should have a feeling of oneness and belongingness towards the organisation. As such, higher authorities will never look down upon the lower class of employees and they never harass them on one pretext or the other to extract work.

Cooperation is essential

If any lower level employee or staff have any problem with regard to finance, health, work environment, etc., it is the duty of the higher officials to come the rescue of the lower class employees. One should not ignore them thinking that their part is very limited and negligible in the organisation. Though their work may not be required greater intelligence and mental stamina, physically they have to work hard from dawn to dust to complete the given task. For example, helpers, attendants, etc., have to do hard jobs sometimes in the organisation.    They are cutouts for such hard jobs and higher official cannot perform them on their won.

If any organisation is found spick and span, clean and tidy, it is the hard labour of lower level workers like attendants, gardeners, etc. Because of their sweat labour and hard work, the entire campus of the organisation or institution get embellished. Even to construct a house, money and material are required. But to build a house, help and assistant of the labourers are very essential, otherwise construction of a house will be a distant dream.

So to complete a big task, efforts of all classes of employees in an organisation is unitedly required.

It is delighted to know that in other countries higher officials move closely with the lower staff. They appreciate and thank the lower staff for the work done by them. They treat all employees are equal in an organisation or enterprise, without any bias. But it is very sad to see in our country that most of the executives work in big organisations and industries have a feeling that even to talk lower class employees is ‘below their dignity’!  They hardly appreciate and encourage the subordinate people. It is to be remembered that big people’s greatness lies in treating the little ones. If you respect your subordinates and their feelings, they are the people who regard and respect higher ups and they are ready to undertake any task assigned to them happily.

So higher-ups in the organisation will have care, concern and compassion towards lower-level employees. They all need personal attention of the higher ups, their kind enquiries, their positive response to the requests, etc. These will go a long way in motivating the lower level employees to a great extent in any organisation or enterprise to achieve great and good results. These personal touch, interaction and involvement will increase a feeling of oneness and belongingness in the minds of the lower level employees towards the organisation.   As a result, the overall functioning in an organisation will be smooth and effective.

So it is needless to mention that all employees in an organisation is important from higher to lower level since the final output of a product is part and parcel of all concerned. To illustrate another example, if our city is looking beautiful and elegant, it is mainly because of the pourakarmikas’ (sweepers and scavengers) hard and relentless work.

So, it would be nice to cultivate extending respect towards lower class employees at work.

The writer can be reached on: adr@nias.iisc.ernet.in or adevaraju@gmail.com