Redefining Equity and Ownership in the Workplace: A Candid Exploration

In today’s corporate landscape, the 14 principles of management often leave us pondering the true meaning of equity and ownership. Let’s delve into these concepts and challenge the norms.

Equity:

HR departments frequently ask candidates about their salary expectations without revealing the company’s own salary boundaries on lower and upper limits. It’s a peculiar practice that seems to put job seekers in a tricky spot. But, it’s a question that demands our attention. After all, can any organization afford to pay hypothetically to Superman a salary that exceeds industry standards and completely devours company profits? The answer is a resounding no. Then why ask this question in first place?, why have this façade?

In this context, we must rethink what constitutes fair wages. With such vast income inequality worldwide, can we truly call any salary structure “fair”? According to the “World Inequality Report” produced by the World Inequality Lab. The wealthiest 1% of the world’s population owns more than twice as much wealth as the bottom 90%. This striking statistic underscores the vast wealth gap and serves as evidence of the inequities that persist in our society. This shows how deep-rooted problem of income inequality. It’s a societal issue that extends into the workplace, making the pursuit of equity a complex challenge.

Ownership:

Many employees are presented with a notion of ownership in their organizations, but is it real or illusory? This is a question that all too often goes unasked. Employees might perceive themselves as part-owners but may actually be far from it. The question is, does it matter to them? And do they even recognize the difference?

Some employees still fall for the illusion of ownership, attaching themselves to a fatherly figure within the organization, whether it’s the boss, HR manager, GM, or MD. This phenomenon raises intriguing questions about why people are drawn to these false senses of ownership.

It’s also interesting to consider why cynics view ownership as a burden, akin to having a monkey on one’s back. Is it because they see through the façade of this pseudo-ownership, realizing that they lack genuine control and decision-making power? Or is there more to it?