Boss (Manager) is One of Our Five Fathers

During my schooldays it was in fashion to criticize the teachers. Almost the same trend I could observe in college too. Later, when I joined the corporate world, I noticed that the one who received the most criticism was the “Boss” (also known as manager). I could hear several people saying, “People don’t change jobs, they change managers” or the same thing in different words, “People leave managers, not companies”. Surprisingly, (many times) the boss actually does not deserve much criticism.

Although I have always appreciated the qualities of my managers (and I still do), yet in one of the organizations somehow I got into this bad habit of criticizing the manager. My father would often advise not to say anything against the manger.

He would say, “जिसके कारण अपनी जीविका चलती हो उसकी बुराई कभी नहीं करनी चाहिए” (you should never find faults in your employer as he/she is the one because of whom you are able to earn money) but when your negative energy is on higher side you don’t follow such advice.

Sometime later; while reading one of the religious texts I realized that one should respect the following people as his father: - 1) One who is/was responsible for your birth, 2) The one who performed Upanayan (Janeu) samskara for you, 3) The one who is/was your teacher, 4) The one who gives you food, and 5) The one who gives you shelter

जनिता चोपनेता च यस्तु विद्यां प्रयच्छति। अन्नदाता भयत्राता पञ्चैते पितर: स्मृता:॥

Here, the one who gives us food is actually the employer but it would not be inappropriate if we consider the manager as “Annadaata” (no. 4) as he governs our work in the facility. But not many people in the industry talk good about the manager. Even if you don’t like saying anything against your boss you might have to lend your ears to it just because accusing the upper management becomes a hot topic for group discussion sometimes.

Interestingly, according to astrology, Sun signifies father in the horoscope. Sun also signifies fame and is the Karaka for tenth house of horoscope which is for career. When someone starts looking for faults in his manager, the Sun is negatively impacted and the chances are strong that the person would start losing his potential to achieve name and fame in his/her career.

Just as we don’t backstab our father, we should avoid backstabbing the manager.

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