I have caution tape and a barricade in my cube. Now if only I knew more about mutiny; I suppose that it would be more of a coup …
By David Mantey, Editor, PD&D
I was reading up on the latest forms of non-violent protest in the workplace and stumbled across an interesting new concept that shows how a disgruntled workforce can react after it reaches its breaking point. While the fad seems to accomplish little more than a criminal misdemeanor charge with a possible felony escalation, I suppose it is better choice than some workers have made in the past.
The new fad sweeping the French countryside is “boss-napping.” Essentially, instead of picketing, the staff stages a sit-in that blocks the boss’ door and refuses to allow the executive to clock out for a fine evening with the family.
Sure, it’s kidnapping, but it seems like the execs understand where the employees are coming from, and given the lifeboat status of the latest kidnapping victim to come across the wire, it can be worse than a hastily prepared meal and fake promises.
The employees become upset after Bossman stands up in front of the crowd and delivers some pretty life-altering news (layoffs, benefit cuts, bankruptcy, et cetera). The problem is that HR didn’t take the same precautions they did when prepping the fire escape routes, and Bossman is left 30 meters from the door with a mosh pit of angry piranhas waiting for him to dip his toes into the lake.
Until the AP ran the article, the barricade I’d acquired from a recent police auction was simply another random odd act by an editor-type on the other side of the office. After the story made its rounds through the cube aisles, I suddenly had an “attitude problem,” and my Bossman had me remove the blue and white eyesore because of code violations. Luckily, he didn’t see the nine rolls of caution tape I have stashed behind my past-issue archive (insert maniacal laugh).
Of course, kidnapping is no laughing matter, but these recent current events overseas are just a sample of what could be yet to come - here’s to hoping the protests at least remain non-violent. It seems like a rash decision. These workers can’t honestly believe they’ll save their jobs by threatening an exec. If anything, they’re making themselves more expendable.
I’m sure that if a company rebounds financially, the first people they’ll call back are the individuals who sacked the boss’ office and fed him animal crackers while they negotiated a new deal. Points for creativity I suppose, but this seems more like a plotline for The Office. What ever happened to the power of the strongly worded letter? Write the local paper, your congressman/woman. Write to me. You know the media; controversy is big business in the written-word world.
And it’s not that I was looking into best practices in workplace protest. Not that you need to check the key capture log or my Google search history. It was for the column, only for the column. I’m not disgruntled. In this economy? You have to be kidding. Now, big happy smile and a wave to all those on the branches on top of me in the PD&D family tree.
What's your take? Send comments to david.mantey@advantagemedia.com