This article puts into introspection the various aspects of paternalism in the workplace. Moreover, the article sheds light on subjective resistance of paternalism, an issue which hasn’t received much attention in media. The article also discusses certain methods of subjective resistance that were exercised in VaterCorp’s paternalistic workplace. In the end, the author puts forth his views on the causes of resistance at VaterCorp and other companies and whether modern-day paternalism still has beneficial outcomes in terms of employee performance and workplace harmony. Rather than being outdated, the author argues that although paternalism in the workplace still contributes to great benefits in the workplace such as efficiency, success and harmony, examples of intentional or unintentional dissent will always co-exist. And that the potential effects of modern day paternalistic approaches can only be fully understood by studying the causes and modes of resistance.
I agree with the methods used at VaterCorp to increase employee motivation and thus efficiency. The founder James Carr was able to turn a stereotypical call centre workplace into an energetic and friendly environment in which motivation and ambition were infused into employees, resulting in greater efficiency whilst dealing with customers. The example of the early years of Wal-Mart can be used to validate this. Sam Walton’s father-like approach in dealing with employees infused the working culture with a sense of direction and familiarity. He, like James Carr, greeted his employees on a first name basis and was able to present himself as an approachable leader. This worked wonders for the company as it was able to transform into the world’s biggest discount store in less than 30 years, using its friendly customer service and competitive strategy. The most important factor in this strategy was