Recent weeks have seen a resurgence of this theme – ITV’s ‘This Morning’, PwC Australia, Scotland’s Police Service, the UK Fire Service, the Royal Mail Computer Fraud and racism scandal, the Metropolitan Police and the list goes on.
Such scandals have a common theme – people at the top accumulate power and wield it to cover up and exploit in a normalised way. All around them others have to work in fear – and misogyny and race discrimination become routine.
This shows that society is broken, and large organisations may appear to be efficient and powerful but the real story is far from the truth. Quality secure jobs are also declining with the growth in reach of technology, which means lots of people have to compete for fewer and fewer secure jobs. Insecurity is normal and security can come with a price tag of bullying, discrimination, fear and stress.
My research suggests that in the world of business those who bring profits and revenues are considered rainmakers and above the law. Greed has given a new toxicity to management in large organisations who are being incentivised to exploit. Challenge becomes impossible in such circumstances and even auditors are often so captured and corrupted that they will not raise a finger when their profession demands scepticism and challenge.
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Be careful who you chose to work for. If you are clever and ambitious watch whether or not you have allies in the organisation otherwise you will be seen as a threat. So many of us choose to go into start-ups or enterprises precisely because the cultures are toxic and exclusive at the top. Some choose to restrain ambition in pursuit of a quieter life, but I am not one of them.
It’s very important to interview your employer as they interview you to understand the real culture and values before you join them. Speak to other employees. Look out for diversity at the top and study behaviours and ignore the rhetoric. Watch out for the hidden toxicity and walk away with your talent.
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Professor Atul K. Shah [@atulkshah] teaches and writes about Indian wisdom on business, culture and community at various UK universities and is a renowned international author, speaker and broadcaster.
