Is scolding in the workplace normal?
I am in my first job after graduation. Have been working in the firm for 2.5 years now.
I was previously from a team with a boss who would scold me till I tear and then call me back after working hours to apologise. I do not believe my work is bad because I do get good reviews and am promoted with healthy increments.
However, I had enough of the team’s work and manipulative boss that I opted to jump to another team.
In this new team, I am now getting hammered by my current boss once again. With harsh phrases like “This is on you, I want you to feel bad about this. Don’t make me drop you off this task…”
I am beginning to lose faith in this company’s leadership and am thinking of leaving but yet I am scared that it will be like this in my new workplace. Hence the question – Is workplace scolding normal?
Also, should I change job because of this?
Netizens’ comments
- No, it shouldn’t be normal. It’s only professional to point out problems without going into personal attacks.
- Sounds like a very poor management. I would not work in that kind of environment.
- I know of a family-run company in Singapore that has this very culture. They pay really well but it is just pure toxicity. I know a couple of friends who worked with them before. The nearer you are to HQ, the more severe this was. One of my friends was on their scholarship and had to be bonded for 3 years. It was pure nightmare. There was once when the manager needed a simple piece of information and he called the entire team just to see if they picked up the call. At that time, which was 8pm and after office hours, my friend went to the gym without his handphone. He called back 30mins later and was berated over the phone. He dreaded going into the office the next day. The madness continued the next day. The manager rounded up everybody who did not pick up and did not dial back within an hour, lined them up and scolded them for half an hour because apparently, “the company could have been in serious trouble with such irresponsible staff!!” My friend was spared but half the office was not. Morale was terrible.