OBEDIENCE to company rules and policies is non-negotiable. This is a truth, which employees must always keep in mind.
On the part of employers, this is a conviction that they should assert. Thus, the Philippine Supreme Court said in Nissan Motors versus Victorino Angelo that a “fundamental [duty] of an employee is to obey all reasonable rules, orders, and instructions of the employer.”
The entire life of the company and the meaning of employer-employee relations are hinged on obedience. Human Resource practitioners have packaged this basic point in various ways within the context of 21st century innovation. Some management practitioners are not so comfortable in directly using the term obedience. So they prefer onboarding, employee engagement, and collaboration in the workplace among many others. But all of these still connote a basic “must” at work: to follow the reasonable orders of the employer and his agents.
There is a need to highlight all of these once again because oftentimes we disregard or forget what is most basic. The value of obedience, nowadays, is in fact sacrificed especially in a work context where some employees feel entitled because of their talent. An employee would then threaten to resign if he would get a notice. It’s as if it is the fault of the employer or his representative. Some employees would even use familiar strategies to blackmail their employer. The expressions “it’s not my loss” or “there is something wrong with the company” are examples of these.
But why should the employer be at fault for simply implementing a company policy or rule? In the very first place, who has the right to set the rules and policies of the company? It is true that employees have rights that must be respected. But neither should we forget that so does the employer. More than anyone else in the company, it is the employer who has the right to determine how his company should be managed. After all who owns the company?
Workplace policies and rules should be followed unless if there is anything abusive with it. And unless a rule violates labor standards and jurisprudential norms the only thing that is expected of an employee is to follow and not question such rules. Else, why establish rules, policies or norms if they are just mocked or disrespected.
The Philippine Supreme Court no less acknowledges the prerogative of companies to discipline employees who violate company regulations. This is clearly stated in Areno versus Skycable PCC-Baguio: “[d]isciplinary action against an erring employee is a management prerogative which, generally, is not subject to judicial interference.” In the same decision, the High Court says that: “deliberate disregard or disobedience of rules by the employee cannot be countenanced.”
I agree that from the viewpoint of talent acquisition, we have to care and keep the better employees. No company would want to dismiss talented people. Truth to tell, the company would even try its best to attract and hire the best. However, it is also important to strike the balance. Talented employees should also keep in mind that their talent is not a license for them to violate company rules. Talents should be used not abused.
It is sad in fact whenever a talented employee would be dismissed. I am reminded of what the Good Book tells us of the Parable of the Talents. There is always that employee who, because of his high sense of entitlement, behaves that as if he is over and above company rules. Sometimes, he forgets that he does not own the company. Hopefully, that guy should also remember that in life’s greater scheme, his talents are not really his. Either it belongs to God if he is a believer of God, otherwise we can simply say that his talent is just a portion of the universe’s network of relationships.
Employment is not just about earning money. It is also about caring for the self. One who wants to stay and continue working should adjust. It is another issue, of course, if the company violates employees’ rights. But assuming that the rules and policies are simple but regular exercises of management, obedience is a must. It is in fact the best gesture of gratitude an employee can give to the one who hired him.