Who told the boss? 

This was the question that did not have an answer. Some untoward incident that the office wanted to keep under wraps reached the man for whom the wraps were meant. There was disappointment and anger at the news having reached the wrong place- the ears of the boss. What frustrated people further was that the boss not only got the news instantly but also as to whom all were present at the time of the incident. Thus the people who did not inform the boss of the incident were apprehensive of the reaction of the boss on their conduct. On such occasions the tendency is to inform the boss with an explanation for non-informing in time. But few realize that informing the boss is an inbuilt responsibility of all subordinates, though what is to be informed and what is not and when are issues that can have varied opinions.

While bosses are entitled to have information on matters of concern what else are informed to them become a matter of concern for the subordinates. A staff has swooned in the bathroom or two staff have come to blows are matters of entitled information of the boss sitting in the cabin and not having the benefit of direct vision over the incident. But information mainly viewed as ‘gossip’ need not reach his ears though many successful bosses desire to get information on all and sundry matters also as that helps them understand men and matter better.

The very term ‘informer’ smacks of some contempt and scorn though the world is abound of informers. While everyone acts as an informer at some point of time or the other, the contempt is for people who practice it as their prime occupation. People who primarily act as ‘informers’, do not carry positive intentions. Their intention is not to help the boss but to disturb someone. Hence the conveying of information by them may not be what the boss wants to know, but what they want the boss to know. The facts therefore are often twisted, exaggerated or dramatized and the timing of presentation is also chosen with bad intent.

 Informers become acceptable and unacceptable depending upon the fact whether their couriering of information is inward or outward. They exist successfully as they are encouraged directly sometimes and tacitly most often. They are most wanted by the bosses especially those who reside in cabins and want to know the world around them. It is a strange irony that people who express joy and pat the informer also bang and curse him if he does the same in the opposite direction. It is also true that a person who ‘informs’ for you ‘informs’ about you as well only that the degree would wary depending on the fact as to who is more powerful and thus useful to him to meet his ends.

 On the other hand there are also factual informers whose intentions are positive. Information like somebody is corrupt and accepts money, Asha and Ashok are office time couples, Ram is out from office everyday for an hour after lunchtime are matters that the bosses should know in the overall interest of the organization.  How and when to inform the boss is also a matter of good sense. Suppose question paper bundles meant for an exam are missing, the news can reach the boss after a thorough search and confirmation of the missing papers. Even if papers were retraced later the fact that it was lost and found is a news that can go to boss in due course to help him judge the level of ‘care’ that people display at work. Such factual informers also apply filter when they recognize people who comment in front of them with a view to reach their view to boss.