OPEN DOOR POLICY

I believe most organizations like Cubeville actively encourage the Open Door Policy. By the Wikipedia definition:

An open door policy (as related to the business and corporate fields) is a communication policy in which a manager, CEO,MD, president or supervisor leaves their office door “open” in order to encourage openness and transparency with the employees of that company. As the term implies, employees are encouraged to stop by whenever they feel the need to meet and ask questions, discuss suggestions, and address problems or concerns with management. An open door policy serves to foster an environment of collaboration, high performance, and mutual respect between upper management and employees. It is a quality management practice and mechanism that serves to sustain employee empowerment and morale, while maintaining a vital effect on improving efficiency, productivity, growth, and corporate ethical standards.[1]

Here at the 4×6, I too, try and maintain a similar open door policy for my team. With the modern, open design conducive to a creative, collaborative and flexible workspace – the end-to-end low wall cubicles spanning across the office space (aka Cubeville), it is not difficult to uphold this policy. That, and the fact that the 4×6 doesn’t actually have a door.

The Boss, the Boss’ Boss, and colleagues are all welcome at the 4×6. We bounce ideas, work through issues and sometimes a quick conversation is more efficient than organizing thoughts in an email. Cubeville can get loud with the low-walled cubicles so most of us tune out with headphones and earbuds. So, maybe not so collaborative.

 

And then, it goes all wrong and sometimes you’re just not welcome.

Open Door Policy FROM THE 4X6 on Vimeo.

EEKS! So over the last several weeks, I’ve been honoured with a visit from Whip, and his mates – Wormin and Wormin II. (The open door policy is restricted for two-legged creatures not the 12-legged creepy, crawly variety. I guess they didn’t read the definition.) The fates have not been good for the three, or me for that matter. A sighting is often followed by much noise and chaos, a thorough 4×6 cleaning. You know. Kind of like when a CO comes and tosses the cell, with the remainder of the day spent itching, scratching, and a whole lot of paranoia setting in.

Why me? I’ve asked every time. Just one little vermin on its own pays me a visit. I’ve searched the 4×6, I’ve cleaned the 4×6. I’m just about ready to abandon ship. In comparison, this one is the tidiest pods in all of Cubeville – really. The traps across Cubeville would indicate other more furry vermin. But there have been no sightings or evidence of these at the 4×6. My neighbour has experienced a few incidents of moth-like insects flying about. But no nest, hive or hub has been found.    

Could there be some symbolism or myth regarding this vermin? I ‘Googled‘ and found not so much about myths, but dream symbolisms.

Larva, seems to be a nicer put reference to transition or metamorphosis; a beginning, the early stage – infancy – in a process. Maybe this is the beginning of my acceptance to social media and digital channels. I’ll take this class and the experience and go far, make something bigger and better with it! I’ll be a social media mogul!

Maggot, on the other hand, “festering or rotting, as when a situation or feelings that need attention have not been dealt with”, an unclean environment. Yikes!

Either way, this has not been a dream. There is something truly rotting and festering at the 4×6.

1.     “HP Diversity: Open Door Policy“. Hp.com. Retrieved 2012-01-28.

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