A mere 15 years since the fall of the communist regime, characterized by severe discipline, Romanian companies are still tempted to strictly control the activities of their employees. “Not long ago, bureaucracy and control were at their height in Romania - today’s managers were both used to keeping everything under control and being supervised in their turn. They should give up this concept and allow for more trust in their employees,” according to Handy.
He said that new generations on the labor market want freedom, although not all organizations are willing to provide them with such independence. While there is a global trend to reduce office space, for the efficient maximizing of space and a drop in rental costs, the trend in former communist bloc countries is reversed.
“Because managers insist on permanently monitoring their employees, office space is thriving, becoming increasingly more imposing. In the United States, however, employees use their offices only for as long as is required, with employers paying rent merely for that time,” Handy explained. One of the major risks multinational companies are facing at present is a loss of their flexibility as they develop their business. The main challenge is to maintain a balance between the growth trend and the need for small business dimensions.
