By Daniel Martin
I am running a free and independent biweekly
publication called “Workplace Wisdom” since 02/24/2011. It grew from a few copies I shared with my
closest friends at Bioreference Labs to 190 copies that now are distributed among
friends at Bioreference Labs and other companies.
This publication is intended for people like
myself, dealing with everyday issues in life, especially at work.
It covers topics
like:
·
Tips to handle stress.
·
Dealing with anxiety.
·
Building a Healthy environment at work.
·
How to encourage healthy relationships.
·
The importance of humor.
·
Recovering from life's disasters.
·
Positive attitude at work.
·
Believe in yourself.
·
Defeating discouragement.
·
Defusing anger.
·
Honesty.
·
Spirituality.
·
Managing time.
·
Preventing emotional burnout.
·
Facing failure.
·
Bouncing back from storm Sandy (resilience).
·
Releasing your full potential.
·
Living within your income.
You can find many editions at http://workplacewis.blogspot.com/
What
about the readers?
I am proud to have the support of readers
from different cultural backgrounds, races, and religions, which are
represented at Bioreference Labs. I receive positive feedback from them.
Growth, improvement of relationships, strength
to overcome disappointments in life, and encouragement, is what this
publication means to them. Their input helps me to keep going.
Some readers share this publication with
their families or discuss it with friends. I feel that I am doing a
contribution to my friends and the multicultural environment we experience at
work at Bioreference Labs. I have the support of many department supervisors. I
always respect and adjust myself to the suggestions and restrictions they give
me about this publication.
At Bioreference, we are a living demonstration
that it is possible to live in harmony with people from very different
backgrounds.
We are able to interact and talk freely about culture, religion, and even politics, in a respectful way, without being rude or offensive to people who think differently. That’s how we can grow and benefit from our diversity.
I am happy to say that at Bioreference we feel
like a big family in which we can support each other and build long lasting
relationships. But discrimination of religion and censorship of the opinion
doesn’t serve this purpose.
I experienced freedom of opinion at
Bioreference since I started working here. I see people from different cultures
and religions decorating their workplace and learning about the different traditions
and cultures of their colleagues. I celebrate that freedom. It doesn’t hurt
anybody. It enriches us. It opens our minds.
Stopping now?
On January
9th, 2013, the administration of Bioreference asked me, through my
supervisor, to stop sharing this publication inside the Lab. It was because of
their concern about the religious content of my publication. They said that I can
share this publication "only with friends and people I know".
I’d like to understand this ambiguous limitation
and what the reasons are for this censorship. If there is a policy of equality
at the company, I want to be treated the same way as others:
At the cafeteria and at the entrance of buildings,
people post ads with pictures, posters, boxes with flyers, etc. about sales,
cultural activities, concerts, support of specific causes, news, etc.
Proposal:
I ask for a spot in the bulletin boards in
each entrance and in the cafeterias where I could place my publication in a way
that everybody could take a copy freely if they want. Those not interested
shouldn’t be bothered by it.
This way we guarantee the freedom of
everybody to read or not to read as it always was my intention.
I am not asking the company to promote my publication. I just ask for freedom of speech and
equality.
I ask for the same treatment that is given
to any other initiative, cause, or business that are promoting their views and
activities on the bulletin boards at the entrances of buildings or departments,
or in the cafeterias. I don’t think I am asking for too much.
The company celebrates Christmas, Halloween
and Diwali, celebrations which have clear religious implications. We treat each
expression with respect without imposing our views to anybody. Why should it be
different this time?
The administration labeled my initiative as “religious” implying something bad or
dangerous for the company.
I haven’t promoted any religious
institutions in this publication. But it is also true that I am not afraid to
talk about God. He is my most important motivation in life. Killing God
(Nietzsche's way) only makes life sad and purposeless.
God is the biggest inspiration anybody can
have.
I assure you that not only some employees,
but the company itself will benefit from this initiative. It will result in a
better work environment, a better motivation of the employee force, a better
general and mental health resulting in less absenteeism and higher efficiency
at work. Building conscience and life values like “honesty” and “respect”, will
give us the motivation to be more responsible about our work ethics and to the
patients we serve.
Please, give me this opportunity to prove
myself right. I am not asking anybody to agree with 100% of what I say. But
check if something could be useful for you. If I didn’t think this would be
beneficial to many, I wouldn’t be so passionate about it. This project was
never an imposition. It is a free contribution to our community.
About the Editors of “Workplace Wisdom”:
Daniel Martin and Hannelore Schultz are both
Medical Doctors graduated in Argentina.
Both graduated from Theological Studies at
the International Baptist Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
They worked in Mozambique, Africa for 5 years with an
International Medical Mission.
They started several humanitarian projects
and maintain ties with this African country helping in community development
projects to this day.
They are married and have two children.
Daniel is an ordained pastor and active
member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Daniel is proud to be part of the
Microbiology Department where he works as a Medical Technologist.
Thanks for your
support
