Question

Why is it important to set boundaries in your individual and group work experiences? Relate a personal example.

Answer 1

Boundaries in personal or professional experiences refer to the limits or the basic guidelines that are set with the people with whom they interact. Exceeding the boundaries results in tampered relationships. Hence it is important to consider maintaining the boundaries while interacting with others in order to ensure that the relationship can be mutually respectful, appropriate, and caring. It also tends to hold the relationship for the long term. While personal boundaries include physical, emotional, and mental limits, group boundaries include legal, ethical, and organizational frameworks. It is important to maintain the group boundaries to ensure a positive work environment or a positive work relationship with the customers, clients, or employees. This can be managed by the organization by setting policies or codes of conduct in monitoring the behavioral activities and taking the appropriate actions if the limit is exceeded.

While I was working in Qatar as a Safety Officer in a telecommunication company, a particular project coordinator had a relationship with a client beyond the limits in such a way that they were exchanging gifts and are even seen in their social events together. The project coordinator also started to share the confidential information with the client that came to the spotlight of the company only after few months when the particular project coordinator wanted to leave the organization and join with the client company. Fortunately, the work regulations of Qatar requires a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the previous employer apart from the experience certificate in case of joining another company as one of the important documents. The company policy also restricted the transfer of employment from the company to any client company because of which NOC was restricted. Being an expatriate, the project coordinator was also having the residency permit offered by my company. The project was then terminated from the company after a formal investigation.