Sigh.

Don’t like being told what to do by a boss? Looking for a worker’s paradise wherein you get to make the decisions about how to do your job and even about who’s hired?

Well, apparently you’re not alone:

UTICA, New York - One out of every four working Americans (25%) describes their workplace as a dictatorship, while just 34% of bosses in the American workplace react well to valid criticism, according to a new Workplace Democracy Association/Zogby Interactive survey.

[...]

Asher Adelman, Founder and President of the Workplace Democracy Association, said that “As we prepare to commemorate our nation’s independence and celebrate the freedoms that we often take for granted, it is unfortunate and ironic that so many Americans work at organizations that are managed like mini-dictatorships.” Just 52% of respondents in the nationwide survey said their boss treats subordinates well, the survey revealed.

So....what’s the answer?

Adopting democratic processes can have a significant impact on employee morale and thus improve their levels of productivity and creativity: 80% of workers said they work better when they are given the freedom to decide how to best do their job.

Another problem in the workplace identified in the survey: 31% of respondents said they believe that their human resources departments or upper management almost always or sometimes hire the wrong people. But, the survey indicated, a solution to poor hires may exist within the workplace. Almost one person in five (18%) workers said they would feel more motivated at work if employees were selected and hired by groups of coworkers instead of by the bosses.

Ahhh. The worker’s paradise. I mean, that would work, right? Hiring employees by a committee of fellow workers instead of by a hiring process overseen by qualified individuals? Sure, it would. And if that’s not enough commu-speak for you, check out this statement:

“Companies that want to boost employee engagement levels must adopt democratic and innovative practices in the way the entire company is managed,” said Adelman. “Executives should be sharing information with all employees about the company’s ongoing performance and goals, and employees should be empowered with greater discretion and decision-making abilities. In addition, it goes without saying that employees should be rewarded and compensated when the company is successful in achieving its goals.”

Sorry, folks, but the very best, most efficient way to run any organization is with a - drum roll please - benevolent dictatorship. A good manager and leader should always get input from his or her employees but should have the final say concerning policies, practices, and rules. Rule by committee will inevitably lead to disaster.

And where does this come from? From an organization that may as well be called the People’s Worker’s Party, that’s where:

Results can be found online at: http://www.workplace-democracy.org. The Workplace Democracy Association is the sole U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and raising awareness about the benefits of workplace democracy.

Somewhere Joe Stalin is smiling.