Bengaluru Jail Scandal: A Lesson on Office Favoritism
A viral video from Bengaluru’s high-security jail shocked everyone — criminals were seen enjoying VIP treatment. But the truth is, this same “favoritism” happen...
Avinash Chate - Corporate Trainer & Author - Inspirational Session at Airox Technologies Limited Office Favoritism: The Silent Morale Killer and How Smart Professionals Rise Above It Every now and then, a public incident shocks us because it exposes something we do not want to admit: when rules are bent for a few people, the entire system starts losing credibility. That same pattern shows up in workplaces more often than many leaders realize. I have seen this across teams, departments, and organizations during my work as a corporate trainer. Key takeaway: favoritism is not a small people issue. It is a culture issue that weakens trust, damages motivation, and silently reduces performance. When one employee gets repeated freedom without accountability while another is questioned for every small mistake, the message is clear. Performance is no longer the only standard. Perception changes. Energy drops. Commitment weakens. And over time, even good people begin to disengage. As Avinash Chate , a TEDx speaker and author of The Winning Edge , I have worked with 1,000+ organizations and seen one truth repeatedly: people can handle pressure, targets, and change far better than they can handle unfairness. Pressure can motivate. Unfairness demotivates. In this article, I want to help both professionals and leaders understand favoritism deeply, respond to it wisely, and create workplaces where trust is stronger than politics. Why Favoritism Hurts More Than Leaders Think Many managers assume favoritism is only about promotions or rewards. It is much bigger than that. Favoritism appears in who gets heard, who gets protected, who gets opportunities, who gets second chances, and who gets judged more harshly than others. Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes it is subtle. A manager may not even call it favoritism. They may say, “I just trust this person more,” or “She understands my style,” or “He has been with me for years.” But when the same people keep receiving support despite weak behavior, while others must constantly prove themselves, the team notices everything. What happens next is predictable. People stop giving their best. Initiative reduces. Honest communication disappears. Team members begin protecting themselves instead of contributing openly. In leadership programs, I often say that culture is not built by posters on walls. It is built by what leaders repeatedly tolerate. This is where the KITE Leadership Framework becomes powerful. Strong leadership requires credibility, intentional action, trust, and emotional balance. The moment fairness disappears, trust collapses. And once trust collapses, performance becomes forced rather than inspired. When favoritism enters a workplace, merit leaves quietly. How Favoritism Damages Morale, Performance, and Growth Let us look at the real cost. Favoritism does not only hurt the person who feels ignored. It affects the entire team ecosystem. First, it damages morale. Human beings can accept tough feedback if they…
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By Avinash Chate — Maharashtra’s #1 Corporate Trainer & Motivational Speaker. Published 2026-04-19.