SHOW ME WHO YOUR FRIENDS are and I will show you who you are, so the saying goes.

In business, the same adage can be paraphrased to read ?Show me who your boss is and I will tell you why you think, talk or behave in certain ways.?

Studies show that people who keep regular five-day eight-hour work schedules actually spend, on the aggregate, more time with their fellow employees than with their families.

The seven or eight hours of nighttime sleep should not, strictly speaking, be included in counting the time spent with the family because when a person takes a nocturnal rest, he is lost to the world.

As soon as he steps into dreamland, he becomes inert to his surroundings, including his family.

And even if weekends are spent at home, the employee?s thoughts often stray to the workplace thinking about unfinished assignments, problems with co-employees and concerns about his future on the job.

Under these conditions, it is understandable that ?salarymen? (as the Japanese call the people who work daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) imbibe into their system the culture of their work environment.

Dress code

Legalities and titles aside, the norms of conduct in a company are set by the Big Boss, or the official authorized by the board of directors to call the shots.

If the Numero Uno has a flair for stylish or designer clothes, expect his subordinates to report for work in similar, although less expensive, fashion.

Never mind if wearing a woolen suit or blazer is uncomfortable or may cost an arm and a leg. The physical or financial inconvenience is a small price to pay for complying with the unwritten dress code and to be seen as ?in? with the fashion at the executive floor.

It?s also a subtle way of massaging the ego of the fashion-conscious executive.

But there is a caveat in this act: The boss should not be upstaged in this department; otherwise, the attention-grabbing employee may find his pay slip scrutinized for possible overpayment.

The fashion style is easier to follow if, for security reasons, the boss dresses down on purpose or wears simple office clothes. The employees can wear whatever clothes they like as long as they are decent looking.

Of course, nothing beats having an office uniform with the company supplying the materials and labor to ensure compliance with the specifications on form and style.

Mannerisms

The imitation process also includes the private and public mannerisms of the boss.

If he likes to lace his statements with high sounding words and phrases, the staff is quick to follow suit and make them part of its vocabulary.

His gestures, manner of talking and body language become the unwritten norm in meetings inside and outside the office.

For the cloning act to be complete, the fawning employee has to be aware of the preferences, biases or views of the boss in politics, sports and other related issues.

That knowledge will come in handy in case the employee is asked about those matters. He cannot and should not be perceived to be out of sync with the boss?s frame of mind.

It?s through the employee?s actions outside the office that third parties get to know about the boss? attitude toward the company?s customers and the public, in general.

Like boss, like employees. If the boss believes good customer service is the way to honest profits and he walks that talk, the employees will not act differently in public.

An employee who is arrogant or disrespectful to a customer is the product of a boss who thinks profits, regardless of the way they are earned, are the end all and be all of business.

Work hours

Another aspect of corporate life on which the boss has a strong influence on is the company?s work ethic.

If he is a workaholic who considers the bundy clock a decoration and expects his staff to be on call any time of the day (weekends and holidays included), do not be surprised if a similar mind set runs through the company, especially for those in the higher echelon.

The rule of the thumb in this situation is, as much as possible stay in the office until the boss leaves. You?ll never know when he?ll buzz you; your ?unexpected? absence could be hazardous to your paycheck.

Social or personal engagements are not immune from executive interference. They are subject to suspension or cancellation depending on the boss?s mood or caprice.

In this environment, the cell phone is indispensable. It should always be fully charged and within easy reach (even in the bathroom) to make sure the boss is not kept waiting in case he rings you up.

Sounds stressful? It sure is, but if the trade off is a fatter paycheck or additional perks and privileges, the threat to health and family life may be worth the 24/7 alert status.

Thank your lucky stars if your boss is the type who thinks work is a means to an end not the end itself, or that weekends and holidays should be spent with the family or friends.

You can enjoy the best of both worlds.

(For feedback, please write to rpalabrica@inquirer.com.ph)