Professional Equality 101

When a line from a classic comes to mind, 
And offers you comfort to endure the grind

So you're relatively new at your organisation and by virtue of the pink bloom of youth and your bubbling inexperience, you may be subject to unintended patronage by those above and before you. They won't necessarily talk down but you will periodically feel like a second-class citizen in this Republic. 

Here are some instances:

1. "We all have different categories of leaves, but you will need to check if you are eligible for any."

2. "The meal card and similar benefits only apply to a certain salary bracket."

3. "Madam, you can take your car after some time when The Sir leaves."

4. "Since boss and other senior managers will not be travelling this time, you can do a day-trip. Or do you need to stay in a hotel?!"

I find that Mindfulness comes to the rescue at these times. You have less than the flash of a second where you must cheerfully remind yourself that this is not your home and you *may* need to keep this job. Good sense prevails when your face assumes a dead-pan expression and you refrain from uttering a single syllable. However, you may be unable to suppress the chuckle that comes with remembering George Orwell's Animal Farm. Because he was right in saying, "All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others."