Question

Imagine your boss ordered you to do something you considered unsafe. Explain how your would react and what might happen if someone in the Soviet Union reacted the same as you.

Answer 1

If my boss ordered me to do something I considered unsafe I would object and not do it.  I would state my objection verbally first, in a polite and respectful manner, since the person giving me this order is my boss. I would also tell him exactly why I considered this particular task to be unsafe. Not wanting to be disrespectful to my boss, I would ask for another ( or a similar ) task I could perform instead, a task I would consider safe.

If somebody in the Soviet Union did exactly the same thing, this person would be fired immediately and without any explanation. The objector ( and often his entire family ) might even end up being severely punished and end up unemployable for life or put into jail. The basic principle of relationships in a workplace in the Soviet Union was the  principle of total obedience. You as a worker had to obey to all wishes of your boss and never, ever question them. You were not allowed to have a proper opinion and you were to follow the party's guidance in all areas of your life.