Comments for Ask a Manager http://www.askamanager.org Fri, 25 May 2012 12:20:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72216 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 12:20:35 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72216 Not always. In many artistic fields, the criteria that makes a "good" artisan are totally unappreciated by most (non-artistic) managerial types. Since there are plenty of "okay" artists willing to take jobs for far less money than a "good" artist should be paid, the good artists often find that their higher level of skills not only doesn't result in a premium paycheck, but often works against them. (Many managers assume that the good artists will be pickier about the quality of their work, and end up purposely avoiding them) Not always. In many artistic fields, the criteria that makes a “good” artisan are totally unappreciated by most (non-artistic) managerial types. Since there are plenty of “okay” artists willing to take jobs for far less money than a “good” artist should be paid, the good artists often find that their higher level of skills not only doesn’t result in a premium paycheck, but often works against them. (Many managers assume that the good artists will be pickier about the quality of their work, and end up purposely avoiding them)

]]> Comment on how to fire an employee by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/how-to-fire-an-employee.html#comment-72215 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 12:14:03 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3848#comment-72215 At my last office, we were all constantly back and forth between our branch and the corporate offices one state over. So you could literally go months without seeing some of your coworkers. It was a complete shock to me to find out that one of them had been fired over two months before, and as it turned out, I wasn't even the last one in the office to hear about it! Honestly, it used to bother me that there was often double standards of how departures (whether people quit to take other jobs, were downsized, or were fired) were handled. Some people would get a nice "We wish Jane luck as she moves on" sort of goodbye, while other people were just erased out of corporate existence. It was very unsettling at times, even when you had an inkling of why certain people were let go. At my last office, we were all constantly back and forth between our branch and the corporate offices one state over. So you could literally go months without seeing some of your coworkers. It was a complete shock to me to find out that one of them had been fired over two months before, and as it turned out, I wasn’t even the last one in the office to hear about it!

Honestly, it used to bother me that there was often double standards of how departures (whether people quit to take other jobs, were downsized, or were fired) were handled. Some people would get a nice “We wish Jane luck as she moves on” sort of goodbye, while other people were just erased out of corporate existence. It was very unsettling at times, even when you had an inkling of why certain people were let go.

]]> Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Henning Makholm http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72213 Henning Makholm Fri, 25 May 2012 10:51:48 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72213 Why are everybody assuming that she accepted simply because she was sent contracts? When I started in my current job, the employer's initial offer to me consisted of "we'd like to offer you the job, and here is the contract we imagine you signing". There followed a couple of weeks of negotiating certain terms in the contract before I actually accepted. How <em>could</em> she possibly have accepted the job <em>before</em> they had sent her the contract? Why are everybody assuming that she accepted simply because she was sent contracts?

When I started in my current job, the employer’s initial offer to me consisted of “we’d like to offer you the job, and here is the contract we imagine you signing”. There followed a couple of weeks of negotiating certain terms in the contract before I actually accepted.

How could she possibly have accepted the job before they had sent her the contract?

]]> Comment on when older coworkers become forgetful and moody by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/02/working-with-older-coworkers-who-are-becoming-forgetful-and-moody.html#comment-72212 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 10:43:49 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3520#comment-72212 Try working with a negative,grumpy,bitter, and chain smoking old woman who is 68! I'm constantly helping her on data entry on the computer. She is constantly calling out due to health issues. At first I felt sorry for her but this woman has held this position for 8 years. I've only been performing the job for 6 months and I run circles around her. Our job is very physical. Half the time she's out of breath due to her ignorance from smoking. Oh and she stinks from the cigarettes too. Gross! Where are non- smokers rights in the work place. Especially when I have to be in a work space that is 9x5 and enclosed. You would think she would retire or they would push her out the door but it's government employment. It's hard to get rid of any employee that works for the government. Thanks for wasting our tax dollars! She's non productive and a hazard on the job! Try working with a negative,grumpy,bitter, and chain smoking old woman who is 68! I’m constantly helping her on data entry on the computer. She is constantly calling out due to health issues.
At first I felt sorry for her but this woman has held this position for 8 years. I’ve only been performing the job for 6 months and I run circles around her. Our job is very physical. Half the time she’s out of breath due to her ignorance from smoking. Oh and she stinks from the cigarettes too. Gross! Where are non- smokers rights in the work place. Especially when I have to be in a work space that is 9×5 and enclosed.
You would think she would retire or they would push her out the door but it’s government employment. It’s hard to get rid of any employee that works for the government. Thanks for wasting our tax dollars! She’s non productive and a hazard on the job!

]]> Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Elizabeth http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72207 Elizabeth Fri, 25 May 2012 06:48:28 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72207 Sometimes it's worth the risk of burning a bridge, and it sounds like it might be for you. If you go with the second company, the first one might have no interest in hiring you again if you go back on the job market in a year or two. I don't work in the world of non-profits so I have no idea if this effect would trickle over to other organizations as well, or just the one. If you do go with the second company, I think that a bit of mortification is in order when you explain to the first company. Don't be cavalier about it, but show that you understand this is a major inconvenience for them and that you are sincerely sorry. Also, you should back out as soon as possible if you're going to, or they get more and more invested in you. Sometimes it’s worth the risk of burning a bridge, and it sounds like it might be for you. If you go with the second company, the first one might have no interest in hiring you again if you go back on the job market in a year or two. I don’t work in the world of non-profits so I have no idea if this effect would trickle over to other organizations as well, or just the one.

If you do go with the second company, I think that a bit of mortification is in order when you explain to the first company. Don’t be cavalier about it, but show that you understand this is a major inconvenience for them and that you are sincerely sorry. Also, you should back out as soon as possible if you’re going to, or they get more and more invested in you.

]]> Comment on ask the readers: workplace clique makes others feel left out by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/02/ask-the-readers-workplace-clique-makes-other-feel-left-out.html#comment-72201 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 05:59:09 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3540#comment-72201 At the very basic level, not dealing with cliques or meanness, I was taught that it is rude to make social plans in front of people you are not including. If you want to make plans with a coworker, leave the room and make the plans privately. There are only four people in my office, and we get along well. Today, however, one of them made pizza for lunch, and another laid a tablecloth in the office and set only three places for the two of them and my third coworker. I was astounded. I added a plate for myself and said I would eat my own lunch with them. The pizza chef said "Oh, you can have some too. God, some people are so sensitive!" She's not mean, but I think she was poor;y brought up. It's a simple case of manners. At the very basic level, not dealing with cliques or meanness, I was taught that it is rude to make social plans in front of people you are not including. If you want to make plans with a coworker, leave the room and make the plans privately. There are only four people in my office, and we get along well. Today, however, one of them made pizza for lunch, and another laid a tablecloth in the office and set only three places for the two of them and my third coworker. I was astounded. I added a plate for myself and said I would eat my own lunch with them. The pizza chef said “Oh, you can have some too. God, some people are so sensitive!” She’s not mean, but I think she was poor;y brought up. It’s a simple case of manners.

]]> Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Emily http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72200 Emily Fri, 25 May 2012 05:37:28 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72200 +1 for etymology geeks! +1 for etymology geeks!

]]> Comment on 7 ways bosses annoy employees by JT http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/7-ways-bosses-annoy-employees.html#comment-72199 JT Fri, 25 May 2012 05:31:52 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3846#comment-72199 “I will not be reachable when on vacation.” Nice. That said, I'm very willing to be reachable on vacation because my boss and co-workers don't abuse that - they only contact me in emergencies, or send questions to my work email in case I happen to be checking in. Respecting vacation = employees willing to help in real emergencies even if on vacation. Win-win. “I will not be reachable when on vacation.”

Nice.

That said, I’m very willing to be reachable on vacation because my boss and co-workers don’t abuse that – they only contact me in emergencies, or send questions to my work email in case I happen to be checking in.

Respecting vacation = employees willing to help in real emergencies even if on vacation. Win-win.

]]> Comment on how to fire an employee by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/how-to-fire-an-employee.html#comment-72198 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 05:30:14 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3848#comment-72198 I hear you Nyxalinth, I've been laid off and I've been fired before. Always saw it coming. But the last time came out of the blue. Still haunts me because I'm still unsure of the reasons. I suspect that it was office politics though. I had just a few months before gone through the annual evaluation, was told of some minor performance issues that they wanted me to work on such as average handling time, taking better notes but I got my raise, yearly bonus and I really thought that I was meeting their goals since I never heard any other critiques and was showing demonstrated improvement in the areas previously mentioned and knew that I was pretty much in the middle of the pack among my peers. So when they called me in the office and told me that they were letting me go I was truly caught off guard. So much so that I didn't even ask what I did wrong nor did they tell me. I could see that the decision had been made. I'm not one to make a scene and I was just in a daze. Kind of surreal. All they said was that I wasn't working out. To this day I'm still not sure why. Former coworkers didn't know why either. They got the email that I was moving on and thought that I had initiated my own departure. It just bugs me to this day. Both because they didn't spell it out and that I was so caught off guard that I didn't ask. I won't let that happen again. I hear you Nyxalinth, I’ve been laid off and I’ve been fired before. Always saw it coming. But the last time came out of the blue. Still haunts me because I’m still unsure of the reasons. I suspect that it was office politics though. I had just a few months before gone through the annual evaluation, was told of some minor performance issues that they wanted me to work on such as average handling time, taking better notes but I got my raise, yearly bonus and I really thought that I was meeting their goals since I never heard any other critiques and was showing demonstrated improvement in the areas previously mentioned and knew that I was pretty much in the middle of the pack among my peers. So when they called me in the office and told me that they were letting me go I was truly caught off guard. So much so that I didn’t even ask what I did wrong nor did they tell me. I could see that the decision had been made. I’m not one to make a scene and I was just in a daze. Kind of surreal. All they said was that I wasn’t working out. To this day I’m still not sure why. Former coworkers didn’t know why either. They got the email that I was moving on and thought that I had initiated my own departure. It just bugs me to this day. Both because they didn’t spell it out and that I was so caught off guard that I didn’t ask. I won’t let that happen again.

]]> Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Emily http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72196 Emily Fri, 25 May 2012 05:22:56 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72196 I agree—I call for a moratorium on "scale of 1-10" interview questions. Once, I was asked to rate myself on a number of skills. The first was writing, which I believe is my best asset. I pitch myself as a writer, first and foremost. Without hesitation, I gave myself a "10." The interviewer was openly put-off by my confidence but he went on to ask me to rate myself in some other areas. I couldn't and wouldn't have given myself a "10" in every "event" because it <i>would</i> sound conceited, not to mention implausible, and it would devalue my writing "score." That kind of a gimmicky interview question is as bad as gimmicky job seeking tactics. I agree—I call for a moratorium on “scale of 1-10″ interview questions. Once, I was asked to rate myself on a number of skills. The first was writing, which I believe is my best asset. I pitch myself as a writer, first and foremost. Without hesitation, I gave myself a “10.” The interviewer was openly put-off by my confidence but he went on to ask me to rate myself in some other areas. I couldn’t and wouldn’t have given myself a “10″ in every “event” because it would sound conceited, not to mention implausible, and it would devalue my writing “score.” That kind of a gimmicky interview question is as bad as gimmicky job seeking tactics.

]]> Comment on is my friend being blackballed? by Emily http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/is-my-friend-being-blackballed.html#comment-72195 Emily Fri, 25 May 2012 05:08:43 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3845#comment-72195 To play devil's advocate and maybe split hairs a little bit: we all know not to assume a job offer is official until we get it in writing—in this case, contracts. Should the employer follow the same rule? That is, don't assume an acceptance is official until you get in writing—in this case, a signed and returned contract. To play devil’s advocate and maybe split hairs a little bit: we all know not to assume a job offer is official until we get it in writing—in this case, contracts. Should the employer follow the same rule? That is, don’t assume an acceptance is official until you get in writing—in this case, a signed and returned contract.

]]> Comment on how to fire an employee by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/how-to-fire-an-employee.html#comment-72194 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 03:47:16 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3848#comment-72194 We have a relatively new employee in a high-responsibility position who shows up late or not at all every work day (frequently without calling in). The rest of us are frustrated at having to pick up the slack (explain to customers, forward her work to someone else, etc.), and don't understand why this person has not been fired already. This has been going on well over a month. I know it must be really hard to fire someone, especially when you can't catch them at work because they're never there, but OMG! We have a relatively new employee in a high-responsibility position who shows up late or not at all every work day (frequently without calling in). The rest of us are frustrated at having to pick up the slack (explain to customers, forward her work to someone else, etc.), and don’t understand why this person has not been fired already. This has been going on well over a month. I know it must be really hard to fire someone, especially when you can’t catch them at work because they’re never there, but OMG!

]]> Comment on What does a good cover letter look like? by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2007/06/what-does-good-cover-letter-look-like_13.html#comment-72191 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 02:35:35 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/2007/06/what-does-a-good-cover-letter-look-like.html#comment-72191 Just wanted to let ASK A MANAGER that the information presented here has been very helpful to me! Thanks a million! Just wanted to let ASK A MANAGER that the information presented here has been very helpful to me! Thanks a million!

]]> Comment on how to fire an employee by A Nonna Miss http://www.askamanager.org/2012/05/how-to-fire-an-employee.html#comment-72190 A Nonna Miss Fri, 25 May 2012 02:16:44 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=3848#comment-72190 The one time I was fired, it came as a surprise. Perhaps it shouldn't have been - it was a poor fit, and they didn't like me any more than I liked them. That, and I sent an email to an old boss from my work email asking if my old company looking for someone at my level. I should have known they were reading outgoing emails. Still. I was only there a year, and leave them off my LinkedIn profile, so it amuses me when their recruiters email me. The one time I was fired, it came as a surprise. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been – it was a poor fit, and they didn’t like me any more than I liked them. That, and I sent an email to an old boss from my work email asking if my old company looking for someone at my level. I should have known they were reading outgoing emails.

Still. I was only there a year, and leave them off my LinkedIn profile, so it amuses me when their recruiters email me.

]]> Comment on salaried employees and missed days: when do they have to be paid? by Anonymous http://www.askamanager.org/2011/07/salaried-employees-and-missed-days-when-do-they-have-to-be-paid.html#comment-72189 Anonymous Fri, 25 May 2012 01:41:36 +0000 http://www.askamanager.org/?p=2645#comment-72189 Hi, Im a exempt salary manager and 90% of the companys managers take memorial day off but my boss tells me I have to work. Is that illegal? Hi, Im a exempt salary manager and 90% of the companys managers take memorial day off but my boss tells me I have to work. Is that illegal?

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