Trying to Out 'Mean' Each Other

What is the deal with employers today? Last week I heard about a girl out sick with a migraine getting fired by text message on her phone. Then I hear about Nina Jacobson getting fired from Disney as she was at the hospital with her partner who was about to give birth to their 3rd child.

Then I hear about a store clerk being fired because he ate a donut 2 minutes before the end of his shift, although he was allowed to eat 2 donuts at the end of his shift. So for 2 minutes, they fired him.

What is it with employers trying to out "Mean" one another?? The last example is just an employer picking nits and being stupid. The first two are examples of employers being mean, rude and hateful.

And I wonder how many people are really going to WANT to work for a company who treats their people with so little regard. Don't companies think their reputation as a rotten employer gets around? It does.

I've quit companies because they didn't know how to treat loyal, hard-working employees.

Employers, wise up!! You don't need to spend big dollars on employees either. Most employees would tell you you (if you bothered to ask) that things like flex time are more important than money. Buy lunch for your staff when you've had a particularly good month or when you reach goals.

Here's something that doesn't cost a dime.....say 'THANK YOU'. It doesn't even need to be a public event. Stop by the desk of someone who did a good job and say "Hey, you really went all out on that project and I wanted say say good job and thank you for your extra effort." That person will very likely work hard for you.

Too many employers are, I'm sorry to be blunt, assholes. Barking orders and blaming people and running a company by fear and intimidation is not that was to get people to work as a team. I had an employer once who was nice to your face and then would talk about you behind you back. No great surprise that she had a pretty hard time keeping good people. She also had a habit of telling people that "nobody is indispensible", which is true. It's also a wonderful way to de-moralize your staff.

Today I work for a guy whom I feel comfortable saying ANYTHING to. I'm am asked for my advise and opinion every day on subjects inside and outside my department and I feel completely free to be honest about any subject. And I am certainly not a 'Yes' person and I often know that he won't really like what I tell him. But I play devils advocate sometimes and I run scenarios and I research law and tell him what I really think when he asks. He doesn't want a 'Yes' person.

But I know the trick, I give him all the information he wants and advice or an opinion if he wants but he makes the decision. And if he doesn't follow my advise, that's ok. I don't get upset. He didn't ask me to make the decision, he asks for my advise. And I don't do "I told you so". That's not the way a team works together.

How are we doing, well we've doubled sales in 3 years and Net Profit is up 400%. So you see employers, it pays to be nice and listen to your employees. They're doing the work and they may have some good ideas and be able to help. But you have to make them feel comfortable and treat them right.

So get a clue, and lose the ego.

Raven