ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > May
May 2006
Love or hate your boss?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bullying, incompetence, power hunger, harassment and privacy invasion are just a few characteristics of a bad boss.
Sometimes bosses bully their employees in the hopes of achieving better results. Little do they know, that they could be doing more harm than good.
How do you deal with this? Be professional not emotional.
Have an unemotional discussion with your boss about disagreements rather than a confrontation.
Be sure to get a clear objective from your boss on tasks that are ambiguous.
Handle a tough boss with professionalism, document everything, have an objective eye on your performance and use positive reinforcement for positive behavior.
These actions should stop the behavior and allow a change to occur.
Are you constantly having to prove yourself, then not getting any credit for your hard work? Or does your boss reward your best efforts?
Is your boss an impossible tyrant or saint?
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Why so many illegal workers?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is a very hot and sensitive subject. How did there get to be so many illegal workers?
I know my 1,300 home subdivisions were built within four years. Most of the workers were Mexican’s who worked Monday through Sunday. Work ethic has never been a question.
I served a few years as the Workforce Compliance Manager for brown. We would fire HR supervisors who could not properly administer the U.S. Department of Justice’s form, I-9, properly.
Initiated by Congress on November 6, 1986, the I-9 requires employers to check an applicant’s identification to ensure they are authorized to work in the U.S. Failure to do so will result in significant fines to the company. When you hire nearly 200,000 employees a year, you have to get it right or you pay the Feds dearly.
Well, for those who did not comply with the law, it looks like we have an out of control problem, and there is no easy fix.
You can’t send everybody home and you can’t give 100% amnesty. Maybe the President’s proposed earn citizenship program is the better solution.
How should this situation be handled?
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Think before you post
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Your last job interview was great! The hiring manager seemed to like you. You really felt you hit it off with the staff. Everything was going well, but you didn’t get the job offer.
A hundred questions race through your mind. Was it something you said? Maybe you got a bad reference from a former employer?
Or maybe it was the photo of you and the random Elvis impersonator dancing on top of a bar in Las Vegas last summer! You know….the one that was so hilarious that you posted it on your My Space page for everyone in your online network to see? No, it couldn’t be!
Indeed, that could be the exact reason you were passed over for the job of your dreams!
As the popularity of these online networks grow, it is easy to create a profile on sites like My Space, Facebook or Friendster as a means of making social connections. But job seekers beware!
It’s equally as easy for hiring managers and college recruiters to log on to those same websites to do a little “reference checking” prior to extending a job offer to you.
Employers are using these online networks with increased frequency to identify any potential red flags related to a candidate’s habits and behaviors.
If you’re among the millions of online social network account holders and you’re interested in building your professional reputation, you should be aware that your personal life does effect how you’re viewed by potential employers. Read here.
Associate your profile with only non-controversial online social groups, avoid inappropriate comments and photos and chances are you’re not going to be denied a job offer based solely on your use of an online networking website.
Rule of thumb: If the topic is inappropriate for a job interview conversation, it is inappropriate for your online network profile during a job search. To play it safe, avoid topics like religion, politics, sexuality, or anything derogatory toward social, ethnic, gender or other demographic groups.
So what about those jobseekers who want to showcase their individuality though the medium of cyberspace and make no apologies about their personal habits? Are they putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage?
Does your Facebook profile really summarize who you are and is this indicative of how well you might perform on the job? Most employers would tend to think so.
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Team building tricks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I recently heard a wind quartet play and as I listened to the melodious sounds fill the concert hall, I was especially struck by the synergy that this group of four talented musicians demonstrated.
Their communication seemed to be effortless and I could feel their joy and hear their connection in the pieces they played. Can we make beautiful music at work?
Many experts have studied what makes some teams successful and others fail. Focusing on shared goals and respect for the contributions of each member are key, as are a sense of synergy, or ‘shared energy.’
Team building activities can be one way to strengthen a team.
Someone recently told me about miniature golf outings that her manager had arranged. “As a small department we really got to mingle and get to know each other as people, not coworkers at these team-building events. Some of us suddenly found out that we have more in common and we also had good times to reminisce about.”
I am all for these activities. Depending on your budget and time, you can initiate and plan lunch at a local restaurant or even a picnic at Piedmont Park.
I know one team that took over a pottery studio to throw pots (talk about getting out your frustration on a piece of clay rather than on your team mate!)
Another family friendly company in town encouraged employees to arrange outings together and an afternoon at the spa for the women was a common choice.
Other bigger ticket but memorable days can be spent cooking, sailing or even wine making at Chateau Elan. Check out www.businessballs.com for lots of free ideas about team building activities.
Caveat: Keep your expectations realistic. Don’t expect everybody to be singing Kumbaya over night.
What has been your experience with team outings? Do you think the spirit de corps we experience transfers to the workplace? How about some creative ideas for the rest of us?
