As this index page is always changing please link to the 'permalink' for individual entries.
There is no set up for comments yet. But you can email (send to: nooriginalthought*at*earthlink*dot*net); just be civil. Let me know if the email is to be added as a comment. Be sure to mention which posting and provide the URL for any links that you want included. All comments are posted as anonymous unless you request otherwise. Thanks!
July 9, 2009
More commentary on HR or Work related Blogs.
This time it is about a posting by Alison of Ask a Manager (AAM for short). I really do enjoy her blog and her wonderful insight. She often comes across as someone who has thought issues through carefully and gives some good advice. I truly recommend reading her blog on a regular basis.
However, this time she has given advice that I just cannot agree with. A reader, who is a supervisor, has asked if he can tell a subordinate that the individual should not spend too much money on vacations, etc. because the supervisor knows that layoffs are coming in the near future. The supervisor mentions that rumors are floating around the office; it is just that this supervisor knows the details and it involves his friend.
Most people, including me, can certainly understand the dilemma that this supervisor feels he is in. But hard choices are part of being a manager. That's why managers are paid more than those of us who do the bulk of the work. It is called being responsible!
AAM's suggestion is that the supervisor use coded language to let the person know. You know, something like "now is not a good time to get in over your head financially." or something along those lines. AAM feels that this allows the supervisor to demonstrate his loyalty to his friend while maintaining loyalty to the company.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. I cannot disagree more forcefully. And I am going to be "pig-headed' about this.
Unless AAM is advocating that this supervisor share this information (coded or otherwise) with EVERYONE under him this is called favoritism. It is not good for morale, it is not good for the company, and it is unethical.
Imagine how the poor schmuck who doesn't "brown-nose" the boss will feel when he finds out that the boss advised someone else (in coded language or not) that layoffs were coming and did not warn him? This is one reason why so many people always complain that the brown-nosers of the world get all the breaks. It is poor management.
Some of the commenters over at AAM have suggested such; and, asked further what if the parties involved were family members. Well, this is one reason many companies have policies against family members reporting to each other in the workplace.
This supervisor has a responsibility to maintain confidentiality with such sensitive information. That is a key requirement of his job. It is a key requirement of ALL management and Human Resource positions. If this supervisor cannot understand this, and his writing to a blogger to ask for advice tells me he doesn't, then he is not management material.
I see this as a "slippery slope" to even more unethical behaviour. If it okay to help a friend for financial gain (and yes, avoiding a financial loss is a financial gain); how about using your confidential information and influence to help that friend avoid being laid off? How about using your confidential information and influence to help a friend get a job over someone better qualified? How about using your confidential information and influence to get a government contract? Are these behaviours okay as well? Where does one draw the line? Fortunately, I believe that many organizations have policies to help the "ethically challenged" navigate these situations.
BTW, while certainly not the case here, using such "insider information" for financial gain in some situations is illegal. Just ask Martha Stewart.
One further thought on this issue, the advice to the original letter writer should have included a comment about trying to do something "proactive" on this issue. Why didn't AAM (and other commenters) try to advise this supervisor to approach his superiors to let them know that their "silence" is hurting morale? Taking such an action might very well allow him to make an announcement to everyone under him with his manager's approval. This would solve his "dilemma" while also helping out the company. Thereby, helping him demonstrate to his superioirs that he is management material.
Comments:
If you wish to comment on this or any post send an email to nooriginalthought *at* earthlink *dot* net. Please let me know which post you are commenting on. Also, all comments are posted as anonymous unless you request otherwise.
July 8, 2009
There are many HR and other related blogs out there. I came across one called Radiant Veracity on which the author wrote a very interesting post about the boss from hell titled Evil Boss Lady. It is very funny and worth reading.
Radiant Veracity is written by Stephanie A. Lloyd who is the owner of Calibre Search Group in Atlanta, Georgia. She also writes for The Examiner, a Division of Clarity Media Group. Her bio states that she authors a highly-regarded career and job search advice column for 70 major markets nationwide.
With all this in mind I thought reading her blog might give me some insight as to how hiring folks think. I felt like I was "smacked along side the head" by her following post, Quitting Mid-Term, (here's a PDF of the original post) in which she bashes George Bush (he is, in her opinion, an "utter self-serving imbecile"), bashes Sarah Palin, and says the following:
". . . I'm sure there are people who would [vote for Palin] and I really wish I could snatch their ballots right out of their hands because they should not be allowed to vote."
The emphasis is hers. Nice isn't it? Keep in mind this is someone who is posting on her, normally, work-related blog; this is someone who has done corporate recruiting for a living. She even said that she thought about whether she should post about politics or not as it could alienate readers; but that she "felt strongly" about this issue so she had to post it. She said that it would not be "honest" if she didn't. Don't you love how, because they have to be "honest", people enage in bashing others.
Normally, I try to just ignore such garbage. But in this case I am so worked up about this posting of hers because people like her are clearly in the position of hiring. It just galls me that someone who is so ignorant and hateful determines who gets the job and who doesn't.
Comments:
If you wish to comment on this or any post send an email to nooriginalthought *at* earthlink *dot* net. Please let me know which post you are commenting on. Also, all comments are posted as anonymous unless you request otherwise.
June 4, 2009
While reading several of Bookworm Room's Posts, I noticed one commenter named Sadie posted a short little Haiku about Obama. So, I thought that I would give it a shot. The cadence is all wrong, but I had fun doing it!
Obama Haiku
Not exactly a Haiku, I hope this poem will do.
"Bush is the maddest, Cheney's the baddest,
But Obama is thrilling," said the Media shrilling.
Now woman all fainted, because He is sainted.
But please do not laugh, for this is not hagiograph.
Read the rest . . .
May 13, 2009
Over the last several weeks I have been following several blogs written by HR folks, Office Managers, and other such professionals. It has been a very interesting, entertaining, and enlightening experience. I've learned quite a bit has to how some professionals in those positions think. As with so many things available on the web these blogs must be taken with a "grain of salt." While I don't always agree with some of their advice or viewpoints more often than not I find myself nodding my head in total agreement. But wouldn't life be boring if we all agreed all the time as if we were all just a small cog in some gigantic machine - just say "resistance is futile" if you agree ;)
Here are two recent postings that I think are related and my thoughts on the subjects were too much to ramble on in their comments section so I wrote my own posts. Read the two postings first:
Should Extra Duties Equal More Pay? by Ask-a-Manager
Then read the rest of my thoughts on this.
