Admin Gal was reading the news the morning and stumbled upon this depressing headline - "U.S. values profits over jobs."
It was all she could do not to roll her eyes and shout 'Duh!' at the top of her lungs.
Why is this a surprise?
Admin Gal has watched her company off-shore positions for the sake of the almighty shareholder profit. As long as the shareholders are making money, the company can justify minuscule to no raises for employees. After all there are bonuses. Unfortunately not everyone is a part of the bonus structure.
Employees are being weighed down with the work of three or four people because companies are not hiring replacements. Admin Gal is seeing stress take its toll on the physical and mental health of her co-workers. It's taking a toll on her.
Admin Gal is grateful to have a job. Even she knows that something has got to give. Companies are losing valuable corporate history as they slash their work force looking for younger and cheaper.
Admin Gal can only hope that this course for disaster can be averted, if it isn't too late.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thank you for Flying Admin Air
Admin Gal is flummoxed!
Flummoxed!
When booking travel for a company, it is always important to adhere to corporate guidelines. Especially when budgets are tight.
Nothing is more frustrating than having found a decent flight, for a really good price, only to be told to ignore corporate guidelines and book something twice the price.
ARGH!
In the end, Admin Gal keeps all correspondence regarding this kind of discussion. Telephone conversations won't do. So when the time comes for budget justification and fingers point her way, the fingers and documentation will point right back.
Thank you for flying Admin Air.
Flummoxed!
When booking travel for a company, it is always important to adhere to corporate guidelines. Especially when budgets are tight.
Nothing is more frustrating than having found a decent flight, for a really good price, only to be told to ignore corporate guidelines and book something twice the price.
ARGH!
In the end, Admin Gal keeps all correspondence regarding this kind of discussion. Telephone conversations won't do. So when the time comes for budget justification and fingers point her way, the fingers and documentation will point right back.
Thank you for flying Admin Air.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Admin Gal has Failed
Admin Gal was bamboozled, snookered, beguiled, and hoodwinked by an evil rotten scoundrel of a sales person.
She had noticed a proliferation of calls from a certain organization. Her caller ID would not register a number just a company name. This time the caller ID came in through the company tree. The sales person provided just enough legitimate information.
Admin Gal prides herself on being able to sort through the dross and know my legitimate callers.
Admin Gal has failed in her front line duties to block the evil phisher of information.
sigh
She had noticed a proliferation of calls from a certain organization. Her caller ID would not register a number just a company name. This time the caller ID came in through the company tree. The sales person provided just enough legitimate information.
Admin Gal prides herself on being able to sort through the dross and know my legitimate callers.
Admin Gal has failed in her front line duties to block the evil phisher of information.
sigh
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Helpless Desk
Admin Gal prides herself on having above average technical skills. Contacting the 'Help Desk' is the last thing she wants to do when faced with computer problems that will affect her productivity.
When faced with the phone tree of the 'Help Desk', Admin Gal does her best to be as precise as possible as to the problem and what has been down to resolve the issue. Receiving an automated list of questions that ask exactly the questions she's already answered does little to buoy her confidence in their ability.
In fact, that kind of response will illicit a response rather like a stick being poked into a wasps nest - repeatedly.
Did Admin Gal forget to mention her boss is technically their boss? And her boss doesn't like it when they waste time.
When faced with the phone tree of the 'Help Desk', Admin Gal does her best to be as precise as possible as to the problem and what has been down to resolve the issue. Receiving an automated list of questions that ask exactly the questions she's already answered does little to buoy her confidence in their ability.
In fact, that kind of response will illicit a response rather like a stick being poked into a wasps nest - repeatedly.
Did Admin Gal forget to mention her boss is technically their boss? And her boss doesn't like it when they waste time.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Calendar Mayhem
When you work for a large or small corporation, the calendar is an important tool to your day to day duties. It doesn't matter if you are an admin, a manager, or a CEO.
The one thing that will aggravate EVERYONE around you is when a calendar, which is the property of the company, is blocked from the rest of the company. We're not talking about seeing the details. Frankly, no one cares!
I'm talking about seeing the basic Free/Busy. Thereby allowing some basic planning for when, as a courtesy, you call the person to confirm the time is actually available.
When the CEO and the Chairman of the company allow their calendars to show Free/Busy, it is poor form on an individual's part to think themselves more important than the people who allow them to have a job.
Free/Busy won't kill you, but not seeing your calendar might make important people wonder what you are hiding.
The one thing that will aggravate EVERYONE around you is when a calendar, which is the property of the company, is blocked from the rest of the company. We're not talking about seeing the details. Frankly, no one cares!
I'm talking about seeing the basic Free/Busy. Thereby allowing some basic planning for when, as a courtesy, you call the person to confirm the time is actually available.
When the CEO and the Chairman of the company allow their calendars to show Free/Busy, it is poor form on an individual's part to think themselves more important than the people who allow them to have a job.
Free/Busy won't kill you, but not seeing your calendar might make important people wonder what you are hiding.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Perfect Day
Every time Admin Gal picks up the telephone, there is a potential customer on the other end of the line.
Admin Gal knows that she regularly vents her spleen about sales calls. Heaven knows that she has had her fair share of that persistent, oblivious breed who can't understand why I won't give them the time of day. Because, isn't it obvious their product can save the company, the world, the UNIVERSE?!?!?!?!!
Then there are those gems that make your day. Those shining stars that leave you feeling like you've made a friend. Whether their product was right for your company or not.
A discourse is had between two adults, determining needs and goals. In the end opportunities happen, maybe not in the original intent, but an opportunity. A conversation between professionals.
Those are the moments that make a day perfect.
Admin Gal knows that she regularly vents her spleen about sales calls. Heaven knows that she has had her fair share of that persistent, oblivious breed who can't understand why I won't give them the time of day. Because, isn't it obvious their product can save the company, the world, the UNIVERSE?!?!?!?!!
Then there are those gems that make your day. Those shining stars that leave you feeling like you've made a friend. Whether their product was right for your company or not.
A discourse is had between two adults, determining needs and goals. In the end opportunities happen, maybe not in the original intent, but an opportunity. A conversation between professionals.
Those are the moments that make a day perfect.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Word of Advice
Sales people, when you call:
If these simple, yet effective, suggestions can be followed you might have success in your business endeavors.
- Do not claim to have called Admin Gal's boss when she is CLEARLY the person who answers the phone.
- Do not claim to have had a prior conversation.
- Do not cut Admin Gal off when she is trying to gather information to help you possibly get to the correct person.
- Do not lie.
Last but not least, when Admin Gal calls you place of business to give pointers to you about how you might be more successful, DO NOT have your receptionist lie about your employment status there.
If these simple, yet effective, suggestions can be followed you might have success in your business endeavors.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Challenge
Admin Gal has a challenge for all her readers.
No, she is not asking anything of a felonious nature.
Simply, that over the next seven days you reach out do something to improve someone's day.
Random acts of kindness have been known to increase productivity and moral exponentially.
Added bonus?
It makes your boss and others wonder what you're up to.
Feel free to report on your collective mayhem.
No, she is not asking anything of a felonious nature.
Simply, that over the next seven days you reach out do something to improve someone's day.
Random acts of kindness have been known to increase productivity and moral exponentially.
Added bonus?
It makes your boss and others wonder what you're up to.
Feel free to report on your collective mayhem.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
People are Silly
Admin Gal as an observation and pet peeve all rolled into one.
We all know that person. The one who takes on a project and can't let go of the details. They do everything, up to and INCLUDING every task that the team members are suppose to do.
Leaving the project member to do what - you may ask?
Why to take the fall for the impending failure on their part - of course.
Look people. Projects, events, committees are all things that are comprised of multiple tasks, milestones and, often times, deadlines. Having several people on the team is meant to alleviate the stress of the over all project.
Taking the burden upon yourself is just plain silly.
We all know that person. The one who takes on a project and can't let go of the details. They do everything, up to and INCLUDING every task that the team members are suppose to do.
Leaving the project member to do what - you may ask?
Why to take the fall for the impending failure on their part - of course.
Look people. Projects, events, committees are all things that are comprised of multiple tasks, milestones and, often times, deadlines. Having several people on the team is meant to alleviate the stress of the over all project.
Taking the burden upon yourself is just plain silly.
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