Admin Gal has a co-worker who recently was assaulted with responsibilities not assigned by her manager.
Assigned by whom you ask?
Assigned and announced to the company by another admin who, frankly, couldn't be bothered to go through the proper channels to discuss additional job responsibilities.
You see, these responsibilities being added to her plate surmounted to the work of an additional employee. Let me repeat. An Additional Employee.
Her managers had not been apprised of these changes. An assumption had been made that she would be 'happy' to take on these additional responsibilities.
The admin with the added responsibilities was savvy. She made the issue be known to her manager. Who, in turn, ran it up the channels to the unfortunate admin's boss who started the mess.
A review is currently underway of policy and procedure. The admin who started making assignments is backpedaling. Trying to create documentation for her faux pas - too little too late.
Her boss has egg on his face.
The morale of this story? Always know your responsibilities, and always make sure your supervisor is aware of changes not approved by him or her.
Showing posts with label Ethics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ethics. Show all posts
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday, February 18, 2010
On the Cheap
Nothing seems to be safe anymore in today’s employment climate. Gone is security of generations gone by. Very few people can stick with one company for their entire career. If they manage to do that, they have to reinvent themselves to stay ahead of the latest management model that leans toward automation, downsizing or out-sourcing.
I realize that there are many processes that can be outsourced, off-shored, and just plain automated. When all these cost cutting measures are taking place, what happens to the actual employee, who helped build the company? The general morale? The principles that built the company? More importantly the corporate history?
While the government gives lip-service to keeping jobs in the country, more and more companies are sending department functions overseas. Why? ‘Because it can be done cheaper elsewhere’. Sure, there are binding contracts that impose penalties if things are not done to the SLA's (service level agreements) of the corporation, but what happens to the customer service interface? There are no guarantees that expectations will be met.
To be frank the customer wants to interface with employees they feel confident will fulfill their needs. Not third-party vendors that have no clue as to why the company even exists.
As employees ride these waves of uncertainty in the workplace, they go through cycles of anger and fear. Rightfully so. Whether they have been with the company 3 months or 30 years, their livelihood is threatened. So the affected portions of the company are shunted off to the side, cut off from the rest of their corporate brethren. The isolation takes its toll on morale and perception.
While the management who has to manage the outsourcing process must be sensitive to the needs of the employees, the rest of the company is oblivious and often makes matters worse.
I don’t have a crystal ball that tells the future, but I do know that when a company treats their employee as well as it treats its customers there is a renaissance in business and vitality.
When a corporation treats its employees as so much dross, they will soon follow their greatest assets, the employee, into oblivion.
I realize that there are many processes that can be outsourced, off-shored, and just plain automated. When all these cost cutting measures are taking place, what happens to the actual employee, who helped build the company? The general morale? The principles that built the company? More importantly the corporate history?
While the government gives lip-service to keeping jobs in the country, more and more companies are sending department functions overseas. Why? ‘Because it can be done cheaper elsewhere’. Sure, there are binding contracts that impose penalties if things are not done to the SLA's (service level agreements) of the corporation, but what happens to the customer service interface? There are no guarantees that expectations will be met.
To be frank the customer wants to interface with employees they feel confident will fulfill their needs. Not third-party vendors that have no clue as to why the company even exists.
As employees ride these waves of uncertainty in the workplace, they go through cycles of anger and fear. Rightfully so. Whether they have been with the company 3 months or 30 years, their livelihood is threatened. So the affected portions of the company are shunted off to the side, cut off from the rest of their corporate brethren. The isolation takes its toll on morale and perception.
While the management who has to manage the outsourcing process must be sensitive to the needs of the employees, the rest of the company is oblivious and often makes matters worse.
I don’t have a crystal ball that tells the future, but I do know that when a company treats their employee as well as it treats its customers there is a renaissance in business and vitality.
When a corporation treats its employees as so much dross, they will soon follow their greatest assets, the employee, into oblivion.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Responsibility
As I travel through the blogosphere, I encounter a bevy of different types of bloggers. Each blogger trying to accomplish a different goal. Some wish to document their lives, some vent their frustrations, some share knowledge, some start businesses.
The Blogosphere is a cornucopia of opportunity.
Lately, a debate about anonymous blogging has raged. One camp has cried that taking away the anonymity is akin to taking our First Amendment Right of Free Speech. The other camp states that you should take responsibility for what you write regardless of the consequences. Yes, First Amendment Rights of Free Speech apply but those who are responsible are writing within that context and have nothing to fear.
I have to say that stand in the second camp. I live by the rule 'If my mother can't read what I write, I don't publish it!' Trite I know. I feel that too many people hide behind a mask to publish slanderous and defamatory materials about decent people. All under the guise of Free Speech.
Free Speech does not protect against slander and libel. Both of which are prosecutable. Publishing anonymously doesn't give anyone the right to hurt another person. PERIOD.
Not all Anonymous Bloggers publish with the intent to harm. Some are worried about personal security. There are plenty of opportunists that can do irreparable harm with just a little bit of seemingly harmless information. That being said, I truly believe the majority of bloggers simply wish to express themselves, if asked they will reveal themselves.
I'll be honest. While I might be pointed and tart in what I say, I stand by my opinion. I am a private individual, who welcomes new friends and acquaintances. As the light of bloggers rights is being shined across the blogosphere, I know that I can stand in the light and fear no shadows.
I am a blogger.
The Blogosphere is a cornucopia of opportunity.
Lately, a debate about anonymous blogging has raged. One camp has cried that taking away the anonymity is akin to taking our First Amendment Right of Free Speech. The other camp states that you should take responsibility for what you write regardless of the consequences. Yes, First Amendment Rights of Free Speech apply but those who are responsible are writing within that context and have nothing to fear.
I have to say that stand in the second camp. I live by the rule 'If my mother can't read what I write, I don't publish it!' Trite I know. I feel that too many people hide behind a mask to publish slanderous and defamatory materials about decent people. All under the guise of Free Speech.
Free Speech does not protect against slander and libel. Both of which are prosecutable. Publishing anonymously doesn't give anyone the right to hurt another person. PERIOD.
Not all Anonymous Bloggers publish with the intent to harm. Some are worried about personal security. There are plenty of opportunists that can do irreparable harm with just a little bit of seemingly harmless information. That being said, I truly believe the majority of bloggers simply wish to express themselves, if asked they will reveal themselves.
I'll be honest. While I might be pointed and tart in what I say, I stand by my opinion. I am a private individual, who welcomes new friends and acquaintances. As the light of bloggers rights is being shined across the blogosphere, I know that I can stand in the light and fear no shadows.
I am a blogger.
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