Journal D.A. Zollinger's Journal: Work and the Good Employee
In a recent Slashdot Article, gravitie asked: "I'm a developer in my local area. I'm on what is supposed to be 'flex time', so I can work the hours that my boss and I see fit for me to fullfil the number of hours I'm required to get a week. Besides this I must clock in at 7:30 AM every day I am at work. If I clock in at 7:31 I am late, no questions asked. If I am late 3 times in one quarter I get a verbal warning. Next time I get a written warning, then it just goes down hill from there (docked pay, etc..). Is this standard in todays business world? Should 1 minute late really be considered 'late'?"
Now, through some fluke of Slashdot, I happened to see this article before it was posted on Slashdot, and decided to write up a comment before I left work. When the next Slashdot article came up, and it wasn't the aforementioned, I e-mailed my comment home hoping to post it when it first popped up - hopefully later that evening. When it did pop up, just before I went to bed, I posted my comment and went to sleep - hoping to see the comments of the masses when I woke up. I wrote:
Are you late even at 7:31? One minute past? YES! Your employers set up the rules, as a good employee you should respect an abide by those rules. To be honest, it should never be an issue. You should make an effort to arrive at 7:00. That will give you plenty of time to deal with any unforeseen traffic conditions in your drive in to work, issues with weather, car problems, breakfast, etc. As well, if you are consistently early for work, your employers will take note, and will be impressed by your attitude and willingness to get started with your work! Those are the kinds of things which give you good reviews and get you better raises and help with promotions. You should never be late. You should strive to make sure that it will never be an issue.
When I did get around to reading the responces, I noted that a few individuals "got it," but that sadly most did not. They thought that employers who reprimand employees for being one minute late was naziesque, fascist, and NOT a place they would want to work. The point I was trying to make with my post was to encourage readers to look at the bigger picture. It isn't about being one minute late, it is getting to work in a timely manner so that tardyness will NEVER be an issue!
I think too many people look at employment in the wrong light. And with the current values of society, I can see how it is taking place. We view time as our greatest asset, and we feel insulted that our employers don't value our time as much as we do. Therefore, we try everything at our disposal to keep every second to ourselves. We push the boundries as to what is acceptable time for coming in to work, and what is acceptable for leaving work. We like flex time because that gives us as employees an advantage and allows us to "fudge" when we get in and leave, and skimp by with the least amount of time to stay "legal" with the company rules. Unfortunately, the only ones we are fooling is ourselves.
I have been employed with several employees who practiced those exact same measures, and like an anal retentive brother in law, make sure they only work 39 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds for fear that THE MAN is draining away their life without proper compensation. These are the people who will sit outside of the building before clocking in exactly when they are suppost to clock in, and are at the time clock with a stop watch to make sure they don't work one second over. And with all of their obsessing with how much time they give to their employer, they don't see that their boss is watching all of this, and taking note. Their behavior shows that they don't give one iota of interest in the company. That work is just that - work. They have no passion about what they do or who they work for as long as the paychecks are steady. And then what happens? They get passed over for promotion, their raise is standard, or substandard, and they feel as if they are being cheated, when in reality with their own actions they are cheating themselves out of a bright future with that company.
It's never about being one minute late. It is about showing devotion and dedication to a job well done. I know, I used to be the same way. But when the economy and job market conspired to keep me unemployed for over a year I was thankful to have a job! Any job! So I told myself that I would show my gratitude! I was required to come in at 6, but I made it my duty to come in at 5 or 5:30. I asked questions about why everything happened like it did. I wanted to understand the process that I was a part of - and in doing so, I made the process more efficient, and my superiors noticed everything that I was doing! When it came time for my review, I had and outstanding review with my boss gushing about how wonderful an employee I was, and my pay raise was higher than the company's stated maximum raise allotment.
I discovered that there are two sets of rules. One for all the poor saps who think that it is just a regular 9 to 5. And one for those who are willing to make a comittment to the company who was willing to make a comittment to them. Its not about being 1 minute late. It never has, and never will be. Learn this lesson well, and you will go very far in life.
Now, through some fluke of Slashdot, I happened to see this article before it was posted on Slashdot, and decided to write up a comment before I left work. When the next Slashdot article came up, and it wasn't the aforementioned, I e-mailed my comment home hoping to post it when it first popped up - hopefully later that evening. When it did pop up, just before I went to bed, I posted my comment and went to sleep - hoping to see the comments of the masses when I woke up. I wrote:
Are you late even at 7:31? One minute past? YES! Your employers set up the rules, as a good employee you should respect an abide by those rules. To be honest, it should never be an issue. You should make an effort to arrive at 7:00. That will give you plenty of time to deal with any unforeseen traffic conditions in your drive in to work, issues with weather, car problems, breakfast, etc. As well, if you are consistently early for work, your employers will take note, and will be impressed by your attitude and willingness to get started with your work! Those are the kinds of things which give you good reviews and get you better raises and help with promotions. You should never be late. You should strive to make sure that it will never be an issue.
When I did get around to reading the responces, I noted that a few individuals "got it," but that sadly most did not. They thought that employers who reprimand employees for being one minute late was naziesque, fascist, and NOT a place they would want to work. The point I was trying to make with my post was to encourage readers to look at the bigger picture. It isn't about being one minute late, it is getting to work in a timely manner so that tardyness will NEVER be an issue!
I think too many people look at employment in the wrong light. And with the current values of society, I can see how it is taking place. We view time as our greatest asset, and we feel insulted that our employers don't value our time as much as we do. Therefore, we try everything at our disposal to keep every second to ourselves. We push the boundries as to what is acceptable time for coming in to work, and what is acceptable for leaving work. We like flex time because that gives us as employees an advantage and allows us to "fudge" when we get in and leave, and skimp by with the least amount of time to stay "legal" with the company rules. Unfortunately, the only ones we are fooling is ourselves.
I have been employed with several employees who practiced those exact same measures, and like an anal retentive brother in law, make sure they only work 39 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds for fear that THE MAN is draining away their life without proper compensation. These are the people who will sit outside of the building before clocking in exactly when they are suppost to clock in, and are at the time clock with a stop watch to make sure they don't work one second over. And with all of their obsessing with how much time they give to their employer, they don't see that their boss is watching all of this, and taking note. Their behavior shows that they don't give one iota of interest in the company. That work is just that - work. They have no passion about what they do or who they work for as long as the paychecks are steady. And then what happens? They get passed over for promotion, their raise is standard, or substandard, and they feel as if they are being cheated, when in reality with their own actions they are cheating themselves out of a bright future with that company.
It's never about being one minute late. It is about showing devotion and dedication to a job well done. I know, I used to be the same way. But when the economy and job market conspired to keep me unemployed for over a year I was thankful to have a job! Any job! So I told myself that I would show my gratitude! I was required to come in at 6, but I made it my duty to come in at 5 or 5:30. I asked questions about why everything happened like it did. I wanted to understand the process that I was a part of - and in doing so, I made the process more efficient, and my superiors noticed everything that I was doing! When it came time for my review, I had and outstanding review with my boss gushing about how wonderful an employee I was, and my pay raise was higher than the company's stated maximum raise allotment.
I discovered that there are two sets of rules. One for all the poor saps who think that it is just a regular 9 to 5. And one for those who are willing to make a comittment to the company who was willing to make a comittment to them. Its not about being 1 minute late. It never has, and never will be. Learn this lesson well, and you will go very far in life.
Work and the Good Employee More Login
Work and the Good Employee
Slashdot Top Deals