Now remember I work in an office of 4 people.
OK, so after 5 months on my job I tripped over my first speedbump at work and found something I don't like. I don't like the isolation that I feel has been forced upon me. I got in trouble at work today for sending out personal e-mails and receiving them. In my 5 months I am guilty of sending or recieving 128 personal e-mails. If you break that down, into groups of 2, because usually if you give, you get, and if you get, you give, you know, each e-mail sent or received elicits at least one response. So, I had 64 exchanges of information, at a maximum, in 5 months. For this, I got threatened to correct my ways, or miss my next evaluation raise. Nice........... no e-mail correspondence with non business personnel, no IMs with anyone, and limited personal calls to family members. While your at it just throw me into solitary confinement.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
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5 comments:
What's your business phone number? I'll give you a call. See how they like them apples! :)
I don't think the amount of time you spent doing this is excessive. I have worked at companies where it happens frequently.
Where I work at, they treat us like adults. As long as you get the work done, they don't care. I typically don't take advantage of it becuase I am there to work, although there are others that do.
On the other hand - playing devil's advocate - your company is paying you for your time to work. They own the phone system and the computers you are using. Their philosphy probably is that you can do this stuff on your own time - don't waste "their" time.
I personally don't think you are doing anything out of the ordinary. Watch your ass, they may look be "looking for something."
I understand the my time, my phone, my internet theory, but I amd required to put in 45 hours a week and if they want to use the "You're stealing my time" line on me then I guess the 15 minutes here, 45 minutes there, another 20 minutes this day, beccause they need something done, uncompensated extra time can stop, cause they, in turn are stealing my time. Or they could just be realalistic and realized that THEY GET PAID really well for the personal minutes it takes to do any of the personal communications. But of course, bosses never note what they get for free, only what they think has been taken from them.
I'll be hiring a small staff soon, probably only 2 people at this point, and my take is that as long as the work gets done--and everyone works as a team to see that it is--have fun! Email, IM, post to your blog, bash a pinata, I don't care. A happy employee is a productive employee, and a friend for life.
I worked for the government too long, where there was no personal expression in the dreary cubical, (pictures, screensavers, etc.) and no food or drink either. Breaks were signaled by prison-like bells and bathroom time had to be used during the 15 minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It was horrendous.
It was then that I determined to be a better boss and encourage individuality, as well as a fun environment, within the workplace. Hell, I'll even allow a beer or a glass of wine at lunch.
Of course, if my leniency is taken for granted or abused, that employee and I will have a long talk. Even then, I'll take them out to lunch and it'll be a pleasant talk.
Reason, not retribution.
P.S. Thanks for your comment. I needed to hear an encouraging word!
I know where you're at S, I have been there. Same small company, same small attitude. The boss was a jackass and I was in a role of authority - I had to fire someone for this reason. It sucks...
Hubby is in the same position you are. They expect him to do all his state work on the internet, but limit access - go figure. They have started monitoring all calls coming in and going out. It's even to the point that I can't call just to say hi.
It's unfortunate that the majority of small business owners let their status go to their head.
The head games they play with their employees affect employee productivity, which in turn affects the overall health of a company. These companies typically do not grow above the 3 million mark because of this attitude.
I like Incurable's take, they will be successful in whatever venture they are persuing. That mentality sounds a lot like my current employer. We have a ping pong table and there are weekly poker tourneys, it keeps the developers sharp to get them away from their desks. They also make it a point to get us out of the office for fun days disguised as team building time. I have been there four years and have no plans to leave after I get down with school - why bother - they treat me right and pay me well.
Don't let this get you down, tell them what you told me. Maybe the boss will wake up and realize that he can't hold you hostage every minute of the day.
Smile and keep that chin up - that's what P would have wanted :)
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