When I took my current job I knew what I was getting into. I was told that my client was “difficult,” but that didn’t concern me. That was the descriptor that has been given to literally every client and company I have worked with except the last one (though now that someone else is working with him they are calling him “difficult,” which is inexplicable to me). Continue reading “A Boss Who Listens”
Continue reading “Best Place to Work”
There is one aspect of my work life that has been exacerbated by moving into consulting: always being on call. When I worked at ad agencies it was expected that you were always available. That’s why employers buy or pay for their employee’s cell and data plans. They are paying for your constant availability and ability to be reached. Consulting has been an interesting change. On one hand we have a lot more power than ad agencies: my company specifically has and is completely comfortable with firing clients they do not enjoy working with. Ad agencies would never dare :). However, one of the reasons we’re paid so well is the fact that we are supposed to be always available. Continue reading “Is My Job Turning Me Into A Recluse?”
Just a normal Tuesday morning
Hedonic adaptation still baffles me. The fact that no matter what happens in our lives: great or horrible, our happiness level quickly stabilizes and in my case returns to neutral. I’ve been working from home for 6 months and I’m sad to say this has happened. Continue reading “Hedonic Adaptation”
Will it though???
I’ve been struggling to understand something for a while: motivation. Specifically the origin of other people’s motivation at the workplace – not just to do a great job (which I also feel), but motivation to work themselves to the bone at the detriment of their health and family for their job without prompting. This isn’t a requirement for them, but they do it anyway. I seriously don’t understand it. Continue reading “On Workplace Motivation”
I received a bit of a shock last week. My Mom is applying to jobs. She’s been retired for 2 years and left corporate America at 55 after working 30 years in jobs she hated. I was more shocked to discover she’d been keeping this from me for a while. That was the saddest part. She thought I would yell at her. I didn’t. Continue reading “Tossing Early Retirement and Trading Money for Time”
I got my paycheck last night. It included a bonus. A bigger bonus than I anticipated. All of my concern that I didn’t feel excitement when I heard people get their bonuses unless they’re on an improvement plan completely faded away because I am PUMPED! I know lots of job search disappointments and life disappointments have conditioned me to not believe something until I see it, until it’s in my hand. And I think that’s what happened here. I didn’t believe I would get a bonus. I didn’t necessarily believe that new HR person knew what she was talking about. I didn’t necessarily believe that bonus was a part of my compensation package. But it is. And updating my spreadsheets last night was glorious. Continue reading “Bonuses and Making Things Real”
I had lunch with our new HR/recruiter person at work the other day. In addition to wanting to get to know her since she’s new to town I had a few questions for her of course 🙂 . What I learned about our job over the course of our lunch was extremely helpful. For example, I’m not sure I’ve mentioned this before, but my pay structure at this job is unlike any I’ve had before.
Previously I was given a set salary and that was it. In ad agencies they don’t really give you raises or bonuses so that wasn’t ever expected. I did receive $1,000 from one of my ad agencies because I planned the company holiday party (which I did the next year as well without payment 🙂 ).
They told me not to tell anyone about it. Since I am a strong believer in financial transparency I totally told people. You shouldn’t tell your employees not to tell others when they get a raise or a bonus. I understand why companies do it – to keep them in complete power – but how about we actually pay people fairly so they are not angry when they hear a colleague got a raise or bonus and are instead happy for them? I’m getting off topic. The lack of transparency in most aspects of the American jobs could take up multiple books. Continue reading “Bonuses…and a Shocking Lack of Excitement”