Q: I have a boss who always seems to jump to conclusions without looking in detail at work I've done, and then send me "nastygrams" via email complaining about some policy issue or infraction. If he would actually read my...
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Unpaid Time Off
A question that comes up often in conversations with people is whether or not companies should grant unpaid time off for workers who don't have enough vacation time earned. My answer to this most of the time is yes.Many companies...
Meeting Protocol
Q: I work in an office with 4 other people. My boss rarely has us meet, and usually when we do meet it is about every 6 months and it usually has something to do with what we are doing...
Setting Ground Rules for Contacting Management
Every company needs a protocol to ensure communication across all levels of management is consistent. Once in a while, someone may go too far up or down the ladder of management to communicate information, or may not communicate properly at...
Welcoming Parties vs. Going Away Parties
A couple companies I do work with recently had going away parties for retiring employees. In one case, a new employee had already been hired to fill this person's position. It made me think that perhaps the going away party...
Keeping Connected To Peers and Colleagues
I visited Florida this past weekend, and reconnected with several former colleagues and business associates. It was such an invigorating experience to sit down for a cup of coffee with Cristina, a former cast member of mine at Disney now...
Do You Suffer from Small Town Disease?
When I returned to Connecticut after my time with Disney, I encountered quite a bit of culture shock upon my return. Although I had grown up, worked in management, and spent several years away from where I grew up, those...
Retail Options
I had the pleasure of having Ted Potrikus from the Retail Council speak to my Retailing class yesterday. He enlightened my students on just how many opportunities there are in retail beyond the store manager/salesperson type roles. Sharing many stories...
The Floating Holiday
One of the best practices I've seen in many companies is the concept of the floating holiday. On a day like President's Day, many people choose to work rather than take the day off, and have the option of using...
Birthday Rememberance
One of the easiest ways to recognize your staff is to remember their birthday. A simple note or email acknowledging their birthday can make a lasting impression. One employer in Florida that I know of actually sends a handwritten note...