I CNA at a Nursing Home. High stress. Low pay for what those fabulous people do. They are remarkable. It takes a special person to work in a Nursing Home . However, the pay is terrible for what they have to contend with.
I became a Pampered Chef Consultant in December and I love it! I work full time, but I do the cooking shows on my schedule and set my income goal for the month and it helps to pay my car insurance in which I have a teenager on.
I love this job and plan to will my full time job with it within the next 18 months!
I could sure use this list..I hope its helpful..I am seeking a part time job to supplement my full time job income. Today, one job just doesn’t do it if you aren’t making over $60,000 a year.
Get involved with an MLM like Nature’s Sunshine…I make a very good living at it and no requirement to purchase product, people just place orders. MLM< a great way to go!
I agree with employers making those that will burden the entire program through their own habits that increase their dependence on insurance. I firmly believe imposing additional costs on smokers makes sense, and on the weight issue, as long as it is related to health issues, and not on actual weight alone, it makes sense. Some people carry extra weight, but otherwise have normal cholesterol and blood pressure, and should not be targeted.
If the severance package specifically outlined the dollar amount to be paid and the payment received was actually more, I think the company has the right to request that the former employee return the amount in question. That being said, I think it would be a moral obligation for the former employee to return the money…not a legal obligation.
…dude! we’re talkin’ about microsoft. the kind of administrative error they’re talking about should have been PREVENTED by the wonderful technology they’re always trying to get other companies to buy. if they made a mistake, then they should just bite the bullet, swallow hard and wait for it to come out on the other end. shame on them for making themselves look like BOZO’S…!
I’ve not seen a figure as to how much these employees were overpaid. Unless it’s more than $1000 per employee, I’m surprised Microsoft would come back to these individuals at all. From the fact MS is now recanting (allowing people to keep the money), they must realize how they look to the general public. Asking these laid off employees for some portion of the money back is about as insensitive as you can get. Calling the mistake an ‘inadvertent administrative error’ is fine, but it was MS’s mistake. Live with it as a ‘cost of doing business’.
As for the MS person who authorized ‘requesting the money back’, move his desk to the basement and take away his red stapler.
To answer the question raised, yes I would give it back (provided I had the means to do so).
I was recently laid off and in my letter was told how much I’m to receive in two lump sum payments (minus taxes and junk fees). If I were to receive more, of course I’m keeping it! I was thrown under the bus and the government gave the company BILLIONS. A measley overpayment to me would not affect them in the least.
To those of you that were laid off recently and said they would keep the money then that is a pretty good example of why you were laid off in the first place.
I got layoff around 2 months ago. I have over 10 years purchasing and sales experience in technology field. Last month, i had interview with one company, who had buyer position open for consumer electronics. The CE purchasing manager disapproved of me because i had no CE purchasing background, but HR manager disagreed with him. Anyway, i didn’t get get job. I also had interview with the company, which is also in the consumer electronics. I passed the interview, but due to the hiring freezing, i also didn’t get job. I absolutely agree with you “Knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences are all transferrable”, but due to the tough job market, i realize the company is looking for the perfect match or over-qualified candidacy, which will make job seeker harder and harder.
Good luck to all job seeker!
I definitely agree that employees considered “unhealthy” should pay a premium. Perhaps this will provide additional incentive to individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
I have waited tables for a very long time and I do it 2 two nights a week in addition to my full time job. It’s quick easy money that I take home at the end of the night. I usually bring in at least $200 a week. Some restaurants even offer insurance if you need it. If I need more money I just work more shifts.
I have got involved with a Telecommunications company http://www.5linx.net/globaltech and I market free cell phones, homes phone service for $24.95, business line $39.95, the new video home phone, direct tv, the dish and GE Wireless Home security! Everytime someone pays their bill, I get commission. You do something once and I get paid over and over again. Pretty cool and so is the commission! Go to my website if interested!
What a load of crap! I have a BS in Environmental Health and have worked in the environmental field for over 20 years. I just don’t see how these new “green” jobs are going to materialize. If the market has a demand for these “green” jobs then the jobs will be created. Taking taxpayer money to create a demand that otherwise does not exist is not a solution. Once the government stops subsidizing the jobs, reality called the law of supply and demand will correct the playing field and a lot of the jobs will disappear. Biden doesn’t know what he is talking about and Obama is just using this “green” economy talk to draw attention away from the awful mess we are in.
I work for a registered forester. We have been “green” before all of this hype began. Most people will not work outside in all kinds of weather; so, I think the president’s plan may not be realistic.
I find it totally amazing that people believe in this GREEN Crap.30,000 scientists signed a statement about GREEN being unproven. Do you want to believe them or 50 Journalists?
The only people making money off this is Al Whore.
There is nothing wrong with any industry working to provide anything that consumers want. For too long out government has enacted laws that violate private property rights by allowing their favored industries to pollute other people’s water, property, and air. Pollution is a trespass and should be handled as such. Libertarians have always know that and worked towards this fundamental change. It should never be handled as top-down regulation and government imposed laws. The Federal Government is the biggest polluter in the nation and is in no position to be dictating to anyone what is acceptable pollution – but that is exactly what they do with arbitrary guidelines and regulations.
The free market is not dictating the creation of these industries. We do not have a free market in this country. Instead, we have idiots in washington who steal from one group and then give to campaign donors, etc. Just look at the ethanol fiasco. Ethanol may be a renewable energy source, but it costs way more than it gives back, gives 3/4 the mileage of gasoline, and requires major engine modifications for pure use. Giant subsidies are now causing food shortages here in this country and around the world, and even more deforestation is happening in 3rd world countries just to plant corn. All so that jerks like Harkin and others from corn belt states can line their pockets. Hemp is a far better crop for biomass energy but we are too afraid of it to relegalize its growing. Again, no free market. The oil industry benefits from trillions of dollars in free security courtesy of our bloated military. Just to keep the oil supply safe, we make our country less safe by encouraging terrorism through out imperial quests and killing of innocents.
Every “green” job that is being produced by the farce and Obamanation that is this stimulis bill will come crashing down once the money runs out. The only worthwhile “green” jobs are the ones the market creates out of real demand, not demand created by government regulation, subsidy, or law.
If private property rights were acutally respected and defended by government, and if we actually had a free market in energy and everythign else, the problems of pollution, oil dependence, and every other environmental issue would likely have already been addressed by the courts or the marketplace. Unfortunately the fascism that this country began embracing during the last depression looks to be only increasing under this administration as we race towards the next depression. For those of you that relish the thought of central control, fascism, or socialism, remember that the Soviet Union and every other centrally managed economy have been clearly shown to be the biggest environmental polluters on earth. That’s what happens when the government imposes regulations that it never follows. It is exactly what our government currently does.
I must say that it is encouraging to see that so many folks “get it” about government and the economy. I just hope you will all remember that this is not about Republican or Democrat for they are both beholden to one special interest or another and have both been equally responsible for the mess we are in. This is about the government versus all of us. We are the only special interest group they DONT care about.
I’m really glad to see an article about passionate people and careers because they’re often overlooked in the mainstream world. However, political activism was overlooked as a career choice for passionate people, and it would’ve made your article even better if that had been included.
I believe in the green-collar industry. The goal seems to encourage less dependence on toxic products and services of big businesses, while exploring healthful alternatives. The potential solutions developed by the green-industry could benefit the world for many generations.
It would be great to eradicate many of todays’ health concerns by supporting organic farmers and food developers, and making their products widely accessible.
Educating people about green living and the green-collar industy is the key focus to ensure success.
I used to file worker’s compensation claims. I have seen claims where beginning EMT’s for certain private companies make as little as $8.00 per hour. The highest rate I ever saw was $12.00 per hour.
I can see why an EMT is on the list. An EMT is an EMT for the reason of a step in the door. For fire and police depts. And also my job as a paramedic. When i started as an EMT i made 12.00 an hour. The benefits were really decent though. When you work this job you need tough skin and leave everything at work.
I agree with Jessica. I’ve been considering a part time job to supplement my income for a while now, just haven’t put in the effort to actually search for one yet. I’m a single guy making 50k a year, which is just not as much as it used to be (i.e., the middle class is being destroyed). After taxes, car note, mortgage/rent, and misc., there’s not much left!
I finished the Emory Paralegal Program in ‘05 as a way of re-energizing my career. It was very worthwhile to do so, especially in light of the fact that a few law firms wanted to train me on the spot and pay me very little in the way of starting salary. A small investment went a long way, as I found employment with starting salary in the low 30’s very quickly and I paid the student loan off in 3 years.
I have never finished school, but have seemed to come out ok when it comes to finding a job. Could I be making more? Probably, but not for the case of my girlfriend. She finished school in four years, graduated with honors, and was very confident joining the work force. That confidence was shattered after being turned down for jobs left and right because of not having experience. I have worked tougher jobs, but worked my way up the ladder so to speak and made it ok. I bought my first home two years ago and I now work for a sound financial institution.
Having a BBA, BS & MBA have been beneficial indeed. Other certifications (PMP, Six Sigma) are helpful in career advancement. In my estimation, it’s advisable for folks to pursue further education within their fields of endeavor.
I finished my BA in 2004…and have worked in terrible low paying jobs ever since. I’m not even making 20K right now. I went back to school and have been working on my Master’s degree, but it’s been a waste of my time, because it’s done nothing for me professionally. If I could get back all the money I’d put into college and start over I would. I’ll probably be switching career fields soon. The friends I know with technical skills are the ones doing great.
This caught my attention. Being in the IT industry, I’ve been worried about how this economy would affect those in IT. I’m a firm believer in furthering your professional credentials with certification. IT people know the value of having a Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, or PMI certification. I also believe when the economy is down is a good time to tighten up your skills or acquire new ones. When things get rolling again, you’ll be first in line with the right qualifications.
I agree with LK. I, like numerous other friends have our Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and the only thing we are looking at is huge student loan payments. I also am at a low paying job with two degrees like millions of other Americans that believed education was a way out of this mess!
I wish I could get all the thousands of dollars back that went into an education that has gotten me absolutely no where in my career or advancing myself!
At the age of 40, I went back to school in 2004 to finish my BA. I finished in 2006 and since then I took a job in education and my salary, as of this year, is double what I made in 2004. Would have never been even considered for the job without by bachelor’s degree.
I don’t know if I would fall in this category because technically I never went back to school. I started working for my current company when I was in school. My education has definitely helped my career. I received my B.S., M.B.A., and another Master’s in Telecomunications courtesy of my employer. I received multiple promotions while I was in school and two addtional promotions after graduating from graduate school. With all that said, it really isn’t about climbing the corporate ladder. I feel the skills I’ve acquired in my degree programs, coupled with over a decade of experience have made me an authority in my field. Education has to be coupled with relevant experience in order to mean anything nowadays.
I finished a double major in economics and political science in ‘07 – starting working at a small firm for less than $10 an hour, worked there for a year and then moved to a large firm in Atlanta making 50k. Higher education doesn’t guarantee you a great job to start off and sometimes you have to “pay your dues”. Plus, if you’re going to school for a random, off-the-wall degree, don’t cry when you can’t get a job with your art degree, music degree, philosphy degree etc – double major – get a practical degree to back those up. Think about the job market and the application of your education before you shell out all that money.
Since graduating in 07 with BBA degree, i have sill not found the job utilizing my degree. I was turned down many times for not having experience. So i settled for an entry level job where i still have to work my way up. However i never regreted going to school.
If you are working and you need that degree to move up the ladder, then you should definetly go back to school.
Most people that are whining about low paying jobs and mountains of student loans probably did very little research about their job prospects for employment after graduation, if I am wrong please give give your example. There was a 20/20 speical similar to this a few months back. I was very disappointed in John Stossels conclusion, that college was “over-rated”. He showed a buch of people who got useless degrees at small, expensive private school and could not find jobs in anthropology, creative writing or the like.
I look at the HOPE Scholarship that I received and the co-op jobs, internships and career planning, I did while in school and came out like a rose. Upon graduation I was debt free and took a great job. College does not guarantee future success, its just another tool to catapult you up the ladder.
My wife and I went back to school and completed our B.S. Degrees in May 2007; Since then I have held two positions both of which required a bachelors degree. My current position actually gave me a 117% pay raise over the previous position. My wife finished her Masters in December and I am still working on my Masters. The greatest reward we have experienced is the impact that our pursuit of educational goals has had on our two daughters. They are more focused and self determined that “they can do this too.”
I have a BA, MBA, and will earn a MS degree in my field in May. While several of my colleagues have less education, I would not have the job I have without schools listed on my resume. I know I’ve received interviews, offers, and jobs because the schools opened doors for me, allowing me to shine once I had an opportunity. I also agree that education without experience can make lead to less than satisfying results. Remember, its not where you start but where you finish. Be patient, gain experience, master your craft, build your career.
I think a lot of people are in the position of having a lot of debt to go along with their degrees because they didn’t plan their career. The put too much emphasis into the piece of paper instead of actually applying book knowledge to real life scenarios. I see a lot of young people in their 20’s come to my company and think they should have the corner office because of the letters behind their name. They are unwilling to get their hands dirty, they really don’t know as much as they think, and they think they are entitled because of where they went to school. I’m a firm believer in co-oping, internships, working in your industry while in school, whatever gets you experience. I work with individuals that only have high school diplomas all the way up to people who have dual Masters’ degrees. My point is, at the end of the day, all your employer cares about is who can get the job done, not what letters are behind your name. Get a relevent education and stop whining that your philosophy degree hasn’t catapulted you to top of the corporate ladder. Is is really that hard. If you want a job painting houses, hell, learn how to paint.
great guys. im getting certified as an EMT tomorrow evening. Truth be said though, in Atlanta, you can easily find an EMT job making $750 a week. Its not easy, but the pay is decent+benefits
Read the recent new hire/promotion listings in your local paper to see what companies are currently hiring and/or have recent openings due to someone else being promoted.
you could say the same for the funeral home. It is called free enterprise. It will be the business sector who will reverse the financial direction, not the government.
Just like the vulture, those who can capitalize in this economy fill a vital niche in society. How those companies’s that were mentioned in this blog negatively affect those who are struggling financially? They are simply recognizing a growing need and seizing that opportunity to better their own situation.
They are savvy survivors. They are providing a needed service in this economy. Saying they are vultures would be like saying people who buy foreclosed homes are vultures. If the work or opportunity is available make it work to your advantage if you aren’t hurting anyone.
Only a misguided socialist would ask such a question.
Saving is the engine of productivity, not spending. Yes, the government and the Federal Reserve are LYING to you. People who saved and did not engage in the destructive spending and borrowing behavior of the past couple of decades are now in a position to purchase the excess inventory that this bubble created. The prices for these items (housing, cars, etc.) were all too high, and quantity is also too high. The prices must drop, inventory must be cleared, businesses must fail, and those with the means must be allowed to make better use of the assets. That is how the correction flows from crisis to recovery.
Unfortunately the idiots in our government and the Federal Reserve (the cause of all the problems) only know how to reinflate the bubble so it will burst later on somebody else’s watch. It will burst. That is the law of economics, and it cannot be repealed by majority vote (even if you are electing the messiah). The sooner the prices fall and the assets sold, the sooner we will recover from this.
The govt. is doing exactly what the Hoover and FDR administrations did to prolong the 1929 crisis and turn it into the depression that lasted until 1945. FDR even went so far as to force farmers to plow under crops while people in this country starved to death. All this to keep prices too high. Now the same is being done with housing. The more things CHANGE, the more they stay the same.
I am certainly looking forward to spending some of my savings on deeply discounted items. That is the benefit I get from being frugal. Maybe the example these people set will rub off on the rest of society and savings will once again become an important aspect of everyone’s life.
If you love sports, become a sports official. Start off with high school (to get training), then branch off into recreational. It’s extremely fun and believe it or not, there is a shortage of officials. I make a great part time income between football, basketball and baseball.
I say to the “vultures”, good for them, finding a way to survive, even if it is by seizing the opportunities left by others misfortune. But what percent is misfortune ? Karma, what would you say you are wishing back on them? If they didnt do what they do, the abandoned home next door to you will be left to the rats. THere goes your home value even more. These enterprising people are keeping themselves in the game. And not adding another sad story to the long list. The bad economy has hit all of us in some way. Those that took out loans on homes they couldn’t afford with a traditional loan, selfishly took the chance with no interest loans or those arm and leg loans ! ( i wonder what the percentage of these homes being lost and businesses going under are due to greed and the need to have a bigger slice of pie than they could eat. ) Enjoy the indigestion !
Don’t be ridiculous! As far as I know, this is still America where free enterprise and “survival of the fittest” made this country strong. It’s not like those who some consider “vultures” are adding any further distress to individuals or to the economy. I say ‘good for them!’
In today’s economy we all need a Plan B and my plan be was to work for myself. I work from home on my own schedule with a company that helps people save money on healthcare. Its a network marketing company, which means its a home based business that has helped me stay home with my kids and still generate an income. I work it part time around my kids. So if you are looking for something that can supplement your current income or just something to help bring more income into your household. You may want to look into starting a home based business. You won’t have to worry about being laid off. I will be happy to answer an questions you have about looking for something that will be a good fit for you.
I wouldnt want to work for an unethical company. What they will do to someone else, they will eventually do it you, and it will come back full force. Unfortunately,not many people are successful by keeping their nose clean.
I obtain a degree from a technical college and I guess you can say I am still working my way up the ladder. I have friends who have degrees higher than mine and are still struggling to find a career in their field of interest, but are paying an outrageous loan in return just for striving for a better future. The agency that I am currently working for, in order for you to make more money, you would have to obtain a degree in this field and after working here for quite sometime, that will not be my next move. I kind of regret not entering into a 4 year college to obtain a BA or MBA after graduating from high school. But guess what, this may be next move, because the grass isn’t greener with a technical degree/diploma/certificate as well.
I will not retuurn the bonus money, this is what all CEOS have done past and present, everyone knows and keeps quiet, this was on-going before Obama took office, all past presidents knew it , they are part of this mess, they need to bring their money back too
Yes, I would also return the money. I think I would feel guilty keeping it and knowing that so many people are suffering, losing their homes and jobs. The executives are already making a lot of money for their bad decisions. And if this was a bonus for staying with the company, why are past executives also getting bonuses???
Nope I would not hand over a single dime, its mine AIG and myself signed a contract saying its mine and there is nothing the government or any private citizen can do about it. That would be me attitude if I was one of those execs.
I would keep my money. A contract was agreed to, signed and fulfilled. Those 73 employees kept $1.1 trillion dollars of toxic derivatives from infecting the market. They earned that money. They are not the employees that caused the mess (or as our POTUS says, they inherited it) they have been charged to clean it up.
I love how people are saying what bad decision they made. People who have zero clue of what their jobs are or what the contracts said. It could be if that person wasn’t there they would have lost 400Bil instead of 200bil. The real perpetrators are those who defaulted on their loans and helping them keep houses they couldn’t afford in the first place just feeds the problem
All of you people that say you would return the money would quickly change your mind if you were in the same situation. These people have earned this money and it is rightfully theirs. It is not the governments place to find out how to illegally tax individuals because they didn’t do the research before giving away tax payer dollars like it was growing on trees. I don’t think there should have been any bailout, but the government cannot seize private property out of “fairness”. If Andruw Jones got a signing bonus of 5 million dollars then hit sub .200 the next season causing his team to perform poorly, the team doesn’t get to go and sieze his bonus. The government may have some say in the future contracts and dealings of AIG because of the stake they now have in the company, but they can’t turn back the clock on deals that have already been made.
Not a chance. If I sign a contract with an employer I expect it to be binding. If Obama and his cabinet of dumba$$es had any forsight they would have structured the bailout to have wording prohibiting any tax money AIG receives from going to bonuses.
Actually I hope they are forced to give it back. Not that I would if I were them. I just decided that if the Obama admin. is going to start voiding contracts, it will set a precedent for me.
I thought about it and I would return half of the money. I figure that I AM entitled to it since i met my end of my contract, however, since the money to be paid to me was supposed to be AIG money and since it is in fact tax dollars, I would return half as a compromise.
Yes, I would return the money. Contractually speaking, the terms of the contract changed
when the company became 80% owned by the government. Since one of the parties
in the contract changed ownership, and thus, rendering the contracts null and void.
They can either pay the money back or PAY IT FORWARD! That school in South Carolina
still needs a builder. I’m thinking the AIG Technology High School!
Simple, Yes.
Just to shut everyone up. Although, they legally signed a contract with a bonus so they have a right to keep it. AIG is legally obligated to fulfill those contracts. If they didn’t they would have gotten sued for more money which I am sure us tax payers would have had to cover.
Also, I mean no offense against anyone here, but I find it very difficult to believe that any of you would hand back most of a million dollars out of guilt, especially to an organization that clearly has proven it doesn’t have the acumen to use it wisely.
I wouldn’t think any of them would return the money. I suspect none of them have any idea of how to useful work so what would they do for a living other than be a flunky in such a company.
Nope!
#1 My family comes first
#2 How many hours does the average executive work (70+ hrs a week)
#3 Bail out had nothing to do with their contract wit AIG.
Sadly the American Public really has NO IDEA what is in these bailouts and stimulus plans. They pushed through Congress so quickly there is no way to understand the ramifications.
I would hope that someone would have set down with those that were to get a bonus and delayed the payment unitl the company was in better shape and not just increase the burden. I agree this should have been handeled with the bailout was set up. But as usual we jumped into the fire before we made sure we had a rope attached. We do things in a panic insted of thinking them through. Just like this stimilus pkg. What a waste.
No, I would NOT return it. These were NOT performance based bonuses, they were contractual. And after all, any person that makes more than $70K seems to be despised by the media/activist/parasite poor anyway…so let me weigh ginned-up public opinion (that will hate me no matter what) against taking the money? Be smart and take the cash! By the way, most think executive bonuses is the problem with AIG…but bonuses were less than 1/10th of 1% of the AIG bailout funds. We are going to let worship of non-industrious people morph into mob fascism real quick if we’re not careful. America’s poor are so narcisitically spoiled, they won’t do the jobs immigrants now do. Wanna see real poverty? Go to Africa—then whine about the stuff our loafers aren’t getting for free!
This was not AIG’s money to give out it belonged to the tax payers. To give bonuses to the very people who caused the company to go broke is total stupidity.. Whoever got bonuses should just be happy they have a job period
No, I would not return it. How can I pay the IRS the 90% tax of the bonus if I give the money back to AIG? AIG isn’t recognized as a charity organization in the tax code but maybe it should be.
No I would not return it if it was part of my contract to receive it and Obama and the rest of the Democrat phonies agreed to it as they did by passing the bill, and all you losers on here saying you would return it…no wonder you work at McDonalds your whole life…once a loser always a loser!
I like the answer above…when congress gives back their pay, we will talk about me giving back my bonus. Those numbnuts got us in the mess by pressuring lenders to make loans to those who had no business borrowing money.
I would keep the money, as Federal law required I be paid the bonus.
Congress enacted the funding and required payment of the bonuses in the legislation. To watch them demand back money they required by law to be paid is farcical.
Almost as fun is watching congress enact unconstitutional ex post facto laws to tax them specifically. (Making them bills of attainer, also unconstitutionsal). If I had such a bonus, I would love watching the courts strike down the legislation instanter.
They only ones who should return ANY money are the POLITICIANS who voted for this UNAMERICAN tax. Are the bureaucrats returning the campaign contributions from these companies???? The Obama Administration is turning all of us citizens against each other and gaining power as they pull the wool over your eyes… I’LL KEEP MY MONEY, GUNS, & FREEDOM – You can KEEP your ‘change’….
what about the sneaky person who walks quietly behind you in your cubicle to grab a sneak peak at your work, hoping to find an idea he can steal? what about the person who never uses email so all information-sharing is verbal and grandiose no matter how insignificant? what about the person who bathes in cologne and you can smell them a mile away? what about the person who in every conversation points out the inefficiency of others or the process as if we don’t already know? the person that refuses to answer a direct question because they fear they’re going to be judged and wastes time by avoiding? i could go on but i don’t like to spend sunday thinking about it.
If the bonus was put into a bill ON PURPOSE and was signed off by THE PRESIDENT then I would NOT give it back since it was legal to get it in the first place. Chris Dodd saying he was “forced” to put it in was a joke. If the Democrats had taken the time to read the LARGE bill that they wanted to push through then this would not be happening. But they were in such a hurry to forget what Obama said he was going to do…”I will not allow any bill to go through without first reading it LINE BY LINE so that there are no earmarks or wasteful spending”.
Like Phil Collins sang “Just another day in paradise” If this is paradise then what does hell look like?
Part II
Now I see on the news that the people that LEGALLY got these bonuses are being threatened by others.By harassing them,leaving death threats in their mail boxes,etc. But when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac wanted to give out bonuses nothing like this is being done. Oh wait…Barney Frank said that they were not gonna do this…CYA eh Barney?
fas·cism: We are getting closer and closer. Obama’s Paramilitary volunteers are also on the way.
A political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
The picture is much larger than just the AIG bonus issue. Looking to pass a law to implement a punitive tax is unacceptable. This is the “nose of the camel” under the tent. A tax such as this will soon migrate to anyone who has been good enough at their profession to make a good deal of money. A tax such as this will lead to under employment by the very people we need to move the country ahead as why continue to put in the 80 weeks to have it all taxed away. As far as AIG is concerned, there are not very many people in the general populace that understand credit derivatives, swaps, etc. so grandstanding over this bonus issue is not genuine, but rather people operating (the house and the senate) without a true grasp of the entire picture.
What about the person who is SO attentive to exactly when everyone punches in, goes to lunch, comes back, punches out, and if everyone fulfills the letter of the law in their job description. And yet they refuse to be helpful when you’re swamped and could use a hand for a day or two? That kind of Rules Lawyer is destructive to any kind of team building.
Yes, I’d return it. With intrest. Just to get people off my back. But I’d want a signed and witnessed agreement that I’d get it back, in installments if necessary, when the company became profitable again. If I did have a contract that is.
NO I WOULD NOT….Do the profoot players on a Team with a 0-11 season record give back their million $$$$ salaries-??..Does a presidential candidate who gets $$$ millions in private donations give any of it back-?? this ia a RED Herring.
I started to read this article that was written by Joy Johnston but once I got to where she said, “Pontification Person – This person goes on and on, telling you what their going to say, saying it and then telling you what they said.”, I couldn’t read any more. With writers who can’t distinguish between they’re and their, it’s no wonder your newspaper is loosing readership and going down the tubes.
NO, the Dems passed the bill that said i could have it so since they ok’d it id keep it and take them to court if they try to steal it from me via bogus tax hikes
I would give it back…but then again, I have ethics.
I don’t expect them to give it back. Their pay schedule is that they get a base pay and then work for a “bonus” depending if they deliver the goods. The contract apparently doesn’t say the goods have to be “profitable” goods or “saleable” goods. Those contracts were poorly written giving the people an incentive to get ANY goods into the coompany. The employees getting these bonuses knew they were delivering toxic goods but none of them had the guts to try to stop it. It is greed on the part of the company and the executives in particular.
As for the current CEO…he has been put there by the government to oversee the bailout. It’s not his fault.
My question is why do we want to “retain” these people who distroyed the company? Give their ill gotten gains and shove them out the door. NO ONE in their right minds are going to ever hire them. I keep hearing that “they” are the only people who know how to get AIG out of this mess since they were the ones who got them into it. There are plenty of honorable people out there on Wall Street who are out of work and could get that company back on track.
As for the comment from “The Truth Hurts” about us “losers” working at McDonalds. I could probably buy and sell you with what I keep in the household account. You CAN have integrity and be successful…well maybe not you, but a lot of people can. I can!
NO, NO, NO I would not give it back and I would sue the GOVT for this bill that congress is trying to pass to tax them at 90% that is unconstitutional. Why are they not reporting the AIG gave away $90 billion of the $170 billion that they got in the first place?
This President is LYING when he said that he was shocked at the bonusus, the wording was in his spending bill that allowed them to keep the bonusus anyway. If he would have kept his word about putting this on the internet for 5 days for the americans to read we might have seen this coming.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!
STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID!!!!!!!!
Oh Hell No. This was part of their predetermined pay plan. Many people rely on bonuses, commissions, etc versus salary. All you damn liberals need to get a life or move to France.
ncgreybr – do you really have a clue of what happened to AIG?? Me thinks not… The employees that wrote the credit default swaps DIDNT NOT RUIN THIS COMPANY. You my friend have been BRAINWASHED by the media and Obama. The Credit Default Swaps that AIG wrote are what SAVED the other financial institutions that bought them. THIS IS WHY THE GOVT HAD TO BAIL OUT AIG. Systematic Risk – Not just because some AIG employees made some bad choices and they felt ‘obligated’ to help. Did AIG force all of those people into ‘liar loans’ that preceded the Real Estate Market crash? Did AIG force your neighbor to stop paying on his mortgage? THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT DOWN AIG. The CDS’s that AIG guaranteed paid out because of AMERICAN greed not AIG greed.
What about those consultants who don’t know anything, but are consultants type of people? They are the most annoying group of co-workers for the time they are with the company. When the job is suppose to be complete, the long term employees spend the next year cleaning up after them.
some of you who think punitive tax laws, etc to take those bonuses back are forgetting two things: First, the company is now owned by the government. Second, while that million dollar bonus may seem sexy now, it will be looking a lot less sexy once the IRS has a team of auditors going over your past 5 years’ returns with a fine toothed comb…and don’t expect much sympathy from the federal tax court, either.
No I would not return. There was a contract to do certain things and if I had completed them I would deserve the money. The money given by the Gov. is a loan, it will be paid back and giving bonuses is part of everyday business. If the money was just “given” then we would have a say, but it wasn’t so we don’t need to get involved.
“Chalkdusttorture; I guess I must have missed the part where someone held a gun to AIG’s head and made them write the Credit Default Swaps on material that, with a little investigation, would have shown was a bad deal for AIG. Try rereading your post. YOU make MY point! The CDS’s that AIG bought weren’t bought because AIG was altruistic or because they were trying to “save” the other institutions. They thought they would make money from it. (They didn’t!) It was ALL ABOUT GREED!
Ncgreybr.. You said it better than I could. I agree with every word you wrote. Ethically and morally, that money should be returned and I would return it if I were one of those execs. It belongs to the taxpayers and those executives know it.
The responses on this board frighten me. Financially, I’ve been blessed beyond what I ever imagined, and I have always tried to do the right thing. Money isn’t everything,and I don’t have a need to brag about what I have. Morally, we are expected to help those who are less fortunate. I hate hearing all the greedy people on this blog howl about how the “poor” got us into this economic mess. Wake up, idiots and smell the coffee! There aren’t enough “poor” in this country to cause the kind of breakdown we’ve seen– it was caused by the use of dangerous financial instruments and HUGE dollar losses caused by reckless decisions driven by greed, resulting in HUGE payouts like the ones at AIG and other companies. Our country is doomed if you can’t figure that out because it will continue to happen and you’ll continue to spout off ignorant remarks until you lose YOUR job, YOUR little Cobb county McMansion, and that big Suburu SUV that YOU drive while you hog the roads and destroy the ozone. By then, of course, we’ll be a third world country with a few obscenely rich people and a multitude of poor people and NO middle class.
Pick up a newspaper once in a while OR if you can’t read, at least look at a PBS show– then you’ll understand what really caused this meltdown.
If this was given as a bonus from my company I would feel no obligation to return it under any circumstance. I received it under guidelines set out by the company and if the guidelines change, so be it.
The government is trying to anger the public against AIG, while the real culprit IS the government for A. Even loaning the money, and
B. Zero stipulations on how the money could be used. If I were a “producing” contractor for AIG, I would absolutely take MY earned bonus (although probably not with a 90% tax on it). Our government is completely out of control. The current administration has NO fiscal responsibility, it is incredible the amount of spending (with no checks and balances)going on, and the damage will be felt for years to come. My only hope is this immature, irresponsible, inexperienced administration will bring about a change to conservatism in this country in four years. If republicans behaved like TRUE republicans, we would not be in this mess and would have had a competent candidate in the last election. Hopefully, Obama will be the best thing for Republicans since Jimmy Carter.
I guess I’m a little messed up on this liberal/conservative thingie. Please straighten me out. Was this bailout mess started by the liberal Bush or the liberal Paulson (whose salary on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs was $646 million his last year)? And then didn’t he bail out Goldman Sachs? Hmmmmmm!
As my favorite coclumnist said “Bush went in as a social conservative and came out as a conservative socialist.”
The politicians in Washington have been bought and paid for by Wall Street. Obama’s $800,000,000,000 Stimulus Bill that he signed last month legalized payment of the bonus money to the AIG executives. The problem is Obama and his fellow politicians underestimated the big public backlash when payment was announced. Now everyone in Washington is trying to cover their political asses.
“Senate Banking committee chairman Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) now admits including a loophole clause in the bailout plan that allowed for the bonuses.”
Do you know that Christopher Dodd has recieved over $100,000.00 from AIG along with a hand full of other member of the Senate and the House? Now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac CEO’s are going to be recieving more money in bonuses, too. I guess Bernie Franke’s mate will be getting more, too!
I work in a call center in Marietta and the one type of co-worker that they didn’t mention was the “I think I know better than the boss” co-worker. We have one lady here That despite being writen up, suspended and chastized by my bosses still thinks that her way is the best way and doesn’t care what she’s told about how to do her job correctly. If it’s not her way it’s the wrong way. Wonder if she’ll feel like her way is the best way when she finally gets fired?
Suits take care of suits. Period. That’s the way it is, that’s the way it always will be. Until Americans grow a set and actually do something about this you may as well just get used to it.
Those adults who had Attention Deficiet Disorder when children who grow up to be co-workers who can’t do anything that requires planning or sequential thinking. It is like working with a pin ball machine, where the ideas just bounce around and around.
Don’t plan, just do it. And then if it don’t work, fix it. And then fix it again.
And if it don’t work then, just do something else. But don’t plan. Just do it and move on. Why are you taking so long? Just do it.
Absolutely not! The government knew about these bonuses and never made any conditions before they loanded AIG the taxpayer funds to help keep them afloat. Now because the media has hyped the bonuses up everyone is so outraged. The amount being used for bonuses is slighly over 1% of the money loaned to AIG by you and I(the taxpayers) Now that the bonuses have been made public the government is now all up in arms. Give me a break! Even if the government truly didn’t know about these bonus contracts, that just means that the idiots that were elected to office didn’t read the bill they signed. If I had it my way AIG would’ve not been bailed out and it would’ve gone under and the free market would’ve corrected whatever affect the loss of AIG had. All this is, is another step closer to socialism and a step away from economic freedom.
If my AIG bonus was tied to production, then it should be returned without a second thought. If it was tied to a delayed compensation, I would still have to realize that if AIG did not receive the bail out, the company would not be in there. So for me, I would not take the money. I believe they should have not taken it to start with. The greed factor appears to be in effect.
Heck, no, I wouldn’t return it. Thank you, US Government, for the bailout, but we all know that the US Government didn’t do AIG a personal favor. It was in the best interests of the government to make sure that AIG didn’t fail. I have a contract with AIG, not the U.S. Government. If the government wants to take over AIG — and wouldn’t THAT be a hideous precedent — then they can re-negotiate my contract, but in the meantime, my contract is with AIG, I did the work, I met the terms of my contract, and if that contract delineated a bonus, then no, the bonus is MINE. I don’t see how becoming poor and struggling would help anyone.
I would have given back the bonus. And I would have done it as grandiose as I can, because I think the government is poking into the private lives of every recipient- trying to drag up some dirt.
I don’t think the money’s worth all of that scrutiny from the government and/or the media.
“Greed is good.” This is what the neocons were all about- no regulation, and everyone is able to do what they want, and to look out for themselves. I’d keep the money and say “Good-bye!” to anyone who wanted it back.
Besides, government shouldn’t be telling private companies how to run their business. This is simply happening now because the Republicans lost, and will change when they come back.
For those who have lost their jobs, or have to take mandatory pay cuts, or have to work harder, you should stand on your contract as well. Look out for yourself, and yourself only. Take what’s yours, and only worry about yourself. The other people will take care of themselves, or go crying to the Democrats.
I would have earned it. It’s why I would have stayed there. The losses would have been greater had you decided NOT to retain my services. So I would have paid for myself.
To those of you who say they would keep the money because of a signed contract, I assume you back the UAW and it’s retires who signed contacts with the auto makers.
Yes, I would have taken it and I ain’t mad at ‘em. I’m mad at our government for giving billions of dollars in bailouts. It was the wrong decision and I don’t believe it was vital. Be wary of anyone trying to push something through in a hurry. It’s usually a scam.
Absolutely! When AIG accepted taxpayers’ dollars something should have changed with the way they do business. They can’t go on with “business as usual” when they needed the federal government to bail them out. If we (taxpayers) have to make sacrifices, then I expect the big time executives to do the same dang thing! Greed and corruption is what got us in this mess! We can’t continue in this direction and expect different results. Wake up people and stop being so selfish.
What about the nit-picker? You know the one that waits anxiously, ready to pounce on any instance of incorrect grammar, or misspelled word? Do these people have a clue how annoying they are and how little anyone else cares about a misspelled or misused word? Or are they so desperate to show off their superior grammar skills that they’re blind to how petty and pathetic they look?
Meetoo: That is apples and oranges and you know it. AIG and it’s bonus contracts with its workers were not negotiated through a union nor do the amounts of those contracts even come close to retirement or benefits packages that UAW strangles auto manufacturers for.
The only people who drive me crazy are the lazy thugs at work. These black girls are overweight and do nothing but complain, worry about when they can go home, and when lunch is. I never see them working too! Why are they so lazy? Pretty obviously why you rarely see black CEO’s, Presidents, VP’s, etc.
NO I would not give it back! AIG should not have given out this money in the first place. That is AIG’s fault and those that mis issued this money are the ones that need to be removed from the company immediately!
My anger is with the government for mixing taxpayer money with a private company and term it a “bailout”! They just handed over this money and AIG, like others, went on with business as usual! AIG should have never paid the bonuses!
Now is the time to take AIG over like it takes over a bank and sell it off to more smaller and stable companies.
As taxpayers we have real problems facing us like Congress not paying attention to what it is doing. Ask each Senator or Representative IF they actually read the bill before they voted on it and I bet that they got the cliff notes version and didn’t even bother reading that!
We are now in a situation whereas we as voters need to make some hard choices coming up. We first need to take back our ability to vote on more issues as a society. Sure it would take more time but the voter gets to decide by majority.
Next we need to outlaw these political contributions from corporations. Limited money given to anyone running for office to $500 per adult per election and only from his/her own district – except for the president since that office is the only one that needs to go national and that one too needs to be limited to $500 per adult per election.
And finally – NO MORE BAILOUT MONEY except directly back to the taxpayer!
“The Credit Default Swaps that AIG wrote are what SAVED the other financial institutions that bought them. THIS IS WHY THE GOVT HAD TO BAIL OUT AIG.”
It was AIG’s blind willingness to insure (cheaply) mortgage-backed securities irrespective of risk that led investors to keep buying them, as they could use CDS’s as a hedge. If the derivatives market had been better regulated, AIG would’ve been required to keep enough cash reserves on hand to pay its counterparties in the event of a housing collapse. Consequently, CDS’s would’ve been more expensive; the market for mortgage-backed securities would’ve been smaller; and fewer questionable mortgages would’ve been issued.
My personal unfavorites when I worked in an office were the gossip types who were so busy spreading discord among their fellow employees they never got much else done,the interupter who never let you finish a sentence,or if you were in a conversation with someone, they interupted like the little buttinski’s that they were. Then there was one who did nothing but make or take personal calls all day and having to hear them say,”I love you”50 million times a day.Lastly, the ones who insist on playing their music so loud and sometimes over and over if it’s a favorite and they just “love this song”!
I forgot about the one who controlled every meeting with their tears. They would manipulate with whining and crying for literally 2 hours or more so every meeting you’d feel completely exhausted!!!!
This is Casey Conner (yes, they misspelled my name above, but no matter), one of the authors of the book. Thanks for all the comments…this topic always drums up great conversation and is lots of fun. Our book has quite a few more “Don’t Be ‘That Guy’” points such as “Body Odor Guy and his wife, Too Much Perfume Lady” and “Instant Best Friend”. The book itself is really about how to get along at work, have integrity and communicate effectively with anyone. It’s got “Consultants” in the title, but it’s a good, easy (and, we’ve been told, fun) read for anyone. Again…thank you all!
Yes people, bonuses should come from companies that are doing at least OK, so part its profits are shared among its employees. If the companies are failing (to say the least); then the logic outcome is NOT BONUSES. Stop with the “I’m entitled attitude”
I think as long as you use your personal computer to update these sites then its none of your job’s business. They want you to leave your personal life out of the workplace so they should stay out of your persoanl life as well. First!
Regardless of how stupid or compromising comments, pictures, etc., that are posted on the Internet may be, if it doesn’t affect an applican’t ability to do the job, employers are opening themselves up for all kinds of legal trouble. So… to answer the last question: zero.
That said, arguments can be made that a potential employee lacks good judgment, and I don’t see how anyone with half a brain can argue with that for some of these geniuses. It will be interesting to see some legal precedents established as it relates to social media, etc.
Employers can and should go to great lengths to find out about the character of a potential employee…If a company is going to invest time, money and resources into the hiring of a NEW employee then that potential employee should expect to be analyzed with as much technology as available (Cisco probably has some)…and frankly, I think Twitter, Facebook and MySpace are an enormous waste of time…if you want to spend 3 hours at night updating your profile and telling the world that you just ordered a Pizza then go ahead…the economy is in the crapper and customer service is still at an all-time low…I can’t believe the number of people that walk around their job texting and talking and surfing.
GWB….I believe this counts as a “social network” and I believe you just threw your thoughts out to the “entire universe.” Therefore, you just termed yourself as one of the many idiots. Careful what you say, may come back to bite ya!
Who cares what you say about your job…it’s just venting. This is why I like Myspace, you can set your profile to PRIVATE. People take things way to seriously.
That’s why I set my Facebook page private. No one can see but my friends. And I’d NEVER be friends with anyone that I work with or for. That’s just stupid. Also my FB is set to First Name Maiden Name Married Name. Professionaly, no one knows my maiden name, so they still probably couldn’t find me.
TO BAC: if your boss sends u a friend request, just ignore it…they won’t send him/her a notice that you did it. If he/she asks about it, just “Oh sorry, I’m not on {whatever social media} all that often, I haven’t seen it”
There’s probably a code of conduct clause or some sort of privacy rules that they’re using to prune out the idiots who don’t know how to use some discretion.
We have a lot of grunters, throat clearers and hockers. OK if you have a cold, but these folks snort, grunt, talk to themselves and clear their throats every day for months now. Keep your bodily noises to yourself. Loud gigglers too! Get a cough drop or something. The behavior makes me wonder how many germs are floating around in the office. It is to the point where I use ear plugs daily so I can concentrate on my work rather than listen to the harmony of nasal noises.
Hi momtoAlex&Max… people in FB can search on just your first name + married name, so they could still find you without knowing your maiden name. Go try searching on yourself without your maiden name and you will see. Just wanted to warn you if you thought you were protected from being found by coworkers. Granted, if you are set to friends only, at least they won’t be able to see your pages. I agree, not smart to allow colleagues as friends unless you plan to not make any embarrassing or unprofessional statements. I would recommend using FB “lists” function for anyone who wants to segregate what certain segments of your friends list can see.
Too bad hand-held device addicts can’t twitter themselves out of this universe. Go to any place and observe people; who appears…at least ostensibly, to have the most gray matter: A person sitting and looking at their hand-held device or a person reading a book. I’m not saying the hand-held divice addict doesn’t have gray matter, it’s usually in the form of yesterdays underwear and not in the skull. The blank look on some faces this posting surely evokes is funny to me.
Twitter can be a benefit for job seekers if used correctly – but one needs to realize that a tweet can be seen by anyone (including potential and former employers). People do not have to use twitter, but if you wish to do so, then you need to understand what the ramifications might be. This person should be happy that he got a job offer at all (or internship) – especially with a company like Cisco – the answer to his question is easy – suck it up for the summer, commute and do the work that you may not like to get the experience. It is a great resume builder with a great company. Summertime isn’t that long, and there will be more of them in the future. And for people that have questions like this – think about how the question looks to an outside observer. If you wouldn’t ask it directly of the employer – then don’t tweet it either. If you can’t handle that, don’t use twitter – stick to facebook and use the privacy options. As for Cisco, or any other company – they have every right to check twitter or other social network sites. It is a large investment to hire someone whether the company is large or small and they want to minimize their mistakes. It is up to you to make sure that your online brand is representing what you think it should. Now it’s time for me to get back to job seeking.
It amazes me the things people will post on the internet as if nobody can see them – or only the people they’re posting to.
The internet is WIDE OPEN, people. Joe Schmoe in AnyCountry is sitting in his bedroom reading your words and viewing your thong!
Now, I realize for some people, this is a “thrill”, but when it comes to presenting yourself favorably to the right people, your public internet activities will speak loudest.
I do nothing on the internet that will embarass me or my mother.
To LeLe: they might be able to find me, but they can see nothing. I have tested this with my husband’s account before he was my “friend” (ha ha) in FB and no one that is not on my friend’s list can see anything of mine.
This is definitely happening. I have had department managers ask for temporary access to facebook and myspace so they can check people out before hiring them.
[...] in Atlanta, or the current flooding dangers to put things in perspective. BlogBreak contributor Chandra Fox gives her take on how larger life events can put the daily grind of unemployment into a different [...]
The certification must carry weight in the field of practice. In looking at the question, if you were the hiring manager and you had two candicates of equal caliber, one with additional certification and the other does not have additional certification, who would you pick? Nuff said.
Be advised actually, even if you have your profiles set to private, there are programs that can get around that and look at your profiles anyways. I don’t know how common this is, but I do know that some colleges are using them to check up on their athletes, and it could very well be used by employers as well.
I would do it at home too. I see those kiosks take all kinds of abuse when I visit these stores, from frustrated job seekers banging on them, to managers diddling around with them trying to make them work and not knowing what they are doing, to little kids using them as toys. Just save yourself the aggravation. Job hunting is hard enough.
Through Facebook, I’ve reestablished contact with long-lost cousins, rekindled friendships with college classmates, and gotten to know nice people who would otherwise simply be passing acquaintances. It’s been a terrific way to connect. And yes, I have colleagues in my friends list, too. It’s really perfectly benign as long as you never write anything that you wouldn’t mind posting on a billboard.
It is a sad fact that the “normal” process for finding and acquiring a job has sunk to a new low using non-human resources to replace human resources. Even for more traditional employment the process begins with the online search. Once you find the job then you must fill out the online application. You have no idea if a human even ever got to see your resume. The Human Resource Department needs to change its name to the Non-Human Resource Department. As a person that is always told “you interview well above your resume!” this is very distressing. I have always depended on the interview to get the job. Truly a low point in American employment practice!
Employment kiosks were instituted to prevent store managers from discriminating and level the playing field for applicants, but its all about the software. There are some great software packages and some awful ones – “kiosks” are a specialty and require specialists to make them user friendly. No, you can’t just throw your web site on a PC and expect it to work for the public. Sounds like this Kiosk from Hell was a low-budget afterthought ordered by the same purchasing guy who buys pencils and toilet paper.
As a manager of an Linkedin group of hearing impaired professionals, I see this all the time. Not only is the job market tough, but once an interviewer sees the hearing aids or realizes that you’re having trouble understanding what he/she is saying, you’re immediately rejected. Only the most open-minded recruiter is able to see past the disability and appreciate what one has to offer. And I believe that hearing-impaired people have more difficulty than other disabled people – except maybe for those who are sight-impaired. Anyone can roll their wheelchair up to the desk and work. But if you can’t hear in a meeting, use the telephone, or understand spoken directions or warnings, you won’t be hired.
I AM disabled and fortunately have been at my job for 5 yrs this month. I believe it IS tougher than it normally has been for those who have a disability – physically, emotionally or mentally – because competition is tougher and the skills needed are becoming more and more scrutinized. For those who have unfortunately been hit with a layoff it will be even harder to bounce back yet alone compete for jobs against those who don’t have the disabilities that employers may assume will be a hinderence to your productivity.
I am legally blind and have worked for an Atlanta based company now for 3 years. In the past I have found it difficult to find a job regarless of economic times either because most employers or businesses are uncertain of what my limitations were or how they would affect my job responsibilites. However, One outlet that some people with disabilities can take advantage of are work from home programs offered through companies that train people to be Customer Service Agents. The only word of caution I would offer if someone choosed to go this route is to go to Clark Howard’s website http://www.clarkhoward.com to see which ones are listed on his site. DO NOT WHATEVER YOU DO do a random “work from home” search on the NET. You would find more scams than anything. Another good avenue to pursue is if you have what’s called a Vocation Rehab counselor(like here in GA), you can often get job training and even obtain employment through contacts that they have. There are some very disability friendly companies right here in the metro area. You just need to do some research and talk to the right people. If you want to get off to a good start, check with your local Department of Labor office. You can often sit down with someone there that can provide you with some very helpful information to get started.
This is not surprising wheher the economy is good or bad. It is reflective of too many employers attitudes about disabilities. They believe you aren’t capable of working. Fortunately with my disability I lead 2 organizations that between them employ over 2,000. Those who have poor attitudes towards those with disabilities don’t get hired or end up fired first when I hear that type of attitude.
Greetings Tyler Perry I’m 26 years old and , Basicly I need a job. I was laid off from a couple of jobs in Atlanta and continue seeking others , and I need something so I can finish college . You can reach me at 850-591-6373 or 404-256-5391. Thank You for being you . Taron
Everyone needs to realize that there is no better time to start your own business than in a recession! The key is to start one with a product that is highly consumable, in a growing industry, with a lucrative compensation plan where you can become profitable quickly. Ideally, it would be one where you create jobs for others. This is what I have done! I started out with this being my Plan B, but it has quickly become my Plan A because real estate (my original Plan A) is so hard right now. The best part about it? It’s chocolate… healthy chocolate! If you are interested in what I’m doing, call 1-888-225-3008, ext. 1316.
I’m not much of a salesman so I don’t know that I would take a telemarketer job unless I simply had to. I have worked in 3 call centers and have found most to be very professional and a pleasant place to work for the most part. The only job I would not take regardless of my situation would be as a collector. I’ve worked in 2 call centers that did collections and will never do it again after doing it for 3 yrs. Primarily because I didn’t really make any money because believe it or not I wasn’t mean enough to people. In fact I was more customer servie oriented. I wanted to help people more than beat them up on the phone just to get a payment. Needless to say I never made but 1 bonus check en my entire 3 yrs as a collector. Thankfully I work in customer service now oddly enough in a call center for a large Atlanta based company. The pay isn’t great and the hours can be kind of rough, but I don’t dread getting up in the morning going to a job I hate. Instead, I get up and look forward to coming to work.
Oh and Joy, you are right about what you heard about Ryla. I live in Kennesaw where they are based and not only have I heard that they are a great place to work, but they are also disability friendly. I ride the bus with a guy who works there who makes a fairly decent amount of money working Verizon accounts.
I don’t think I could ever be a telemarketer. They just drive me too crazy!! Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of filing phone complaints online against them to try and get the calls to stop. Not much success so far, but I’ve only tried to file a complaint at http://www.WhosePhoneIsThis.com.
Receiving my Associates Degree from a technical college in computer networking has only led me to a greater understanding of computer science, but no job. The reason why is because most IT carriers require certifications and look upon these as experience. Pursuing these certifications while continuing my education in information security from a university has allowed me time to discover that utilizing both can benefit me in building a career for the future. In short, research the field of your choice because some fields need both and others need one or the other or none.
My experience in the corporate world is that men and women who are tall get promoted more often than those who are short. Also, extroverts get promoted more often than introverts, despite the fact that many of these extroverts are totally incompetent. Weight does not seem to be an issue.
Of course weight is an issue. People in the world think overweight people are lazy and do not take care of themselves. I have worked in coporate america for 15 years and for one of the top companies of all time. I have noticed thin men and women almost always get promoted and when someone overweight does, they are often called deragatory names having to do with their weight behind thier backs… sad, but very very true. I have noticed and it is not the way it should be that overweight people are discriminated against everyday of their lives. I see people stare at them, children laugh and people make judgements. I wish people didn’t do this to them.
What a junk study, there are millions of factors at work here. Consider this – Men who spend more hours on the job, have less time to excersise, therefore gaining weight and deserving a promotion, explaining why more bosses are overweight. Overweight and obese are 2 different things, not clearly discerned here.
Also, men who make more money can disregard appearance and still remain somewhat relative in finding and retaining a female mate, but no amount of money alone can make a woman skinny.
Yes “the old double standard” is, and will be in effect, until women value men solely on looks rather than: status, money, accomplishment, etc…
I agree with Ron. I think it seems to be relevant to the introvert v. extroverts personality types. If you are an extrovert, people seem to naturally gravitate toward you (yes, even if the person is an idiot). I have come across many leaders who have big personalities but no knowledge. I have come across people who need to be in leadership positions but are introverted so people assume they are not leadership materials. (Oftentimes, these people reject leadership). Also, for men weight does not matter but it does for women. In fact, more women than men are promoted based on looks not their talent at all. This is why there is such a problem with female leadership because honestly many of then are incompetent. I DID NOT SAY WOMEN ARE NOT GREAT LEADERS but if you choose an idiot of any gender, race, etc.- you will have horrible leadership.
If they can afford $60+ meals every day, I am sure all that good food is delicious!
Tia,
Being overweight is a choice. If it truly bothered these people, they would consume less calories and excercise more. They make a personal choice everytime they choose what to eat and whether to do something active or something lazy.
Please….people who get ahead in corporate America are the ones to make personal sacrifices of their time and energy. Generally speaking, this will tend to have negative impact on the old waistline. I hope there wasn’t a federal grant involved in this idiotic study.
People who let their personal lives go to pot (no exercise, eat on the run, etc…) and let their life / work balance swing overwhelmingly towards work get promoted more because they spend much more time working. It is only fair they get promoted more… however, I will not make the choice to give my life to a company in order to move ahead. I’d rather know and enjoy my family and friends and spend as much time pursuing personal endeavors…
Sadly, women, MUCH more so than men, are discriminated against, both professionally & personally, if they don’t meet society’s narrow standards of beauty. Matt, you are woefully ignorant. No one CHOOSES to be overweight. Overeating is an addiction, much like smoking, drugs, alchohol & gambling. BTW, I’ve known many overweight people who are anything BUT lazy in the workforce & by the same token, I’ve also known some thin slackers. You’re just letting your prejudices do your “thinking” (?!?) for you
Fat men don’t like work, so they spend their time eating and brown nosing so they can be in charge. If you think not, you haven’t worked very long in the Federal world.
Joyce – fat men spend their time eating so they can be in charge? What a well thought out and cogent statement. Even so, if that is the federal world, now officially nothing in bureuacracy surprises me.
Those who get promoted to upper management positions were not overweight at first, but once they get that position watch that weight pile on. Those “business meals” carry a lot of weight.
Maybe fat men are more intimidating that fat women, and that’s why they get promoted.
To all the healthy ^&%^$ out there, us fatties are not evil and lazy because we don’t exercise or because we like good food too often. Some of us (believe it or not!) are quite healthy. All I ask is that you all THINK before spouting off at the mouth about your “desirable” life-style. Do that, and I promise I won’t try to hit you with my car when I see you jogging down the road or in place at the traffic light. Just because you exercise 4 hours a day, 8 days a week, doesn’t make you better or smarter than anybody else. It just means you have little else to do with your lives
I think you took this far too personally. I’ll try not to take your ‘woefully ignorant’ comment personally, so allow me to clarify. Fat people are not lazy or unproductive in the workplace at all, unless we are talking about a manual labor job. I know plenty of very hard working overweight people, but they do choose their condition. Just like smokers chose to smoke, drinkers chose to drink, gamblers chose to gamble. At some point in their life they made the decision to start heading down that path. It is the equivalent of having a messy room, except a messy room takes a few hours to fix- a messy body can take years. All that food tastes just as good to people in great shape as well, they just exhibit more self control.
Roekest,
Who is on here claiming to be superior to you? What does weight have to do with intelligence? I am sure there are fat and skinny people who are smarter than you or I. To ignore the countless medical facts relating obesity to heart disease is not very intellectually sounds, and threatening to run joggers over is just plain childish.
Enter your comments here i work for atelemaking.the co was in kennsaw ga.iwas a very god emoply for this co.i worked 7 days a week some weeks.i was let go on 12/26/o6. i have not worked sence then.
I think paycuts would be the best for long term success. That way the employer is spending less money but still enjoying the same quality of labor. No one is going to quit in this economy. Admit it, you’d still show up to work if they cut your pay 15%.
Ah, Matt, you must be one of those lucky people who’ve never had a weight problem, otherwise you’d know being fat is NOT a choice. Gee, I, personally, don’t remember ever waking up one morning, looking in the mirror & saying to myself “Ugh, I HATE my slim, trim perfect self. I think I’m gonna gain 40 pounds. I get sick of compliments, looking good, being treated nicely & feeling good.” Gaining weight is a gradual thing. You can’t pinpoint where/when the problem begins but then there comes a point where you realize there now IS a problem. And eating is the one unavoidable addiction, if one is cursed with an addictive personality. No one has to take that first cigarette, beer, crack pipe, etc, but we do have to eat. (Roekest, you ROCK!)
You are not stuck in that cycle. It will be hard to break, but you can do it. It will take a long time and a lot of sacrifice, but are you not capable of accomplishing anything you truly try to face? No matter your weight, if you look hard enough at yourself you’ll never be happy. The weight is something that you retain the option to control. I support you if you want to start facing this, it is not futile. Eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables you care to, never drink soda (diet sodas are just as bad), avoid processed carbs or sugars, and exercise whenever you get the chance (make chances, it can be fun). You’ll be faster, lighter, more capable in a dangerous situation, feel better, look more attractive, and you’ll probably live longer. I wish you the best.
Well, sounds like I am part of the working-wounded (an apt description if there ever was one). I have been laid off for the second time in a year, and while I do not meet the usual definition of disabled, and I take nothing away from those folks that really are disabled, my hi-tech on-the-job skills have finally run their course and I am now unemployable in the IT industry. For years I have been struggling with a really trashed lower back due to injury and hereditary, and in the past few years I have had very high numbers of days off due to illness. An employer I had a year ago, was unbelievably tolerant of this and did not dock me a single days pay thru severe back problems, cancer treatments, mental disorientation due to neurological pain drugs, they were just excellent. However, my last employer, was told to terminate me from the project by the client because I took three days off across a weekend due to a bad gastro issue. I had an at-will contract so there was nothing I could do about it, my employer didn’t like it, but they had no other work. So here I am, going to job interviews as a 55 year old, mildly overweight male who limps when he walks because of his chronic back issues. I can’t get a job that requires bending or lifting of any kind, and I am no longer sought after in the IT industry. I am looking at retraining. But the cause of my disability is completely fixable. I have no insurance, even when I had good health insurance I could not afford the copays for seeing my specialists. It is getting harder and harder to walk, and I would not be able to walk if it were not for the drugs I take that also impact my cognition to varying degrees. So, do I battle on and keep sliding but retrained and stop work when I can no longer physically get around, or do I go straight for getting declared disabled and unable to perform my usual work, new work, and if my back is not operated on, my condition will last till I die? I have had an exceptional run in hi-tech, but lost everything including my life saving in a divorce, business closure and home foreclosure. Oh well. Batter up!
Matt, you ARE right but I wish it were that simple. Ask just about any overweight person, myself included, I openly admit, but I think we’ve all been on that lose weight/gain it back rollercoaster. Very frustrating, especially since during our “thin” periods, we do look & feel better by far
i would like to see an article on how to deal with getting elderly parents to understand their limitations. my mother has dementia and lives with me , an almost daily problem is trying to explain to her why she can no longer drive or live by herself, i explain why ,but she just gets mad and cries, i know I’m not the only one dealing with this, please use your resources and give us all something to work with
[...] to come!!!!!More people who are being laid-off are now suing their former employers. Would you? http://tinyurl.com/c6e35dNew blog post: Rhode Island Extends COBRA Subsidy To Laid-Off Small Business Employees [...]
Georgia is a right-to-work state, thus you can be fired, laid-off, terminated for any cause except discrimination against age, race, color,creed, national origin, etc. And the unemployment office will not help you if there is any sign of discrimination. If you suspect being fired due to prejudice reasons, contact the Atlanta Legal AID Society for starters.
I think anyone should sue their employer if their is cause and it is based on any type of discrimination that is improper. Empoyers have the power to absolutely do whatever they want to employees they no longer want around – you can removed for your job pretty much for no reason and get nothing in return.
There is no loyalty out there, from employees or employers. The difference, usually, is that an employer who chooses to terminate an employee has the potential to cause allot of damage, much of it that could be avoided or lessened if the employer would just show some compassion.
I feel there should be more protections for employees when it comes to job loss, mainly to soften the blow. I think this should particularly apply to larger companies that have the resources to do so.
Regardless, anyone who think being fired of laid-off cannot happen to them, it can! Even if you do outstanding work, things can change – network throughout your career, do everything to keep your options open, because things can change at any time.
Agreed – paycuts are probably best for long-term success if the industry or business needs to do this. It is unfortunate, but neccessary in these times.
I got laid off in December 2008. Although I am still very angry, I don’t see the point in suing them. In all honesty, I don’t want my job back. I don’t think they have any money (or I wouldn’t have gotten laid off). I don’t want to end up with a mark against me with any future – and probably better – employers. I know there is a lot of age and other types of discrimination out there, and good reasons for people to sue. I just don’t think for me this is an option. I also have a husband and two kids and this is hard enough on everyone, without adding the stress of a lawsuit. Sometimes you have to know when to walk away. It is not being weak, it is being strong enough to put this in someone else’s hands and know that in the end, everyone gets what they deserve, good and bad.
correct me if i’m wrong, but isn’t Georgia a “Work at will” state?
Meaning you can quit at any time, and they can lay you off at any time, and it doesn’t matter what the reason, that’s just the way it is.
Why waste more money suing? That isn’t going to solve anything.
Plus, as a benefit of actually working, if you are laid off, you can collect unemployment until you are employed again. Your paycheck pays into unemployment, so why not take advantage of it, if you are the unfortunate and do get laid off…..
My husband was recently laid off after 20 years of devoted service. And I truly mean devoted service. Over the years this company has just gone down the toilet and employee loyalty means absolutely nothing to them any longer. While our family is hurting financially, his release from that company is really the best thing to happen to him, and us. There’s nothing worse than putting 100% of your heart, soul, and devotion into something you believe in just to get the heave-ho from management.
Why would you sue the company that did not have enough money to keep you? Seems counterproductive. I would hope the company would stay in the black enough to pay 65% of my COBRA.
Did you know that anyone can file a complaint against their employer if they feel they have been discriminated against whether they are currently employed or have been “let go” (fired or laid off). All you need to do is to file your complaint with the local district EEOC office. You can do it in person or by phone or by postal mail. The Atlanta district EEOC office is located where the former Rich’s Department Store was — across from the Five Points MARTA Station. Would suggest you hit the http://www.eeoc.gov web site first and check out the Mediation process available that allows resolution without litigation or hiring attorneys to hear your charges against your employer. Also suggest you write and document what happened to you and your opinion for a satisfactory settlement to resolve your complaint.
A business is a financial risk taking enterprise to provide goods and services that consumers or customers will buy for more than they cost to provide. Individual owners and/or stockholders invest capital and take the risk. They must hire people and buy raw materials to produce the product or service. IF THEY CAN’T SELL ENOUGH PRODUCT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO LAY OFF OR FIRE THE PEOPLE THEY PAY. IF THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE CAN’T DO THE WORK OR OFFEND CUSTOMERS WITH A BAD ATTITUDE, A BUSINESS ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO FIRE THEM. THIS RACE CARD CRAP IS JUST DISGUSTING! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF WHATEVER COLOR YOU ARE.
You pay ALL your COBRA. That is, you pay the total amount of your insurance, rather than your employer paying a share. And employers pay into the unemployment tax, it is NOT take out of employees’ checks.
OK…..things didn’t go my way so I will grab the closest lawyer advertising on TV and sue. Sue somebody, anybody, anyone….just sue. Wow….the children of the Greatest Generation that won WWII surely can whine…..geeeez pull your self up and and get a job. Is whining and sueing what your parents taught you….I think not.
What a sue-happy society. Getting fired or laid off and having that suddenly become a race issue is just another example of how people look to government to make them happy and pay them off. Funny how money makes everyone feel better who believes they’ve been wronged. Pay me and I’ll dop my charge. Work hard, be dependable, show your value everyday, take care of customers. Quit all this sue your employer nonsense. What a country. Give me $200k and I’ll go away. Nice…
Really does depend on the circumstances.. I think there are some companies out there that are purposely reducing staff because of the presidential administration and perceived anti-business mindset. Though that would mean govt and business are both to blame. If I had not received a severance (as minimal as it was). I would consider legal action in large part of the pure incompetence of the owners. If an organization has financial problems, it should say so and how to fix the problem. If they just go on a whim and lay everybody off with no foresight or decision, then they are asking for trouble. I never took the anger way to a layoff, it’s “part of the process”.
Filing a complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is not about race or suing someone — it is about equal rights. It includes gender, nationality, sexual, religious, age, disability as well as racial issues. It is about your equal right to fair employment and/or dismissal.
Your tax dollars pay for EEOC to accept your allegations of perceived discrimination and then to decide if you were actually a victim of discrimination. Look it up before you judge whether the http://www.eeoc.gov could help you if you were treated unfairly. There is no fee unless you decide to hire your own attorney — which is not necessary to file an EEOC complaint. Filing a complaint is not filing a lawsuit!
Not surprised. I am also disabled moved here from another state, in a county just outside Atlanta, and started looking for bus lines to take to the doctors office or to stores, and not only did they not exist, there are no taxi companies that exist either, or those that do tell you that they can come and pick you up in three hours, and then often they do not show up at all. This area is basically backwards as all hell. Not just in the handling of the disabled but in just about everything. .
My advice is to get a lawyer right from the beginning. They work on a percentage basis and can only take a percentage of past payments you are owed. They also know the details about when the state loses by default by failing to respond within the proper dates. A lot of people dont get benefits because they dont know the law, and dont know that the state has broken a rule that requires them to start making payment. Lawyers know this, but people who apply on their own do not.
Secondly, fill out the forms properly. Most initial rejections come from not doting your I’s and crossing your T’s. The tiniest error on the form gets you a rejection.
Third, if you are rejected, act immediately within the stated time frame to do whatever you need to do to contest the rejection. Fill out the required “contestation” form within the 30 or 60 or whatever the amount of days you need to get them in. If you do you stay in position to get your case before an administrative judge, if you do not, you go right back to the beginning of the process and have to start as if you never filed before.
Most people are rejected for technical reasons, not real ones. Next most people who are rejected go back to the beginning because they get discouraged and dont follow the process within the time limits. Dont give up, do everything within the time limits and about 70 percent of applicants who do end up collecting benefits. The government makes this hard primarily so people will give up.
Learn the time frames. If the state must answer you within six months, and you do not get a letter in six months and one day, go directly to a lawyer. The time frames are legal requirements both for the applicant AND the state.
This is why I recommend getting a lawyer to handle this immediately. They dont cost you anything but a percentage of the money you would be owned for the time prior to your being awarded SSI or SSDI, and its better to let them take 25 percent of that money than to not collect at all. They do not get a percentage of your future payments.
I think if everyone who was disabled got lawyers from the get go, the state would have a lot harder time rejecting anyone. Primarily because they make so many mistakes they would either have to repair their system, or just start paying. This is a situation where it pays to get experts on your side. And lawyers are those experts. Sometimes a lawyer might drag out the case a little longer, because the higher your past benefits are, the higher their total dollar sum becomes, but in the end, you are rather more likely to win with one than without one.
So what do you get when you run down to the EEOC and file these suits, FYIonEEOC?
There are a lot of misinformed people on this board, but I think the people filing these suits/complaints are also misinformed. A lot of people DO think they are going to get a monetary settlement of some kind. I think all you are going to get is your crappy job back. And most of the time, when people think long and hard about it, they don’t want the crappy job and would be better off spending their energies looking for a new one.
Believe me, I KNOW these employers are full of it and there is a lot of shady things going on. But filing a complaint or a lawsuit isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you have to move on with your life. It is stressful enough being unemployed.
Georgia is a right to work state period. Employers need no reason other then your services are no longer needed. Right now things are slow for a lot of companies and while last year they could overlook the fact that the employees were not fully working, they cant do that any longer. Thus the consolidation of jobs in the work forse. Means nothing other then they are cutting back in employee play and waisted time that they have paid for over the years.
As a self employed person might I as this question. How many of you are typing this while on your employers time? Thought so.
To answer HP, if one opts for a Mediation procedure at EEOC, what you “get” is an opportunity to listen and find out WHY you got in this job situation (unemplyment or harrassment) and have someone (employer or managment) listen to you while you tell your side of your job story. Sometimes that lessens the stress of being unemployed from no fault of your own. Sometimes that allows you a return to a better job or better accommodations at your former job. Not all people who file complaints hate their jobs and many would be glad to return under “certain” circumstances. Everyone’s job story is different. If you had a “crappy” job, then you were probably a “crappy” employee — don’t you think?
Layoffs are not as devastating to union employees because the company provides the needed assistance for employees to re-enter the workforce by providing the much needed financial assistance in furthering employees education and technical skills. In addition, most employees are paid following a layoff based on their years of service with the company. On average employees remain on payroll up to six months following a layoff…..during this period employees oftentimes find new jobs without experiencing a decrease in their household incomes….VOTE 4 UNIONS
I owe you a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That is all. I do not exist to provide your healthcare benefits, or to match your 401k, or to babysit your kids. I compete with other employers to attract the best employees. Employees compete with other workers to get the best jobs. That’s how the free market works. If you sue me, I will fire you so fast your head will spin.
I’m currently unemployed. I worked for this company I really like and I started to noticed things that were out the norm like I was not getting the proper training like my coworker was getting and we performed the same duties. Well, I was rated high on my job performance. The next month I was fired. I was making in the 40’s so this was great for me. I went to the eeoc and filed a complaint. It did no good. EEOC is working for the major companies. It’s sad to say. With me being unemployed. I couldn’t hire a lawyer. Legal aid has not been helpful either. Did I hear anything back from EEOC? No. Georgia is a Right to work State–please read below
Since the 1940s, twenty two states (and Guam) have enacted Right to Work laws. They are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Whether or not you agree with Right to Work laws, and whether or not you want to live in a Right to Work state, it is important to recognize that the Right to Work laws are not to be confused with the concept of Employment At Will. According to J. Steven Niznik in his article entitled, Employment at Will, “The Employment at Will doctrine means that employment is voluntary for both employees and employers. As an at-will employee, you may quit your job whenever and for whatever reason you want, usually without consequence. In turn, at-will employers may terminate you whenever and for whatever reason they want, usually without consequence.” For more information about Employment at Will, be sure to read Mr. Niznik’s factual and comprehensive analysis.
i have all the bad listening traits, but i think that’s b/c the people that do talk to me are usually
idiots not worthy of being listened to in the first place.
I agree with sharon, and if you are human you know that we have done exactly what mike and sharon has done. Me, personally, I am guilty of all 4 when someone is either irate or yelling at me, or if what they are saying is so off the wall. I will never forget as a child my mom took me to a physician because she thought I was hard of hearing. She was quite happy to find out that I passed all hearing test, but was unhappy with me when my doctor told her I had selective hearing. See my mom would yell at me and i would turn her into Charlie Brown’s teacher wonk wonk wonk and not listen…Needless to say I was punished when we returned from the doctor’s and i have kept that trait through out my life. Sharon or Mike, I bet neither of you were listening were you!!! LOL
All of us are guilty of the above at one time or another. Sometimes there is the long-winded talker that does not get to the point (something I’m guilty of often) or you don’t have time or you are in a bad mood. . . . whatever. It happens.
But there are some listeners that are enormously worse than others. I’m to blame here as well, but I do notice the exceptionally poor listeners are the twitterers, IM chatters, texters, etc. These technologies are great. I use them myself. But we must be aware of the pitfalls of such tech; poor listening habits being one of those pitfalls.
Another sign of a bad listener is the telling of the same old stories over and over again. If it did not happen in this decade there is no need to tell it, especially over and over again.
True. Most of us are guilty but in many cases we are justified especially when you ask a simple question and the person beats around the bush- so we interrupt. Right?
“Not again” you are so right! If it did not happen in this decade there is no need to tell it over and over again. Heck, even if it happened months ago I don’t want to hear the same story over and over. I have a co-worker who is always bragging about the stud football player he was in high school! Keep in mind this man has clearly been out of high school 35 years!. I have the co-worker who likes to stop at my desk and tell me about her day at the YWCA. Baby stories always make my mind wonder. I tune out stutterers, long people and people who brag. Time is too valuable to waste on idle chatter. If people could learn to read body language then we wouldn’t be bad listeners because they would know when to shut up.
Like, I don’t think I’m a bad listner.Like, maybe you’re the one that’s a bad listner. Like, I’m just trying to get my point across. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, maybe I should text you while driving to work. Like, I’m an authority on the subject. Like, Im talking here. Like, it’s all about me.
I feel appreciated by other staff members; however, my boss is another story. This is my first experience working with a non-profit and trust me when I tell you that I’ve never experienced such a lack of direction and structure before in my 30 years or work history. I know the economy is bad and jobs are hard to come by but sometimes I wonder if this is worth jeopardizing my physical and mental stability to hang on to a job where the top person (who you’re suppose to be their right hand) has a jekyll/hyde personality on a daily basis.
No one seems to care at it’s administrative professionals day; and I work at a place where admin’s do not get the respect that they deserve. So yeahhhhh! Happy Administrative Professionals Day to Me!
What a made up holiday! Are we nothing but a bunch of children that have to be constantly rewarded or praised to feel validated? I guess I really do not feel the need to be appreciated – just want to do my job to the best of my ability everyday, learn new skills, and either move on or up when the time is right. I really do not care if my boss gives me a crappy card or flowers.
I’m the Front Desk/Purchasing Admin for a medium sizes company of 150 people. I have not received any acknowledgment for my staff I work directly with. I had someone from accounting give me a card & candy, when I said “Thank you”, she stated “even though you aren’t really an Admin well you sort of are, anyway I thought you should be acknowledged.” I thought it was very nice of her to acknowledge me for what I do, being that technically I’m not her department admin, even though I do help them when they need it. A customer calls in and says “Happy Admin Day” I was shocked! How nice of a customer to acknowledge what I do. I admit I would not be unhappy if I never received acknowledge for what I do, however having this as a holiday and then having the expectation I should receive an acknowledgment sucks! I told my husband to acknowledge his receptionist, I went and bought the gift for him. He takes it to work and no one else in the office even realized what today was. In fact I was surprised about how low-key the advertisement was for this holiday. I think Earth Day took more acknowledgment today. I noticed on a website there is a Receptionist Day in May, well that’s not even on my calendar. So how or why would anyone remember it? I admit I’m feeling a little bitter about this Holiday. It’s like any other one out there Xmas, Valentines Day, just a way for people to make money. I think Bosses day had more coverage then Admin Day.
I agree with Kristin. I do a good job and my boss is appreciative of everything I do. I view myself as a professional and don’t need a plant or a card to know that. I always take this week off because I dislike it being such a big deal and a special holiday where my boss will feel like he has to “buy” me something. I’m sure the other assistants are getting flowers, cards and candy. I’m happy that I chose not to be part of all that today.
Kristin, it seems we do, because so many executives fail on a regular basis to show their appreciation for what the staff does…daily. It used to be that we’d get flowers, a card from the boss or firm, and a gift that was not just a gift card or generic thing — nowadays, it’s a gift card in a rubber-stamped thank you card… at least the bosses sign them with real ink…
however, i’m fortunate that my boss tells me no less than every few days that he appreciates what i do and how hard i work — not in so many words, usually, but the “thank you” attitude IS there. For the first time truly there in nearly 40 years of working. So i’ll take the gift card to a store i rarely shop at and be thankful that the firm is willing to fork out a few bucks to each of the staff members.
the “crappy card or flowers” are at least a token of appreciation, kristin, from people who frequently forget to say anything at all — i’m with you, i’d just as soon work, learn, and advance.
but being genuinely shown appreciation, as i am with this boss, is priceless, to me.
Until this year, we were always recognized. This year apparently they forgot! It would be nice to feel appreciated. We are so short-staffed and stressed out all the time that the only time we hear anything is bad news. It really would be nice for all of us to be recognized!
I have read some of these comments and they certainly reflect some jobs that I have held in the past. I am very happy to say that I AM appreciated where I work by ALL of my coworkers. I work for a hospital and I am the only administrative professional on our unit. I did not even know that it was Administrative Professionals’ Day and I was met with greetings, flowers, cake, and a card too. YES we ARE all children that need validation, recognition, love and care on a DAILY basis. It is a human thing that nobody should be without.
I have suffered without it in the past and I am really super grateful to have such wonderful loving, caring co-workers and bosses. I am not getting rich in money here, but I am rich in spirit!
Afterall, our relationships are the most valuable and important things we have.
No, I don’t need anything given to me to make me feel validated at my job..BUT, it would be nice once in a while to hear them say, thanks for everything that you do..Like driving across town to pick up the owner because he left one of his three cars in the shop, or because I got your lunch while I was out getting mine, or I called all over town trying to find something for one of your granddaughters…
My point is why “Administrative Professionals”? Why not Nurse’s day or Teacher’s day? I could go on and on with the list of professionals who are in a role that assists higher up the food chain. Even bosses have bosses that they answer too. It is a silly made up holiday just like Valentine’s Day.
Dawn,
I have my family, hobbys, and own self esteem that provides me with love and care, I am not looking for love from my workplace.
I too am the only admin in my division who supports the director, manager, and a 40 person team. I do not get any recognition today, and I also received nothing for Christmas. I did get a card and candies for both of my boss’s for Boss’s Day. I feel the need for acknowledgment and praise for doing a good job but because I am not one of the technical IT employees, my work is often overlooked and taken for granted. Happy Administrative Professionals Day to You and Me!
My manager is very pro-active when it comes to recognizing the work we do. Each year we (there are 3 of us) have carte-blanche to go anywhere we want for lunch on him plus the company rewards us with a gift certificate. Some of you are right – we don’t need recognition to feel validated but is sure is nice when it happens. Happy Admin Day to all!
I work for a large organization. While most of the assistants around me are lauded by their bosses, mine chooses to totally ignore the day. I’m not sentimental about such things, but a simply “Happy ——” would do. Relatively new here, last year was the same. My Christmas gift also went unacknowledged. Like any other of the number of relationships we manage, time spent in work relationships almost equals personal ones, so why not make it fun? Like Becky said: it’s encouraging to hear that you’e doing a good job, even if it’s obvious. Someone, tell my boss, please!
Its disappointing but my department is not very good at acknowledging things like today which I find odd seeing that I am the only staff person for the entire department. Congrats to those of you who are shown appreciation on this, our day.
If my workplace really wanted to “appreciate” me, the middle managers would put the kibosh on the bickering, nagging and malicious behavior by other women in the office. (Oh, whoops! The middle managers participate in that, too.)
It totally offends me. And that’s something donuts for the office don’t solve.
There are alot of people that don’t get the aknowledgement(sp) that they deserve & that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate them..I would bet though that if you google it, you will find that there is a date that you don’t know about for lots of people..
To all that fit into the category of Adminstrative Asst. or Professionals or whatever you want to call it, I hope that you have a great day & please know that you are cared about by someone..
Our boss is too consumed with buying a boat, so the last thing on his mind is appreciating what his employees do…he wont’ even make a speech of appreciation at the company christmas party, so admin professionals day has definitely gone unnoticed.
Got flowers, a card and breakfast! It is good to know that all your hard work is recognized. They did not have to do anything for me. Our organization is freezing our merit increases, so I thought this was a nice gesture. Count your blessings everyday. There are 100 people or more waiting for your job!
My boss just left for the day and I thought maybe a Happy…day. No nothing. The other people in our building are receiving gifts. I have been receiving ecards from other Admin staff, that’s nice.
My boss went out of the country and forgot before leaving, my supervisor forget, and my coworkers forgot. A graduate student actually wished me a happy Admin day. Given I’ve been putting in 11.5 hour days lately I feel because we’re short handed and doing a lot of grants I guess my feelings are quite hurt. Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything, but an acknowledgement would have been nice.
I had no idea it was Administrative Professionals Day until I got a bouquet of flowers at the office – they were not from my workplace, though – they were from my family! (My bosses have no idea)
I think this day is overshadowed by Earth Day which has so much more publicity.
Today has been an amazing day! The senior management staff purchased flowers for the administrative assistant’s in our group and We are going to lunch at a great restaurant.
This is the second year that I’ve been forgotten… I dont feel appreciated at all despite all of the hoops that I jump through to make my mangement shine. It’s discouraging – too bad it’s not the right time to look for another position….
Ok ladies 1st we need to stop being picky. You will never please everyone. I thought you guys were admins. You should know that already. LOL
For those who like the day, enjoy it. For those who don’t, then don’t. If someone gives you a gift, politely tell them that you dont acknowledge the day.
This day was to acknowledge those who have the biggest job in the world, doing what no one else wants to do. So why not have a week to appreciate us. We are the ones who really make decisions that matter, coffee selections, reservations, supplies.
In my current role I support 150 employees 12 of whom are VP’s so I am very busy, but they always appreciate me on a daily basis which is cool. Do I need the thank you’s? No because I am doing my job and this is it. Do I like the thank you’s? YES.
This year, I have to rub this in, I received a weekend trip to Las Vegas from my team. Round Trip, first class. Best gift I every receieved for doing something I love.
I am the Dean of a Graduate School at a State University. I have 5 staff with different positions that work in the office. I try to let them each know how much I appreciate all their hard work more often than once a year and I let them each take one day of “free” vacation during the year. If I want to buy something for them for this one day it comes out of my own pocket – there is no “firm” to foot the bill. I am not paid a large salary and we haven’t had raises last year or this year. Last year I spent $20 each to buy a hanging plant for each of my office workers. This year, I can’t really afford it. Any thoughts on this from administrative professionals? I don’t want to seem like a jerk.
Oh, dear, what a great DAY! As I stumbled into work this morning, still half drunk from the night before, I was greeted with a large bouquet of lilies, lots of donughts, and a small parade! There was glitter and confetti everywhere!! I was so excited! And my boss was standing on a chair singing “Only You”. I just couldn’t stop smiling, my cheeks still hurt!! And I hadn’t even finished off my donught platter when a caterer came in with Lamb and Filet Minion and little dancing frogs that fed every bite to me while stroking my head and whispering sweet nothings into my ear…..oh, such a nice gesture. I just kept waving my arm around, “What, all this for…ME?” “No, no! You SHOULDN’T HAVE”. But they did, and they were all, OF COURSE!! And then…the great FINALE!!! Wow, a pony ride through the office!
Debra,
I wouldn’t describe myself as a tool – but I bet your last dollar that those who are bent out of shape about not receiving some sort of trinket for a made up Hallmark holiday are also the biggest martyr types out there.
Deb, do you have any plants at home that you could break off & give to them in a small pot? This is what a coworker did for us at Christmas..
Maybe bring them a small bouqet (sp) of flowers from Kroger…Do any of them read? Maybe a book of some kind? To me, it’s sometimes the small things that mean the most..Me, I would be just as happy with a card & a “thanks” for being dependable & doing good job..
Why does everyone always say a made up holiday by Hallmark? Please do some reserch before you start spouting off..Real people make up these days & Hallmark does what they do..Make money off of it..If you don’t want to be a part of it, then don’t..No, I’m not a martyr..
The CFO got all four of us a potted flower plant and the President got us all a large arrangement each. It was nice because I have never had anything before. To each their own on here, but sometimes I think it’s nice to have a little gesture of gratitued. My previous employer was so cheap and he never even said thank you, to which I got laid off right before Christmas. So, I think just to know you are doing a good job, especially in these tough economic times, is not enough.
I felt truly appreciated today! I am a temporary employee (working for a temp agency), but my employer still recognized me! I have a dozen roses and carnations and we were treated to a continental breakfast this morning. I hope I am hired on a permanent basis.
If I look back to two years ago I was unemployed on Admin. Professionals Day. It was a really difficult time for me. A year ago I worked for a boss who took advantage of his staff but he remembered admin. professionals day and gave me and his assistant $50 gift cards to Red Lobster. I would have rather heard him say thank you sincerely instead of getting a gift card. This year I am at a new company, its small. There is only the boss and I in the office 90% of the time. I didn’t think he would remember Admin. Professionals day and he didn’t. But I don’t mind because he is the most understanding and caring boss I’ve ever had. If I am out sick, its not the end of the world. He is family oriented and sincerely cares about his employees. I bet his wife will say something to him about Admin. professionals day when he gets home. He will be embarassed that he forgot because he does care about his staff. But he has nothing to be embarassed about because he shows he cares about me each day.
Oh, Tom.. Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Toooommm. Let me tell you a story Tom. Let me tell you a story. You see Tom, once a long long time ago there was this little boy, lets call him, oh, I don’t know, Tom. And he was all angry and small and stuff. He was sad. But he didn’t want anyone to know so he was very curt with everyone. Butting in and whatnot. You know, pretty common. But, nobody noticed because you had to squint really hard to even notice him. He was so small!! Aww, but he was the cutest thing. And the girls at the office just went gaga over him, dressing him up in little sweaters they’d knit and letting him borrow thier lip gloss and stuff. He was just the darndest thing! So cute! Like a little schnoodle or something! So, don’t worry, You will get to work SOME day!! Just embrace who you are!!
If I don’t expect anything, I won’t be disapointed. It IS nice though when someone remembers. It doesn’t always happen so if it does, I feel as if everything I’ve done is worth it. The boss is a Dr. Jeckle Mr. Hyde so I never know if what I say is the wrong thing or not. Kind of walking on eggshells.
I remember our support staff. However, I am only the assistant to the Director and he and the rest of the staff forget every year. I even send an email to remind them to at least thank everyone but most times they do not.
Just to let you all know I care and I gave our office – Administrative Professional flowers today. And I am not even the boss but a co-worker who appreciates everything she does for us….
It looks like the majority of people would prefer to end Professional Admin’s Day and I agree. This started out as Secretary’s Day back in the 1940’s. It accomplished its mission, now it is time to move on. Contact the organization that started this day and week, and let them know enough is enough.
I apparently have the greatest boss in the whole wide world! Every year we receive a letter that let’s us know how much we are appreciated and in that letter is $100. I’ve worked for this company for 5 years and it’s happened every year. Other girl’s have been there 20+ years and they’ve always received $100 (I guess no inflation!). This year he went a little beyond – and bought lunch for all of us and our spouse’s if we so chose. He’s the greatest boss I’ve ever had and I look forward to this time every year!!
I work for two departments totaling about thirty professionals. One department always remembered me; the other department has never done anything. This year, however, our Dept. Chair retired and the new Chair hasn’t done anything at all. Call me a child if you want although I am a mature women of 52 and have been in this line of work for over 35 years (but, NEVER a MARTYR, Kristen!) but it does feel good to be acknowledged, especially in this day and age when one person is the support person for so many people (boy, do I miss the days when I was Administrative Secretary to just the top dog!). All is takes is a THANK YOU! And, no, Kristin, these folks DO NOT remember on a regular basis to express any thanks what so ever. So different from other places I’ve worked where I did feel appreciated. Anyway, Happy Administrative Professionals Day to me and to all those other ladies (and the occasional gent) who don’t get acknowledged or thanked!
I was looking for a blog on this and I am so grateful to have found this thread. I have always hated this made up holiday. I have been an Executive Assistant for 10 years and this stupid day always grated on me. I agree with Kristin, why do we have Administrative Professionals Day or Week? There is no “Project Manager Day” or “Accountant Day”. Why is there an Administrative Professionals Day? It has a tone to it, like “pat the idiot on the back” day. We are respected and paid professionals just like anybody else. It’s offensive. Plus, there are a ton of subjective job titles that may or may not fall into an Administrative Professional category. How do you know who to include and who not to include? What’s the deal- it’s treating anyone who works in an adminstrative capacity as children.
I do feel very appreciated. I work at a church, and the other staff has been just terrific. Admin. Professionals Day was even another staff member’s birthday, and they chose to take primarily ME out to lunch. Of course, I brought the gentleman’s birthday present and we celebrated that too. My boss paid for my lunch at Cosi, and the rest of the staff got me a beautiful plant. Not only do they tell me once a year that I’m appreciated, but I they do tell me constantly. (Must be because I’m great at finding the bit of paper that’s jamming the printer.) We are a non-profit organization, and a struggling church (especially with the current economic situation). But we are a tight-knit group and I feel very blessed to be in this position with these thoughtful coworkers. I wish everyone could experience the appreciation and thoughtfulness I’ve been blessed to be around. And my husband sent me a card at work! He’s taking me out to dinner this weekend, and I’m taking him out as it’s his birthday. Yay for gift cards!
I agree with ungrateful B’s comment. Just do your job whether you are thanked or not. Because if you dont there will be another admin out there who will do it without complaining.
This is our job. If you get thanked Wonderful, if you dont it shouldnt matter. Do you tell your boss that they are wonderful and you can’t make it without them? NO, so u want to receive compliments but cant give them.
Im tired of hearing ya’ll want to cancel this day because its offensive. How can acknowleding someone for all their work be offensive. Ya’ll complain entirely too much. The ones who get aknowledged love it and the sorry hags who dont complain.
Maybe your not doing your job as well as you think you are.
Get a life. If you dont love your job and cant do it regardless of the acknowledgement then your in the wrong business.
Admins are special thats why they acknowledge us for a whole week and no other profession, so if you dont feel special maybe your not going above and beyond your call of duty to be acknowledged. You ever thought of that? That gives you something to think about.
Actually, my boss told me that he didn’t acknowledge it because I was more than just an admin. So does that mean that he over values me or under values the position. That was my point- there is a tone to Admin. Day that causes some people feel like they are insulting someone for acknoledging them. Do we work harder than other positions and deserve a holiday? Or do they have it to make up for treating some admins like crap all the other days of the year?
I think that we all enjoy being told thank you and that you are appreciated regardless if it’s at work or home..No one has ever died from being nice to others..
This is my second time applying for unemployment benefits. My first time was 3 yrs. ago and it went pretty smoothly and I collected benefits for about a month and hoping this time around it goes smoothly. I think alot of people are embarassed about collecting benefits, but like you said that money is meant for situations like this.
I can’t get benefits, so I’m living off credit for now. I made the mistake of resigning from a contract job which I was not qualified for but was hired anyway. Don’t make the mistake that I did. You’ll not get your benefits started back.
I’m collecting benefits for the 3rd time. Layoffs seem to hit me every 5 to 7 years. Good ol corporate life. I found the benefits process to be smooth and the DOL people not too unpleasant. The worst part of this experience has been from my friends and family making disparaging and hurtful comments about my collecting unemployment. I will never make collecting benefits public again, people are too hurtful and mean about it.
If you can afford to avoid it I would. I couldn’t and went down to sign up at the Cobb County Big Shanty Office.
Overall it wasn’t a bad experience and I was treated fine. Sure I could complain about being hearded like cattle a little but times are bad, the place was crowded, and the unemployment office workers, I’m sure, are overworked.
Bottom line, I got what I needed for the 12 weeks before I found another job. I have no complaints.
I worked for 34 years, and fortunately never had to apply for unemployment, but given the situation going on now, it would not have been a problem for me.The embarrassment would have come from being hungry and not taken advantage of it because of some misplaced stupid pride!
Make sure your contact information is correct, especially your phone number. The do most of their followup by phone.
Also, show up for all hearings, even if you get a job before the hearing. A friend didn’t show up for a hearing when her company contested paying benefits to all of the employees that they had just layed off. She lost and now is paying back everything she recieved, out of her current unemployment benefits! She decided that since she was already working at another job and no longer getting benefits, she didn’t need to be at the hearing. She didn’t realize that if she lost the appeal, that she would be required to pay back all the money she had already recieved. Instead of making her pay it back while she was working, they waited for her to claim unemployment benfits again and are taking it out of the money she is getting now.
This is the second time I’ve had to draw unemployment benefits. The last time was in 1995. I was laid off from another job in 1999, but found a job within a month. No such luck this time. I’ve been unemployed since my company (commercial real estate – they had not closed any deals in about 6 months) laid me off in December.
Justin, you mentioned that “you shouldnt get to collect unemployment $ if you were fired for not doing the right thing in your job in my opinion”. Everyone’s case is different and thats why an investigation has to be done, i was fired, for something i had no control over, even though i was warned. When DOL, investigated they granted me favor and approved me over my employer. People get fired for all sorts of reasons and some employers do make it look like it was for profession reason, that is you were not doing your job. However it can also be personal reasons as well, like the employer wants you out and will do all kind of things to force you to resign/quit or get you fired.
I don’t like the idea of being unemployed, i have held a job since i started working 15yrs ago. I did my best and i was still fired. It even turned out that my employer is now being investigated.
Also, know that people who get fired and it was their fault, they do not recieve benefits, but again, there has to be an investigation and everyone’s case is handled differently. I had to go through a series of stuff that other unemployed people don’t have to go through.
At the end, i was granted favor. Loosing a job is not a good thing, and applying for unemployment is a very humbling experience. But its better to get unemployment than starve, commit suicide, or even robbery. Thank God we live in a country that offers unemployment benefits.
I’m caught in the temp agency trend. The assigment ends and the office does not tell you anything just that it simply ended. I applied for beneifts and waited the 21 days as advised. I went on my own 6 interviews and applied to hundreds of jobs online. After 21 days I contacted DOL and was told b/c no contact was made w/temp agency benefits will not be granted but I could appeal. I continued to certify weekly but called the temp office to inquire why they did not tell me. The nonchalent representative said you signed the papers when you enrolled w/us (over 8 months ago might I add and I signed dozens of forms). I calmly suggested in the future and due to the nature of current economic times; to let employees know to call weekly and if not it would affect unemployment benefits. She said um-hm and hung up. I re-established contact w/the agency from that call and now wait for a decision if previous weeks will be approved. I hope so b/c I need it and it’s not as if funds are w/drawn from the temp agents paycheck. It will show how many people are collecting unemplyment from that office but affecting her direct pay, absoulutely not! I only hope when she goes through this one day she will remember what she put others through. My experience at DOl has been ok. The workers are not rude, just over worked and each person gives a different answer to the same question, but what can you expect. They’re trying to keep their job 2???? What have we done to ourselves America?
Unemployment benefits are part of your employment package. They are yours! Your employer pays into a state fund. If your employer did not pay into a fund to cover your possible lay off, your employer should pay you a higher wage or salary; or give you better benefits. Don’t let people who have never put one moment of thought into the employer/employee dynamic, lead you astray. Collect what you are owed.
This will e my second time filing. only b/c I am still in school, have sertified every week and just one day the checks stoped coming and no one told me anything. So finally I demanded to speak to a supervisor. I was told that my year had ended and that I needed to reapply. In doing so, I have not had ANY income. But no one told me oh it expired, or anything. Now I am a student with a 4.0 gpa, no income @ all, and is about to be homeless. Might I add, I have two kids and we don’t get assistance from the state. Also, I was told we are over worked and backed up in our cases. So I aksed well where and how do I apply for a job here to help out, that will help the unemployment rate, and line down. She told me well you will have to contact Thurman, I said give me the nmber, what do you know, she did not have it. The office in cobb county is awefully slow, treat people like crap and very nonchalant. I was fired b/c I complained to my corporate office that my supervisor had violated HIPPA and I followed the chain of command. Still no one protected me, my rights, my privacy.
our faith lye’s in the hand of someone who might be having a bad day. When more times than none, that it is our money and they want to tell us if we can have it or not. You are right, we do live in a country that have unemployment but, have to wait now over a month to even have a hearing to see if you are going to get it or not…..I was in the office last week and was speaking to people who was wondering where their check was, had not received one in three-six weeks. There is no communication with these people. You go down there and have to take a lunch bag with you, only to be told, there is nothing I can do…… SO OF US JUST WALK RIGHT ON IN, REQUEST A SUPERVISOR, THEN THEY ARE OUT. I have noticed them and got a few names.
Think! is 100% on point. Everyone should re-read that comment.
MSU – Everyone is entitled to an opionion, no matter how wrong it is.
Justin – Wait until it happens to you.
Mary – 4.0 GPA huh? I’m concerned about; ‘have sertified’, ‘faith lye’s’, ‘checks stoped’ and ‘i…is about to be homeless’. Commissioner Michael Thurmond’s information may be found at http://www.dol.state.ga.us/
For Admin Prof Day last year my super gave me a card and took me out to my favorite venue. I felt great. Keeping up the good work.
Then the Nepotism started. It went downhill from there.
I watched a Day Care provider turn into a Administrative Officer in 8 months of being here. WOW!
She was really smelling herself now. Being rude and nasty. I complained. Should never have done that.”How dare I demand respect”. Downhill from there.
At this point we were not fully staffed, leaving me to cover 4 branches and 6 when the other MA was on leave. When I say cover, I mean…Travel,Travel Vouchers,Timesheets,Credit Card Purchases,Training and more!
Admin Prof Day came, and I just knew I was going to be recognized being as though I had busted my butt all this time. Oboy was I wrong!
I watched everyone around get taken out to lunch and more. I sat at my desk doing other branch tasks, and not one person said a word to me.
At the end of the week(Admin Day) my super comes to me acting like she forgot about the special day and hands me a pack of old a$$ sample craft cards she made when I fist got here two years ago(I think she forgot I saw them already)they were hideous. Then she says, “I would take you somewhere but I dont know what you eat”.WTF, are you serious! You took me to my favorite venue last year you fat..<>. Anyhoo,I was/am pissed.
Im not trying to be rude or anything to the folks telling others to get over it are more than likely the folks that got a simple “Thank You”. However, There is a such thing as respect in the workplace as it is at home This builds morale at home and work.
You expect your husband to show you how much he appreciates you every once in a while right? What happens when you don’t award your child for good behavior, they tend not to do good in the future, especially when your constantly awarding the bad behavior. Although we are not children, everyone knows that we tend to act that way when we feel as though we are not appreciated. Everyone needs love and appreciation, regardless of your age. It keeps you strong.
Teaches people not to be ignorant towards good deeds. Regardless if it’s your job or not(we all need some sort of reassurance, in the workplace and home).
We all know what results in not being appreciated EX:
Horrible customer service(you ever called a business and end up with a rude lady on the phone?) where do you think that results from. NOT BEING APPRECIATED FOR HER GOOD WORK AT SOME TIME.
Psychos: Where do you think the term “Going Postal” comes from.
That being said, I know who I am, and what I am capable of…but i will not be disrepected in no way!
Well, my manager and the entire staff purchased the administrative staff gifts. And it was very thoughtful of them. With all the work we do, hell we basically run the office. So I was very appreciative of my gift, it was worth it and I wasn’t expecting it, hell they even sanged to us!
I am guilty of 1, 2 and 4 ok, and maybe 3…lol. But honestly, I don’t think it’s me, my mng is a bad listner as well, she’ll instruct/ask me to do something, then turn right back around and will ask me again or I’ll give her an update and she’ll again she will ask about what I told her. The reason why I tend to not listen to others at times is because it’s either I already know what’s going on and pretend as if I’m listening, or I just don’t be in the mood to listen to people who are not open minded when it comes to expressing ideas on a job.
And I forgot to add, I can’t help interrupting callers who tends to asks questions that I hear on a daily basis. I just try to make a long story short.
I have to say there are people that come to work here EVERY day sick … coughing and sneezing. The sad part is they have had whatever it is for 6-18 months. You would think they would have better since and go and take care of it. They just bring that nasty stuff to work with them everyday. Also, these people are very nasty because they cough and sneeze without covering their mouth. Also, whenever they are in the bathroom they ONLY run their hands under the water and then dry them. What kind of sense does that make to just run water. You would think by working at a technology company that profits billions you would have people with enough smarts to be clean and considerate of others. I know am talked about here because I spray Lysol all day every day as well as Netra Air.
With the media hysteria on full throttle about the loss of jobs, the hosuing market and how wr’re about to have another great depression, people are worried about losing their jobs so they come to work sick. Before some to the media hysteria people would call in sick but now the employer can quote one of a thousand new articles about people being out of work, eating rats and living in tents in the woods.
I work for a company that is always looking for reason to fire their employers. I really hate that if we do have employers to get this, they may be out of a job. Employers in these tuff time just do not care about employees, it will just give them ground to fire you
True is..companies talk about what they will do and talk and talk however no real actions are taken…they expect you to come to work no matter what…until someone dies then action is taken..sad but true that company loyalty is only seen when situations are at the worst..
I just read your article on the flu situation and just wanted to comment on your grammar in the last sentence. It should read “have you ever *gone* to work…” And, yes, my kids do call me the Grammar Nazi.
Since I’m not working my usual full-time office job due to a layoff, I’m seeking anything part-time to keep up my administrative skills and to stay busy. I have alot of medical background, but would certainly enjoy any type of company and bring loads of skills to the table.
I was laid off with no warning what so ever! Included in the offer of 1 month severance pay, for over 3 years of loyal service, was a very restrictive agreement stating that I would not “bad-mouth” the company nor try to sue them. I was forced to sign it or lose my home! You see, unemployment payments will not cover my bills. I had to have that severance to pay my bills while I search for new employment. It stinks! They deserve to be sued!
I’m a 54 year old male on disability, and I’m looking for something part-time. I can make up to $800 a month and keep my disability income. Any suggestions? I would appreciate it very much….Thanks
First of all, I think learning how to use language correctly will help. No one will hire you if you cannot speak English correctly! Just a tip….for all teens…
Within in reason – jeans should be fine. Meaning no tootight, low riding, jeans with holes, or graphics. I know that people with common sense would know that these type of jeans are inappropriate, however, believe it or not our jeans day was taken away for the reasons stated above.
As a police chief, it would be out totally – unless as Mr Tackett says, the officers are allowed.
I guess it depends on what is written in the code of conduct book. if there is not any specific regulations on uniform, then no, you shouldn’t be requried to wear it.
personally, I feel jeans should only be allowed on casual friday.
I think as an officer of the law he should wear a uniform. As far as us non-law enforcement, I see no problem with a casual Friday where jeans are allowed.
My workplace is business casual, meaning no jeans during the normal work day, but people who work help desk during the evening/night hours have a much more flexible dress code, and folks who are on 24×7 coverage can wear whatever they want (within reason) if they’re called into the office in the wee hours of the morning
My company has recently went to an all casual dress code allowing jeans any day of the week. However, we were told that no jeans with holes or bare midsections. We are also not allowed to wear tennis shoes except on Fridays. This was a very welcome change and seems to have increased morale at the company. No more dry cleaning bills. But of course, we were told to use common sense when dressing…nothing objectionable. So far everyone has complied.
Although the money is good, I couldn’t do it. I can’t stand the sight of blood and I would be too easily disturbed by what I saw (i.e. people in pain, dying). So I went the business degree way
I remember when police officers had to wear a cap, a tie and patent leather shoes. They were so handsome in their uniform and it commanded respect. I also remember when nurses had to wear a cap and a dress, no slacks. The rare woman police officer also had to wear a skirt. I also remember when people would always dress up to go downtown. I miss those days. I guess I’m old.
It all depends on the look and quality of the jeans. If they are faded, torn, etc. then of course it’s not okay. In the same way that torn or stained khakis would not be okay. But, if they are a consistent, dark wash and you look put together, why not? What’s the difference between nice jeans and a pair of khaki pants?
Not only does my company allow jeans, we were shorts..The owner of our company said that he tried the suit and tie gig and that wasn’t him. He said that if people wanted to deal with him, they will have to accept him as he is..He ahs been known to go to meetings with his worout clothes on and a do rag around his head..I’ve been with this company for 25 years and we have always been able to wear shorts and jeans..In fact the VP is wearing flip flops to work today..
We are a fairly big company with about 45 people and have been in business for over 80 years, so I guess it works fine..
I think it depends on the company. I went into Washington Mutual once and everyone was so casual and lax all I could think was that I didn’t want the people handling my money to act and look like they’re on vacation. Wachovia had a much more mature demeanor and now look where both banks are. Call centers, day care centers, pet sitters and the like should be allowed to dress down. Or if its a place where clients are in and out, it looks bad to have people looking casual. But if no one sees you, wear what you want.
At some places of work, casual Friday has become casual Monday throurh Thursday with Friday becomming “Lets wear our yard working clothes to work day. It is embarrassing and un professional.
My office has casual Friday’s when we are allowed to wear jeans. I am always in a good mood on Fridays because of this. I am just more comfortable in my jeans. I an understand looking professional when you see clients, but I’ll never understand people who sit in box all day long being told to wear uncomfortable clothes that no one but their computer and 4 gray walls are going to see.
I teach school and jeans are allowed only on special occasions. I think a police officer, unless the assignment is an undercover officer, should wear a uniform. The chief is the supervisor he should be leading- setting an example. Plus I love to see a man in uniform!!!
People are so uptight. The biggest crooks wear a suit and tie each and everyday, yet we don’t trust the guy with flip flops and jeans on who is perhaps closer to having a check on reality, than a tight az suit wearing prick in 98 degree weather. Again who is better prepared??
Of course, I think people who wear sweatpants outfits out in public have given up on themselves (who have not just come from the gym). Why even brush your teeth for that matter
Amen Royce..sc, who says that you can’t have standards in jeans? If the owner of my work place says that I can wear jeans every day, why shouldn’t I wear them..I can’t tell you the number of people that have told him and us that they wish they could wear jeans at work..Comfortable, happy people make for great workers..
Well since the owner is 75 years old and has a very successful company, I’d say he’s a leader..As for his employees, most of us have been here for over 20 years, so I wouldn’t consider us followers, we all own our own homes, cars and take vacations yearly..Either way you want to phrase it, I’m happy in my job wearing jeans..
Malika, your argument is flawed. Washington Mutual employees only wear jeans on Fridays and Saturdays. They are also owned by JP Morgan Chase. They are also one of the FEW banks that passed the stress test and is doing ok. Wachovia, on the other hand is under investigation with Wells Fargo, who bought them out.
As my Dad used to say. As long as the job gets done!!!!!!!! The snake of the office may be designer down and the person wearing the jeans is running the place.
Doesn’t matter what you wear long as it’s clean, not tatered or offensive & the employees act professional. Look at Trader Joe’s, great place to shop & customer service. I’d love to wear tropical shirts to work.
Public Safety should be wearing a uniform, though should they wear Type A (dress) BDU types or standard should be open to interpretation. Elsewhere jeans should not be a problem.. I don’t even understand why newscasters have to wear a dress clothes. Wearing ties should be as a very last resort kind of thing. Reminds me of the problems a certain legislator had wearing jeans in the Georgia House of Representatives. Come on now get a grip! I’ve worked in all matters of work environment jeans don’t destroy productivity or respect.
Jeans are never appropriate in any office or professional setting. Neither are tank tops, capri pants, or anything else plainly casual. A professional job is just that–professional. If you don’t want to dress appropriately for the job, them you don’t want the job. You should quit or get fired–no ifs, no questions asked. This is a nobrainer.
I see nothing wrong with the Chief wearing jeans. Some people – and I’m thinking of Jonesboro’s mayor – jump all over the stuff that does not amount to a hill of beans, but are afraid to address the issues that are really important.
Jeans are fine to wear at work, period. John is apparently one of those people who believe in perception instead of work. John, please quit your job now since you obviously care more about the way people look than how they perform.
I have worked for a few different companies in the last couple of decades, and the ones that were overly concerned with OUTDATED concepts of ‘perception’ have all had troubles because other companies with less gestapo like tactics have taken all the better employees.
Jeans are fine, as long as they are worn in a ‘business casual’ fashion. That means no baggy jeans, no holes, no stained colors to make them look dirty, no dragging on the ground, and no low riders or overly tight jeans. I have seen people dress, act, and work, far more professionally in jeans that the unethical, uptight, dress for success but don’t let ethics get in your way old-schoolers.
If you dress professionally, you will work professionally and do the job right. If you dress casually, you will work casually and be less careful in doing the job correctly. A person who doesn’t take pride in how they dress at work won’t take pride in how and where they work. No employee of mine will ever wear jeans if they want to continue working.
I filed for unemployment this week and it was pretty easy. Only took about 20 minutes to listen to an informational session and sign up on a computer.
I would like to ask others how long it took for them to receive their letter stating if they qualify for UI. Also, how long before you have an orientation meeting where you can sign up for training and career seminars? I have heard the system is behind schedule and am anxious for any paths that will lead to a new job.
Dave
I don’t think one clothing item should overpower the outfit–Johnson wore jacket & tie with jeans (which has failed to be mentioned here). It’s not like he’s out there in jeans & a t-shirt, c’mon! If it costs over $200 to dress him in uniform (on my dollar), screw it, let the man be comfortable (& pay for his own attire) as long as it’s professional–and I find jacket & tie professional(regardless of the stinkin’ jeans).
Get over it people–we need to budget! Not to mention we should be allocating funds to better train & pay our law enforcement, not to buy them shiny new duds! Who gives a crap how spiffy their attire is–they need to catch the criminals!!
I believe that extremely tall women may face a bit of discrimination in the workplace. As a 6′1 female, I am constantly having to assuage the feelings of my shorter male counterparts. If I had a nickel for every time that I have heard from a male boss or coworker, “You must be 6′3 because I am 6 feet.” No, you are 5′9-5′10 and you really need to come to terms with that. Fortunately for me I am attractive, slim, and I know my stuff! God has blessed me with height and I have finally learned to take it all in stride…
As the Chief of Police, hs should dress like the Chief, No Jeans. Police departments are a paramilitary organization and those at the top should dress like it. Also, from his picture, I heard the Family Dollar had razors on sale.
Google is most likely simply mining data on how much specific users are visiting job search websites, seeing as how it is pretty much a good indication that someone is at least interested in what’s out there in the job market.
One approach is to spend gazillions of dollars on the development of an algorithm to determine if employees are likely to leave.
Or Google could hire qualified supervisors who know something about their employees’ goals and career objectives (by actually talking to them). Nah, there’s nothing high-tech about that approach so it would never work.
At my workplace it is patent who doesn’t want to be there. And it is likewise obvious who is wanted there. The equation is simple – the Golden Rule: He who has the gold rules (the actual workers suck it up and go on). How many of us pray for a slighly stronger marketplace so we can move on …
There’s no way to justify a Chief of Police wearing jeans. He represents the law enforcement arm of the City and should do so in professional attire or a uniform. If he wants to wear jeans to work he should get a job as a construction worker or a Calvin Klein model.
Wow. “Current and former Googlers said the company is losing talent because some employees feel they can’t make the same impact as the company matures. Several said Google provides little formal career planning, and some found the company’s human-resources programs too impersonal.”
And the goal is to solve this with more technology and less of the human touch? What I read here is employees crying out for some personal time and recognition of their efforts and contributions — more importantly, they don’t want just a pat on the back. They want to be told, specifically, how their efforts ARE making a tremendous impact.
This isn’t that difficult — strategic recognition is designed to accomplish precisely this by giving employees the appreciation they deserve while tying those efforts and recognitions to strategic objectives achieved. This line of sight combined with appreciation is what Google seems to need — not another algorithm.
There is something more to this story than is being reported……….. On the subject of what has been reported, I never have read where he refused to wear a Jonesboro PD uniform…….. Just that he was asked not to wear jeans. From what I saw, he complied, and was willing to serve some portion of his suspension.
That to me does not sound like a Chief that should be fired. Sounds like he assumed he could wear cloths on duty that he in fact could not………… He was willing to pay for his misunderstanding, but that was not good enough for the Mayor, so he fired him…………. That is unless there is something else not being reported.
Hate getting half a story, but thats the norm these days…………..
These are the EXACT words from the Luther Maddox for Mayor website… “”I am the only candidate that will form a team with the council to take Jonesboro forward. The constant bickering and personal agendas will stop. I will consult the council and seek their input on issues as they arise during the course of running the city.”
I know the best and brightest from Harvard don’t line up for office in Jonesboro, but this is pathetic. Absolute hypocrisy, but what can you expect from a moronic hick town???
I’ve seen the video reports of this guy. While I’m sure there are small town politics at play here, there is NO WAY I’d allow a man with a handlebar mustache, rotten/missing teeth, and a mentality that thinks it’s ok to wear cowboy boots to work be my police chief. What were they thinking to BEGIN with when they hired him? This isn’t lower Louisianna, folks. It’s metro Atlanta. At least fake at being professional!
Sounds like there is a bigger problem than just jeans here with the termination. I would strongly suggest the chief retain a employment lawyer specialist and file a suit against the city.
A Chief of Police or any ranking official in law enforcement is a leader that sets standards for the men and women that serve under their command. Therefore, as a leader they are expected to lead by example.
It reflects his attitude of the seriousness of the job and of the capability to follow orders. I know what the rules are, but I don’t care to follow them. The man doesn’t possess the attitude or the respect for the job and is now right where he should be – FIRED!!!
If the previous Chief was wearing jeans for any duration, then the subsequent Chief is repremanded for the same action, it apears that there is another underlying issue. Jeans were an excuse.
Semper Fi and I agree. (He’s a Marine, I’m Army). Jeans are where we are as a society. They can be dressed up or down. It normally puts the person receiving the “wearer” at ease. If you were going to a formal meeting, then appropriate dress mandates. This is nothing more than an excuse. I work for a laarge corporation, they still beleive in business casual, which are slacks and polos. What is the difference between that get up and jeans? Lighten up folks. Really….
It is possible to look “professional” in jeans……if you wear them the right way and with the right shirt and jacket. Jeans are perfect as a uniform. As a nurse, I wish I could wear them too. They wear better, last longer, and are much less expensive than the whites that I have to wear. And it is my understanding that he is (was?) the chief in a smaller community. He most likely did not sit in an office all day. I truly would rather deal with a cop in a pair of jeans than some hotshot in a perfectly tailored uniform. But then I am an old hippie anyway. And I have never been a mainstream thinker. But common sense and logic are not mainstream in today’s society, either. Don’t back down, chief, some of us have your back.
Brad is a good man and I doubt he’s ever met a stranger. He’s one of those few people who will do whatever he can to help you no matter what your circumstances are. I doubt he’s out on patrol on a daily basis and therefore if the policy manual says he can dictate the dress of the department then he’s within his rights to wear whatever he deems appropriate. I don’t see the Mayor winning a judicial review of the case. If they’ve had 6 police chiefs in 9 years it sounds like there is a problem somewhere else besides the police department……specifically the Mayor. He’s seems like he has nothing else to do but to but into everyone’s business!! Give’m hell 406!!
I doubt the real issue is jeans, it sounds like a small-time politician is trying to make himself look more important than he really is! Too bad it isn’t this easy to get rid of politicians in office!
As for the jeans, there is NOTHING wrong, in the case of the (former) Police Chief it may have made his job easier to look more casual when dealing with the public. I have to wonder if the useless mayor will require undercover cops to wear uniforms when on duty?
Oh and that remark about his teeth was really uncalled for…….I would be willing to bet that the department doesn’t offer much in the way of dental insurance and do any of you have any idea what the chief’s salary is? Not too many honest cops are rolling in dough.
Sounds to me like Boss Hog is at it again. He kinda favored the Hog. Small town politicians are most of the time on a power trip. The chief stopped wearing the jeans when he was told to so whats the problem now.
I work in public safety and how you present yourself to the public is most important. When we arrive on the scene we have to take control and if we arrive looking like Bubba from In The Heat of The Night then were are looked upon as Barneys from Andy Griffith. He is the Chief. He leads the department. He should be the most professional one there. He openly challanged the mayor (who is recgonized as a first class moron) in public. Never Never Ever air your dirty laundry in public, it does nothing but cause problems and lower morale. I don’t feel sorry for the chief….I feel sorry for the officers.
Luther Maddox is an ignorant redneck. What Brad Johnson wore was fine and professional with the included sport coat and cowboy hat. I guess now every top cop in the state of Texas is unprofessional. You can look professional in nice jeans. It made Brad Johnson more approachable and that is what the public likes. It is time to get fat backwoods redneck squeal-like-a-pig slobs like Luther Maddox out of office but I guess first we will have to remove his head from his a$$.
The Mayor has the authority to ensure his top police officer dress appropriately. The Chief in turn should set an example for his subordinates. The Police Chief must understand that when he is in the public eye; his appearence is judged by the citizens who help elect him into office. While his attire was clean and his appearance was in order; this was not a good example to set for the other police officer. You come to the office in a professional dress attire setting an example for the rest of the police officer to follow. When dress on duty in jeans it send a wrong message that other police officer might follow. It would not look professional if any police officer show’s up in jeans to make an arrest or to try and solve a problem dressed in that manner. If this was not an ongoing offense, the Mayor should administer the chief a written discipline letter. A chief does not disobey the Mayor’s orders even if the Mayor is wrong. Chief, you can wear your Jean off duty when you are out shopping or around your community. I think you do not mean any disrespect to the Mayor since you were already in your Jeans oand dress coat on your job! If you were working uncover, he Mayor would not disagree with you wearing jeans. I think the Mayor do not want this to become a trend with police officer that might assume they can do the same. Atlanta detectives wear their dress hat when going to honmocides calls, they look good because they are also wearing suits. Those hats are appropriate.
I have been a cop for 15 years. I would like to comment that jeans and a fu-manchu mustache are by NO mean professional attire and grooming standards for a chief of police, especially in the metro Atlanta area. The chief represents the entire department and that department’s image. If the chief does not want to wear the uniform that he demands his officers wear, at the very least he needs to wear slacks, dress shirt and tie. The chief must set the example of professionalism for his officers to follow. This chief obviously does not do that. They mayor was right to enforce a professional appearance for the police department.
On a side note, it’s standard world-wide for police departments to wear uniforms. In fact, on our department’s application there is the question, “Do you object to wearing a uniform”. Uniforms represent unity and professionalism. Blue jeans, injected into this setting, represent individualism.
Six Police Chiefs in nine years? I don’t think the problem is with either the Chief or with the jeans. Sounds like that city has some serious problems with management, and the Chief is just the latest scapegoat.
The mayor did not forbid the chief from wearing jeans. I think that if he had told him not to wear them and they were still worn, he should have suspended him. The city council halved the suspension, and they were supposed to meet tonight. But the mayor jumped the gun and fired the chief. Sounds like a “petty power decision”to me…or a p***** contest!
We are talking Clayton County people…..the ghetto! Who cares what he wears if he has to run after drug selling thugs and murderers! It is 2009….Small town USA good ole boy system makes me sick. I am sure he is more comfortable trying to keep rotten Clayton County safe in jeans than in a uniform….and it saves tax payer dollars – they do not have to pay for the stiff uniforms that are heavy and very uncomfortable! Get Real Mayor – look around and see what is really important. Jonesboro was once a nice place…..now is it terrible.
Here is my take, not just on Clayton County, but on corporate America, period.
If a person is handling their business in their job duties, it should not matter what they wear to work. Yes, I understand in some professions business attire is more appropriate, but I’ve learned that clothes do not necessarily equate to adequate job performance. Just like a degree does not automatically make a person qualified for a job. There are more important things to focus on in the workplace.
Again – EVERYONE READ THIS. These are the mayor’s OWN words. This is what HE said in running for this office. He completely lied.
“”I am the only candidate that will form a team with the council to take Jonesboro forward. The constant bickering and personal agendas will stop. I will consult the council and seek their input on issues as they arise during the course of running the city.”
Be conscienous. If you really want work and save some money, you should look like you want to work. Like a young lady and a young man. Think about some things you are really good at and look for something relevant to that. Be confident, sell yourself and always ask questions.
I sent my resume via e-mail to apply to an Executive Assistant position posted on the AJC Job section. The reply came with a charge for (I think it was) $45.00 or so to re-write my resume in a way that I was certain to get the job. The company sending the reply was a convent of nuns and clerigs is you can believe it. The web-site even had picture of some of the nuns working from their office in California!! I replied with an e-mail stating that I was not interested but we had a laugh at the office with the scam. I wonder sometimes how many people actually fell for that one.
I also thought I was getting a Google CD for 1.95 cents and did not READ THE FINE PRINT. They proceeded to take $47.50 out of my bank account. I reported my card as being lost and paid $5 for a replacement. That will not happen AGAIN! I had to remind myself; “If it’s too good to be true, it is!
I was a victim of Mystery Shoppers. I was scammed out of $6,000.00 thinking that the money orders that Bank of America (BOA)cashed were real moneygrams.
Now I am stuck paying the money back to BOA. If you have been scammed by Mystery Shoppers email me at Imginga@aol.com and lets see what we can so legally about it.
I just came across your Blog. I’m an overweight Businesswoman. It has taken a lot of hard work for me to get to where i am today. Long working hours, eating at my desk, commute travel and stress and convenience food has me overweight. Not because i’m lazy but because i’m too busy and allow my physical conditioning to go out of control. Every day i deal with more and more overweight business people. In fact i suspect most of us at executive level will all be overweight in a few years time. Many businesswomen like me are heavy not from laziness but career drive. Yet we do get snide remarks, mainly i notice from other women. No one heads the slim woman who takes the lift how ever when i take it i’m a fat lazy cow
I was a victim of a trucking company name Bailey & Bailey trucking in Long Lane, MO. The owner placed ad in internet hiring owner operator only. She put pay settlement for 5%/7 days, 3%/14 days, 401K…are nothing but scam. She not only rush me to go on the road before she send me IFTA but also violated DOT regulation for not requiring drug test from me. After i worked a week, she lied to me about pay me for another week due to it took a week to put new employee into their system. By the time she said she can pay me, she find another excuse for not able to pay me due to she never got pay from all of the shippers for 3 months and she doesn’t know what’s going on in their payroll dept. She never pay me for total $6.7K, I lost all my saving for fuel expense , lumper and toll.
Any driver or owner operator see this comment, please be aware and tell others, do not apply job on this company. the owner is professional SWINDLER!!
Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Then have someone else check it again. Apparently this message has not been received by some job applicants.
If the position you are applying for requires an online application, do not leave the experience fields blank and refer to your resume. Some commonly used job application software does not always flag the fact that there is a resume attached. Even if it does, it is more work for the person reviewing resumes to have to look somewhere else.
Use the words and phrases in the job description to describe your experience. In large organizations, the first cut of applicants may be done by a HR person who doesn’t know the field. Using the same words to describe your previous experience will help get your application through to the hiring manager.
It never hurts to read up on resume tips. But I can tell you that it really is b.s. We’ve come to the point now where we try to make those who have lost their jobs….through no fault of their own…feel as if it’s the construction of their resume and cover letters that is holding them back from reentering the job market.
The truth is, if you’ve included correct information, free of grammatical and spelling errors, and you’ve tailored the cover letter and resume to the company and job you’re applying for, then you’ve done all you can really do.
People are not hiring and of they are, there are 100’s, if not 1000’s applying for the same position. The idea that your resume didn’t get you the job is false. When the economy is good, and people are hiring, you don’t see all these articles about resumes, because, they really don’t matter as much as you are lead to believe in tough times.
The best way to get a job is to know someone who can put you in touch with an open position and has some sway with the people doing the hiring. Failing that, the best way is pure luck. You, or your resume just happen to be there when the person hiring makes time to look for someone and is ready to hire.
95% of every other “tip” you read about how to get a job is b.s. Luck, timing, personal relationship, ready error-free resume. Those are the keys.
By all means, have someone proofread your resume. Do not simply let your computer “spell check” do the deed. When I review resumes I go straight to the employment record. Are there any gaps? Frequent changes? The author of the article is correct about long and wordy resumes. Don’t do it! References will be checked.
An example of how to get a great work environment & Culture:
Joy,
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We partner with corporations to provide daily baskets of fresh fruit to their employees. We deliver a wide variety of fruits that give employees a healthier option for snacks and lunch at their place of employment. Based in Atlanta, Georgia
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Great for boosting the attitudes at work and help employees eat healthy.
Lots of them are going to quit. They are losing touch with who they were and are becoming just another high tech company. People will leave in droves when they realize there is nothing magic about working there after all (ala Microsoft).
It doesn’t take an algorithm to figure out who is going to leave. People that feel underappreciated, bored, underpaid, etc (right or wrong) or think there is a better oppty elsewhere won’t last. High tech workers don’t usually last more than a few years at a company regardless of circumstances. Companies have very little loyalty to their workers, and vice versa. Google won’t be any different. They’ll have retention issues just like every other similar company.
[...] had a good, spirited discussion on BlogBreak recently about the Jonesboro police chief who was fired for wearing jeans instead of a traditional uniform to work. A recent article suggests that casual days at the [...]
Hell where I work casual dress would be an upgrade. We have grown men coming to work in saggy jeans, tennis shoes and t-shirts. We have women coming in as if they just left CLUB ESSO! It’s a damn shame that nobody takes pride in coming to work dressed up anymore. But I guess when your supervisor is sloppy, then why shouldn’t the workerbees?
I take pride in coming to work dressed professionally, although I have been guilty of wearing jeans, a polo shirt and loafer type shoes on Fridays. But my dress down is still 1000% better than everyone elses best day.
The company I work for takes no pride in being professional and in this day and age..it’s a shame!
For those of us in double digit areas (yes they do exist in Ga dont let the static rate of unemployment fool you, it was created by 45k people dropping off the rolls while waiting for the state extension that is federally funded) HB581 was passed 4/3 and signed into law on 4/21. We were finally allowed to apply on 5/22 they are talking about 6/25 before funds come out.
Something is wrong as all other states are giving retro benfits and you can google what those benfits are, not Ga. a regular UI claim takes 3 weeks and it is looking at up to 5 weeks for SEB. yet they can mail a letter on 5/8 of eligibility and do a dry run on a bank acct 5/26,lol….yet still no money.
The whole point of UI/EUC/SEB is so jobless workers do not loose their stability, well my 4 kids are about to watch their stuff get put on the side of the road and have no roof over there head. I worked non profit and grant cutbacks mean you loose your job and the county where i live another plant closed yesterday so I’m sure our 11.5% rate will go up again.If Macdonalds would hire me I’ld be tickled to death cause I could put us into an efficiency.
So good luck collecting and even better luck for future job finding
I am 15 years of age and really need money to go back to school next year. I would do just about anything to make money this summer…Could anyone help me?
brian lewis go call allsup in bellville ill they will help you get ssdi you more than qualify sounds like to me what are you waiting for they take 25 percent of your award but at least you will have income comeing in each month. i am 45 with degenerated disc diasease and stenosis of spine with 2 disc shot at L-4 L-5 with a torn nerve and i take 100mg shots of insulin for diabeaties and 6 pain pills for pain. come on dude do you really think anybody is going to hire people like us in todays world i dought it. so call them you will be glad you did.
come on people do you really think anybody in the social security administration or ssdi for disabled people really care about your condition no they dont i call then hitlers ss because there trained to deny you no matter what. why do you think they pay a independent doctor to see you there doctor ssdi hes paid by the social security office du. so please make sure you get a lawyer before you apply or you will get denied all the way to federal court. god bless and good luck.
Not at all. People who get their rocks off by telling the boss is doing the same thing. I cant understand why people dont get that karma is real. Whatever you do to others will be done to you. If it is your time to leave a job then its just that time. Snitching should not be rewarded.
So many “job opening” listed in ajc and other papers (via hotjobs) are nothing more than marketing scams for collecting contact information. (mainly for online continuing education and resume writing services) Highly frustrating and unintentially requested, job applicants are bombarded by phone calls and emails trying to sell everything from MBA’s to auto insurance to home mortgage refinance to magazine subscriptions. It may not be illegal, but it certain is an exploiting of a loop-hole in the anti-spam laws. These ads can be found in every category and every major paper in the US.
It would help if the AJC (and others) would identify these fake job ads and refuse to publish them in the “jobs” sections if they are not truly employment opportunities.
Not from where I’m sitting. At Averitt Exress I was just forced to opt for part time status or unemployment benefits. I had just received a raise from $16.00 per hour to $17.00 per hour. My raise was taken away and I was forced to take a $2.00 pay cut along with the loss of all benefits. Averitt had never done this before. While part time employees had been let go last year, full time employees had never been forced to become part time loosing all benefits.
If we value our freedom as we have known it in America, we need to protect the free market. People should be paid based upon what the market dictates, no matter what they do. Where do you draw the line? If you want to limit executive pay, why would you stop there? Why should athletes and entertainers be allowed to make millions and not some of the most educated, brightest business people? Wouldn’t we also all benefit from lower ticket prices and cost of goods and services resulting from lower advertising cost if athletes and entertainers were paid less? Why should an owner of a private company be allowed to make whatever the market bears and not a CEO of a public company? The private company has investors as well. This is a slippery slope.
I was in a situation where I felt that I needed to take on as many tasks as possible to keep my job. Guess what? If your boss does not like you because you are more knowledeable and receive kuddos from external customers, she will get rid of you anyway. If you feel threatened, update the resume and start looking for another job now, you will be one step ahead of the game.
When I was married the first time, I had an affair with a co-worker. I divorced and the co-worker and I had a four-year relationship. Don’t regret it. Am about to mark the 11th anniversary of my second marriage. I’d be open to another relationship. What you up to tonight, Becky?
I have never liked giving my number to strangers so it seems that work is one of the places I can feel confortable getting to know someone before actually “dating”. This has led to two relationships. One lasted for two years and I have been in the other since 2005. We are getting married this summer!
But really, I have had many. you can’t help it. You spend more time with co-workers than significant others and co-workers can sympathize with what you have to deal with all day, so it is easier to talk to co-workers. Bottomline is just keep it discreet and don’t let it get to involved. Co-workers should definately have extra-marital affairs it is good for business.
I don’t do well in the hot, so it’s a good thing that I work indoors..My husband is a roofer and to me that would be one of the worst jobs to do when it’s hotter than hades outside..
I used to load airplanes for a living on that hot pavement and never batted an eye but now that I’m older and fatter, I can barely handle the walk across the parking lot to my car at the end of the day. I salute anybody that has to work outside.
I always think roofers, paving, road construction, etc. would be the worst in the heat.
Some like it hot and some sweat when the heat is on
Some feel the heat and decide that they can’t go on,
Some like it hot, but you cant tell how hot til you try,
Some like it hot, so lets turn up the heat til we fry!
I think my lawn-care man has the worst job in the heat. Because he’s so reliable he has a lot of clients. He’s out there from sun up to sun down burning in the sun. Let’s not forget how some powered lawn movers tend to give off more heat.
Hot! yeah sitting bin a cab of a truck with no a/c or load/unload same Van (box) in lower Ala. or in a cab w/o a/c on a piece of heavy equipmentfrom sunrise to after sunset 7 days a week or until jobs done or it rains. drink mgallons of water/ eat light . in truck take off uniform shirt and under shirt and hang in cab so moveing brezze will dry them before next stop . Oh! yeah I know HOT!!!
Scottay, I loaded airplanes as well. I too, am older (and also fatter). This is my first summer off the ramp, (52 yoa and retired). Last summer I placed a thermometer on the ramp on a 95 degree reported day, (as today). It read 118 degrees!!! God help you if the pilot leaves on the APU, which blows even more heat! The only shade is under the airplane wing! The belly of the beast, (cargo bin) is only cool the first 20 minutes the plane reaches the gate. This job is awful HOT in the summer!
I used to work at a Steel fabrication shop. No A/C inside the workshop. Just some fans and doors at the ends that could be opened. A lot of equipment running and welding machines and torches. If it’s 90 degrees outside then it’s 110 degrees inside the shop. Thank God I wasn’t a welder. Welders have to wear long sleeves and thick gloves so they won’t get burned so they are that much hotter.
Police officers (no, I won’t denigrate them by calling them ‘cops’ like every other media article does). They have to wear thick bullet-proof vests underneath the layers of their uniforms and carry all kinds of heavy equipment outside of the layers of their uniforms, and spend most of the day outside responding to calls or pulling over people who can’t follow traffic rules. I can’t imagine how irritating it must be to deal with ungrateful, combative people everyday, much less when it’s 100 degrees out and you’re wearing all kinds of layers and carrying a 20 pound belt full of equipment on your waist.
As crazy as it may seem, expose as little skin surface as possible…this means 1) long sleeve shirt (no short sleeves), 2) long pants (no shorts), 3) hat, preferably a desert/jungle “boonie-type. If not available, a ball cap will do/protect the neck area w/kerchief/etc and 4) hydrate often (no sodas, coffee, or those sugar-ladden “sports drinks”…just H2O). Also, time your exposure…20-30 minutes/5-10 min rest. Sunscreen on exposed areas…face, back of hands. Keep an eye on those around you/ensure all are onboard with this one.
Ramp Rats Everywhere: Try to avoid prop/jet blast. Besides blowing hot air, this is a definite safety issue (flying debris/FOD…foreign object dammage). Keep your head “on a 360 degree swivel”. In my post-retirement job, I do a fair amount of flying; this 360 awareness is something I do not see demonstrated much.
I have a friend who fixes Air Condidtioning. He was up in someones attic today doing a repair and said it measured 132 degrees. Unfortunately he is going to be in my attic tomorrow since mine is broken too.
My hottest job was the summer I was a roofer in Oklahoma. Salvation came in late July when I got another job at the computer center on campus where I maintained equipment in big, air conditioned rooms.
I work as a biologist doing wetlands and endangered species work. Try hacking your way through briars and brush all day with a machete while carrying your equipment and watching for snakes and other dangers. The only water you have is what you can carry or like myself, you can use a water purifier in the field. Nothing like purified swamp water to cool you off on a hot day.
Try being a used car salesman on a hot summer day. Try getting in all those hot cars for test drives. Forget about it. Rich corinthian leather can leave 3rd degree burns on hot days. But you’ll get a good deal. So buy American.
I spent a good deal of my working career in a boiler room containing 3 very large boilers.I mean 9 stories tall.The soot blower repair crew had a shop on the seventh floor.They were worse off than I was.At least I got to move around and go outside on occasion.
I have to agree with Scottay, Ramp Rat, and Sarge. It’s plenty hot working as a ramp agent. Not only is it hot on the ramp, it can get hot in the cargo bin with no air circulating and tossing bags. Back for the knees and back too. These planes are coming in back to back and you don’t have time to stay hydrated. Seems like my employer doesn’t care either
I have worked as a carpenter/roofer, manuel unloader of tractor trailers and rail cars, and on laying asphalt. I made a decision early to get a career that involved AC. I decided that broiuling under the sun, being baked, or fried was not in my future.
Roofers and asphalt layers have the worst job. But I have a friend who locates utilities (before you dig) and that is a miserable job, too, with the walking and carrying and digging, around pavement and under bushes and around aggressive dogs. He suffers.
Mail carriers have a very hot job also, no air conditioner in the mail trucks. A lot of walking on some routes, but that is better than being in the trucks all day for all curbside delivery routes.
We’ve crossed mid 2009 and it is a welcome relief to know that the overall productivity is increasing. Usually productivity falls in a recession. So there are overall some good signs. But what about the ones who have lost their jobs? Thankfully, there are some websites where people who have been affected by job loss in the current recession could share their anxieties and problems with others having faced similar problems in the past. One website that is interesting is http://www.angstcorner.com.
Oh absolutely!! Some were married, most were not and all went “all the way.” 9 in 7 years to be exact or about one every 9 months…Im thinking that was a company record!!
Excuse me but this post is getting a little too freaky.
So you all dated your co-worker. I do not want to go there. Yeah done it and hate it now. So there you got it out of me. Jezz.
why would anyone even worry about the jail time someone gets for killing a dog or a human ?? One of the ten commandments states Thou shalt not kill!! Just ignorance dipper!!
I have to listen to my coworker call her house about 10 times a day to check on her dog and cat, so does that count? Not including the times that she has her Mother hold the phone so that she can talk to them…
Dipper—your a dip. Do you really think your hero Mike Vick got more time for killing a dog then someone who murdered someone? Moron. As the saying goes, the more people I meet…the more I like my dog.
I’m a dog owner and I love my mutt, but I draw the line at certain things, and taking my dog to work is one of them. Sorry, but you just don’t need to bring your dog every place you go.
I hate to bring up Michael Vick, but oh well, I’ll do it anyway: What he did was deplorable and stupid and he deserved to be punished, but dang, people were running around here acting like he killed the Pope or something. That whole fiasco just goes to show how pet obsessed our society is. I do believe that Vick would have been treated a lot less harshly had he been accused of something such as rape, assault, or anything like that. Let’s not even begin to talk about the nutjobs from PETA.
NO one said anything about being a VICK hero… I have 2 dogs myself but I’m also a family member that lost a love one due to DUI… So before any of you get started about PETA, get your facts and reasons straight.
Taking your dog for walks, lakes, parks are great but bringing them to work and to a ball game is a little to much. Petsmart was the best thing for a dog. Next we will be taking dogs to TGIF for lunch.
I am able to bring my dog with me to work everyday. I have a very laid back work environment.
To all you Dipper haters…I think what he was making a comparison to is that Mike Vick got more time in jail for dog fighting than Donte Stallworth got for hitting and killing a pedestrian while under the influence. I’m not condoning this, just interpreting his statement.
Yes, Dipper…sorry for your loss. I hope I was on the right track explaining your statement.
As far as taking your pet everywhere…I can take my dog to work because I work for my in-laws. I admit, these are special circumstances but I don’t take my dog everywhere else.
Why does every comment section end up trashing someone that made a simple statement? Let’s just stay with the subject! I would probably take my dog with me, but she doesn’t like men, so my boss would have to stay home. HMMMMMMM………..
I work from home so my dogs are with me every day. If I did work in an office and had the opportunity, I still would NOT take my dogs out of consideration for co-workers that may have allergies, have fears, or may just not like dogs in general.
Since our office opened its doors in 1999, it has been pet friendly – so much so that it was a negotiation in our lease. On any given day, we’re allowed four dogs in the office, and have a “doggie calendar” so that we can keep track. It does wonders for morale, and says something about the people who work for our agency.
It depends on the dog. A friendly, laid-back dog would be fine to bring to the office one day but a skittish/unfriendly/yappy dog would be better off at home.
I got an older German Shepard from the Humane Society last year during the summer. He had been found on the side of the road, very emaciated and they felt he had obviously been abused. I took him home and it took several days for it to get used to the house. It will NOT stay iinside the fence. He has cataracts and doesn’t see well and is almost deaf (should I have named him “Lucky” instead of “Bear”?) I decided the only safe thing was to bring him to work with me each day. I own a retail store. He stays behind the counter (leashed to a bolt) and most people never even know he is there. There is a note on the door “Caution:Do NOT awaken the guard dog!
Mine are with me right now in my home office, and would be good additions to AANY office. Preferable to some of the “humans” one meets in the workplace!
My dog is handicapped from a spinal injury sustained in a car accident and needs to be checked on often, so it would be nice to bring her with me to the office instead of running home every 3 hours like I did with my last job that didn’t allow pets. Right now, I am self employed with my own office, so she is able to be with me everyday. If I do return to full time work it will need to be in a pet friendly office.
NANCY – HIRE ME! I would LOVE to work somewhere dog friendly – I like my job, but would LOVE IT if I could have my little furry friend next to me to keep me cool while dealing with the constant stress this place brings about
I grew up on a non-mechanized tobacco farm in the 1950s and had to handle green tobacco all day in July and August heat. I found out 50 years later that the reason I always felt sick was that I was poisoned by nicotine from the sticky gum on green tobacco. I’ve dug ditches, shoveled coal and shoveled manure; all are improvements over the tobacco field.
Yuck. I bet yall are the same people who let your dogs lick u in the mouth but then wear masks in public to prevent the swine flu. Such strange fruit we are
I rescue the Newfoundland dogs in need of a new home, that’s all I care about. These gentle giants
need an extra hand sometimes and I’m there for them. These chat groups or comment columns
always turn into something altogether different than the original subject. If you can’t say something good I have always believed you should keep your mouth shut.
I’m retired but would love to take my Newfoundland’s to work if I had a job. So go make something out of that. To all the dog lovers in this group, you’re very special people.
Remodel Project Management is also one of the worst jobs in America. Low pay for the 18 hour days and handling complant after complant. HGTV is the biggest contributer to the remodle world because they set the expectations that a remodel in your house can be done in a few days, NOT IN THE REAL WORLD! Project Mangers have very high stress for little pay.
I am not worth near as much as I am paid. Last year I made nearly a million dollars off other peoples work. I am sure the dems hate that. When I hire someone all I consider is how much they can make me. The best thing about this down turn is people will work so cheap.
Gotta include the foot soldiers serving in the desert countries! Loaded down with gear,and always mindful of danger, has to be the toughest hot weather job……and the pay is lousy! On this celebration day,include a little “cool prayer” for them all….guys and gals……many reservists,over 40……tough going! Rocketroy
Allen Radwill is worth mucho dinero, and I am not simply speaking about myself, for myself or of myself. Too often do we sell ourselves short when it comes to asking for a salary commensurate with experiences. Too many employers only look at the surface while many grind away at the results of a background check, an internet search or rumors from friends.
Let me state that when it comes time to interview or be interviewed, the best I can muster is a direct look into the eyes of my potential employer or employee and hope that they look back, speak directly and with a compassionate clarity and boldness! To find value, integrity and other traits which we all want (as an employer) can be an overwhelming task and expense, only to result in a failed acquisition when it is all said and done.
Allen Radwill never doubts the ability of would be employees when first interviewed, however, building upon the discussion with knowledge and past experiences can quickly lead to finding out what the candidate really knows. So, to sum up, let’s take a lesson from the master of deceit and understand that truth is as good as the teller, trouble is, who is the teller?
C’mon get real, its already OVER 10%, as usual, the fawning ajc is reporting NEW claims, doesn’t report those who have run outta unemployment bennies, or taken pt jobs, or have given up!!!
It seems that unemployment and the economy will continue to get worse.
It seems that Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank must have no love for the United States as they tend to do and say things to bring it down and destroy the way of life of many people. They all must have not paid any attention in their economics class. Until they are out of office the USA will suffer and that is ashame.
The unemployement number doesn’t account for people who are furloughed (for whatever amount of time), no longer on unemployement (their benefits have expired), under employed (not working for the full wage/salary level, ie contractors). Obama wants to start taxing companies next year for health care, cap & trade, etc. Just wait, that number will hit 15% by December. I worked as an analyst for a large investment firm. I know this stuff like the back of my hand. We need a revolution!
Obama was going to create all those new jobs. Where are they?
So far all of his moves are creating more job losses so he wants to raise taxes on people who are struggling to make sure more jobs are lost. After he robs from the rich ( and rich in his mind is middle class) and gives to the poor, then the middle class becomes poor and they can not spend , causing more companies to cut back, to increase unemployment some more, and then you tax more, cut more jobs, pay more handouts, raise taxes some more, soon you have no body paying taxes, no jobs, no income, Third world economy here we come.
Also AJC sugar coats it to make things look better than they are. How about the people who can no longer collect unemployment, how about the people who took pay cuts just to keep a job.
Oh no…. working hard … will get your butt on the unemployment line quicker than you can say “lickidy split”. Workers today, give hard working fellow employees a hard time. Some employees have the attitude that they are doing a corporation a favor just by showing up to their job. They think along the lines, ” hey, I am here so pay me.” God forbid a supervisor ask them to put in a few extra hours of work. The employee will look at the supervisor as if he/she has justed killed their mother. Their attitude is, ” Wait a second, you expect me to work now that I am here. Are you crazy?” ” What do you think this place is ….. a job!” ” Wait one second, you want me to work …. in order to get paid.” Good help America ! It is now a disgrace to work hard in America ! Who knew !
Poor dumb souls. Your small minds and dark soul-less hearts just will not allow you to process that Obama was hired to fix the mess you people made!
Where are all the jobs the $2 Trillion Bush tax cut was supposed to produce? Where are all the jobs the tax cuts Sonny and the boys gave to the rich were supposed to produce?
So your response is to blame the guy who has been in office for 5 months? You sad sheep have no clue just how bad your guys have screwed up do you? It’s going to take years to clean up the mess, and in some cases, a decade or so. That’s how big a FAIL you people produced.
So make your little bitter comments on blogs, keep watching Fox News so you’ll know what to say, have fun at your Neo Nazi..ur..teabag parties, and oh yeah, how’s the succession stuff going? Hopefully some of you will be leaving the country soon.
I guess sheep do talk, it seems that the sheep who follow Obama can not see. The look at the sheep person has hatred in his heart, based on the last paragraph. Talk about bitter comments, leave the country, we want to protect the country. Obama may be a nice guy but in over his head and no clue on how to fix things. Obamaman makes everything sound satisfying and delicious, he plays to your childhood wishes. He wraps everything up with hope just to make you feel good.
Nothing is immediate. Neither economic crisis nor recovery. No one man (Bush) could ever cause all this. No one man (Obama) could ever fix all this. I, too, am unemployed, frustrated, losing money, and mortified at the prospect of higher taxes. I live in Boston, and I’m moving to Atlanta in a couple months. The cost of living in MA is simply too much for me with no income. But, blaming someone isn’t going to get us our livelihood back. Politicians respond to pressure. Get on the government websites and find your local representative’s phone #/email. Inundate him with calls/emails that are short and pointed. “We can’t shoulder the burden of any more taxes. Give us a tax break, help small businesses, and get new jobs created FAST. Why don’t the politicians take a pay cut like the rest of us? We won’t vote for you again if you raise taxes. Then you’ll be unemployed, too.” It’s not about Red State vs Blue State; it’s about what’s best for all of us. PurplePlease.net – for freedom and independence
Hey Sheep, How is Cap and Trade going to create more jobs? It is simply adding more tax to US Companies so that they can move overseas. Obama talks a big game but is full of empty promises.
Still working but it seems like we have layoffs every 3 months so that’s not too comforting. Just gotta keep the nose to the grindstone until they come and tap you on the shoulder.
The unemployment rate was 10% under Ronald Reagan making the current unemployment rate no different now. Reagan inherited a mess in 1981 and Obama inherited a mess in 2001. It took 18 months for Regan to clean up the mess and I suspect things are not going to be any different for Obama. Deep recessions suck.
My husband and I lost lay off in 2008, and life has been very hard. We are losing our faith in finding a job. All the resume we send out in mail and email are negative, no response. My husband specialty were transportation and security and I was in the administrative assistant, he is in the mid 50’s and I in late 50’s fifty. We don’t know what else to do. Thank you for listening.
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Juanita
February 20th, 2009
9:48 am
I CNA at a Nursing Home. High stress. Low pay for what those fabulous people do. They are remarkable. It takes a special person to work in a Nursing Home . However, the pay is terrible for what they have to contend with.
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Janice
February 20th, 2009
10:14 am
I became a Pampered Chef Consultant in December and I love it! I work full time, but I do the cooking shows on my schedule and set my income goal for the month and it helps to pay my car insurance in which I have a teenager on.
I love this job and plan to will my full time job with it within the next 18 months!
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Jessica
February 20th, 2009
10:14 am
I could sure use this list..I hope its helpful..I am seeking a part time job to supplement my full time job income. Today, one job just doesn’t do it if you aren’t making over $60,000 a year.
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Judy
February 20th, 2009
10:29 am
Part Time bank teller! You get full benefits, paid vacation, and Sundays off!
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RobinS
February 20th, 2009
11:48 am
Get involved with an MLM like Nature’s Sunshine…I make a very good living at it and no requirement to purchase product, people just place orders. MLM< a great way to go!
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Big Brown
February 20th, 2009
11:55 am
UPS….part time work, full time benefits.
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Part time jobs: Which are the best? | Blog Break | www.fairs.ca
February 20th, 2009
12:51 pm
[...] the original post: Part time jobs: Which are the best? | Blog Break Share and [...]
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BigJake
February 20th, 2009
3:34 pm
I agree with employers making those that will burden the entire program through their own habits that increase their dependence on insurance. I firmly believe imposing additional costs on smokers makes sense, and on the weight issue, as long as it is related to health issues, and not on actual weight alone, it makes sense. Some people carry extra weight, but otherwise have normal cholesterol and blood pressure, and should not be targeted.
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Honest Guy
February 24th, 2009
11:50 am
If the severance package specifically outlined the dollar amount to be paid and the payment received was actually more, I think the company has the right to request that the former employee return the amount in question. That being said, I think it would be a moral obligation for the former employee to return the money…not a legal obligation.
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Loving Daughter
February 24th, 2009
12:50 pm
I wonder how much $$$ we’re talking about per laid-off employee?
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Jim Sanders
February 24th, 2009
12:54 pm
…dude! we’re talkin’ about microsoft. the kind of administrative error they’re talking about should have been PREVENTED by the wonderful technology they’re always trying to get other companies to buy. if they made a mistake, then they should just bite the bullet, swallow hard and wait for it to come out on the other end. shame on them for making themselves look like BOZO’S…!
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Steve
February 24th, 2009
1:17 pm
I’ve not seen a figure as to how much these employees were overpaid. Unless it’s more than $1000 per employee, I’m surprised Microsoft would come back to these individuals at all. From the fact MS is now recanting (allowing people to keep the money), they must realize how they look to the general public. Asking these laid off employees for some portion of the money back is about as insensitive as you can get. Calling the mistake an ‘inadvertent administrative error’ is fine, but it was MS’s mistake. Live with it as a ‘cost of doing business’.
As for the MS person who authorized ‘requesting the money back’, move his desk to the basement and take away his red stapler.
To answer the question raised, yes I would give it back (provided I had the means to do so).
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Katie
February 24th, 2009
2:02 pm
I was recently laid off and in my letter was told how much I’m to receive in two lump sum payments (minus taxes and junk fees). If I were to receive more, of course I’m keeping it! I was thrown under the bus and the government gave the company BILLIONS. A measley overpayment to me would not affect them in the least.
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Karla
February 24th, 2009
2:16 pm
No, I would not return the money.
Yes, I think Microsoft absorb the error.
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MARGARET
February 24th, 2009
3:13 pm
HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY.
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Jeff
February 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
To those of you that were laid off recently and said they would keep the money then that is a pretty good example of why you were laid off in the first place.
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How much industry experience do you really need? | Blog Break
February 27th, 2009
8:22 am
[...] contributor Gary Wheeler discusses the frustrations of employers telling job seekers that “industry experience” [...]
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Julie
February 27th, 2009
9:50 am
I got layoff around 2 months ago. I have over 10 years purchasing and sales experience in technology field. Last month, i had interview with one company, who had buyer position open for consumer electronics. The CE purchasing manager disapproved of me because i had no CE purchasing background, but HR manager disagreed with him. Anyway, i didn’t get get job. I also had interview with the company, which is also in the consumer electronics. I passed the interview, but due to the hiring freezing, i also didn’t get job. I absolutely agree with you “Knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences are all transferrable”, but due to the tough job market, i realize the company is looking for the perfect match or over-qualified candidacy, which will make job seeker harder and harder.
Good luck to all job seeker!
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Sarah
March 2nd, 2009
10:19 am
Spring/summer – wedding related: venue worker, tuxedos, dresses, planning, flowers, etc…
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Carlos
March 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
How is it possible that an EMT has low pay? They are practically saving lives.
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Connie Harse
March 2nd, 2009
4:26 pm
Also, the 2010 Census is, or will be hiring. Find them online, US Federal Census. Fascinating work, and it helps the community.
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Debbie Gallogly
March 2nd, 2009
5:29 pm
Who knows of a viable Internet job that can be done on one’s home computer?
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RenaeV
March 2nd, 2009
6:11 pm
I definitely agree that employees considered “unhealthy” should pay a premium. Perhaps this will provide additional incentive to individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
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Dina
March 3rd, 2009
4:37 pm
I have waited tables for a very long time and I do it 2 two nights a week in addition to my full time job. It’s quick easy money that I take home at the end of the night. I usually bring in at least $200 a week. Some restaurants even offer insurance if you need it. If I need more money I just work more shifts.
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Bernetta
March 3rd, 2009
9:18 pm
I have got involved with a Telecommunications company http://www.5linx.net/globaltech and I market free cell phones, homes phone service for $24.95, business line $39.95, the new video home phone, direct tv, the dish and GE Wireless Home security! Everytime someone pays their bill, I get commission. You do something once and I get paid over and over again. Pretty cool and so is the commission! Go to my website if interested!
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Jon
March 4th, 2009
7:37 am
What a load of crap! I have a BS in Environmental Health and have worked in the environmental field for over 20 years. I just don’t see how these new “green” jobs are going to materialize. If the market has a demand for these “green” jobs then the jobs will be created. Taking taxpayer money to create a demand that otherwise does not exist is not a solution. Once the government stops subsidizing the jobs, reality called the law of supply and demand will correct the playing field and a lot of the jobs will disappear. Biden doesn’t know what he is talking about and Obama is just using this “green” economy talk to draw attention away from the awful mess we are in.
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tim
March 4th, 2009
7:53 am
I work for a registered forester. We have been “green” before all of this hype began. Most people will not work outside in all kinds of weather; so, I think the president’s plan may not be realistic.
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ken
March 4th, 2009
8:21 am
I find it totally amazing that people believe in this GREEN Crap.30,000 scientists signed a statement about GREEN being unproven. Do you want to believe them or 50 Journalists?
The only people making money off this is Al Whore.
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DavidS
March 4th, 2009
8:34 am
There is nothing wrong with any industry working to provide anything that consumers want. For too long out government has enacted laws that violate private property rights by allowing their favored industries to pollute other people’s water, property, and air. Pollution is a trespass and should be handled as such. Libertarians have always know that and worked towards this fundamental change. It should never be handled as top-down regulation and government imposed laws. The Federal Government is the biggest polluter in the nation and is in no position to be dictating to anyone what is acceptable pollution – but that is exactly what they do with arbitrary guidelines and regulations.
The free market is not dictating the creation of these industries. We do not have a free market in this country. Instead, we have idiots in washington who steal from one group and then give to campaign donors, etc. Just look at the ethanol fiasco. Ethanol may be a renewable energy source, but it costs way more than it gives back, gives 3/4 the mileage of gasoline, and requires major engine modifications for pure use. Giant subsidies are now causing food shortages here in this country and around the world, and even more deforestation is happening in 3rd world countries just to plant corn. All so that jerks like Harkin and others from corn belt states can line their pockets. Hemp is a far better crop for biomass energy but we are too afraid of it to relegalize its growing. Again, no free market. The oil industry benefits from trillions of dollars in free security courtesy of our bloated military. Just to keep the oil supply safe, we make our country less safe by encouraging terrorism through out imperial quests and killing of innocents.
Every “green” job that is being produced by the farce and Obamanation that is this stimulis bill will come crashing down once the money runs out. The only worthwhile “green” jobs are the ones the market creates out of real demand, not demand created by government regulation, subsidy, or law.
If private property rights were acutally respected and defended by government, and if we actually had a free market in energy and everythign else, the problems of pollution, oil dependence, and every other environmental issue would likely have already been addressed by the courts or the marketplace. Unfortunately the fascism that this country began embracing during the last depression looks to be only increasing under this administration as we race towards the next depression. For those of you that relish the thought of central control, fascism, or socialism, remember that the Soviet Union and every other centrally managed economy have been clearly shown to be the biggest environmental polluters on earth. That’s what happens when the government imposes regulations that it never follows. It is exactly what our government currently does.
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DavidS
March 4th, 2009
8:58 am
I must say that it is encouraging to see that so many folks “get it” about government and the economy. I just hope you will all remember that this is not about Republican or Democrat for they are both beholden to one special interest or another and have both been equally responsible for the mess we are in. This is about the government versus all of us. We are the only special interest group they DONT care about.
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Melody
March 4th, 2009
9:29 am
I’m really glad to see an article about passionate people and careers because they’re often overlooked in the mainstream world. However, political activism was overlooked as a career choice for passionate people, and it would’ve made your article even better if that had been included.
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GRS
March 4th, 2009
9:50 am
I believe in the green-collar industry. The goal seems to encourage less dependence on toxic products and services of big businesses, while exploring healthful alternatives. The potential solutions developed by the green-industry could benefit the world for many generations.
It would be great to eradicate many of todays’ health concerns by supporting organic farmers and food developers, and making their products widely accessible.
Educating people about green living and the green-collar industy is the key focus to ensure success.
http://www.wellnessliving4all.net
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Melody
March 4th, 2009
10:20 am
I used to file worker’s compensation claims. I have seen claims where beginning EMT’s for certain private companies make as little as $8.00 per hour. The highest rate I ever saw was $12.00 per hour.
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RD
March 6th, 2009
5:46 pm
I wouldn’t hire you because you can’t write.
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Anthony
March 7th, 2009
9:41 pm
I can see why an EMT is on the list. An EMT is an EMT for the reason of a step in the door. For fire and police depts. And also my job as a paramedic. When i started as an EMT i made 12.00 an hour. The benefits were really decent though. When you work this job you need tough skin and leave everything at work.
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Chris
March 8th, 2009
5:41 pm
I agree with Jessica. I’ve been considering a part time job to supplement my income for a while now, just haven’t put in the effort to actually search for one yet. I’m a single guy making 50k a year, which is just not as much as it used to be (i.e., the middle class is being destroyed). After taxes, car note, mortgage/rent, and misc., there’s not much left!
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gret fret
March 9th, 2009
10:34 am
not sure
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Twindivamomma
March 9th, 2009
11:18 am
NOT YET!!
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Ryan
March 9th, 2009
11:32 am
I finished the Emory Paralegal Program in ‘05 as a way of re-energizing my career. It was very worthwhile to do so, especially in light of the fact that a few law firms wanted to train me on the spot and pay me very little in the way of starting salary. A small investment went a long way, as I found employment with starting salary in the low 30’s very quickly and I paid the student loan off in 3 years.
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Toni
March 9th, 2009
11:49 am
Absolutely. It hands down has been the best choice I could have made. I have not graduated yet but hope to within the next 3 years.
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BCST
March 9th, 2009
12:22 pm
I have never finished school, but have seemed to come out ok when it comes to finding a job. Could I be making more? Probably, but not for the case of my girlfriend. She finished school in four years, graduated with honors, and was very confident joining the work force. That confidence was shattered after being turned down for jobs left and right because of not having experience. I have worked tougher jobs, but worked my way up the ladder so to speak and made it ok. I bought my first home two years ago and I now work for a sound financial institution.
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SaveOurRepublic
March 9th, 2009
12:37 pm
Having a BBA, BS & MBA have been beneficial indeed. Other certifications (PMP, Six Sigma) are helpful in career advancement. In my estimation, it’s advisable for folks to pursue further education within their fields of endeavor.
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LK
March 9th, 2009
12:47 pm
I finished my BA in 2004…and have worked in terrible low paying jobs ever since. I’m not even making 20K right now. I went back to school and have been working on my Master’s degree, but it’s been a waste of my time, because it’s done nothing for me professionally. If I could get back all the money I’d put into college and start over I would. I’ll probably be switching career fields soon. The friends I know with technical skills are the ones doing great.
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Mary
March 9th, 2009
1:07 pm
I received a specialized certification in 2006 that was extremely beneficial. The next job I accepted my base salary was 33% higher.
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WTS
March 9th, 2009
1:26 pm
This caught my attention. Being in the IT industry, I’ve been worried about how this economy would affect those in IT. I’m a firm believer in furthering your professional credentials with certification. IT people know the value of having a Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, or PMI certification. I also believe when the economy is down is a good time to tighten up your skills or acquire new ones. When things get rolling again, you’ll be first in line with the right qualifications.
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Misty
March 9th, 2009
2:26 pm
I agree with LK. I, like numerous other friends have our Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and the only thing we are looking at is huge student loan payments. I also am at a low paying job with two degrees like millions of other Americans that believed education was a way out of this mess!
I wish I could get all the thousands of dollars back that went into an education that has gotten me absolutely no where in my career or advancing myself!
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Dwayne
March 9th, 2009
2:45 pm
At the age of 40, I went back to school in 2004 to finish my BA. I finished in 2006 and since then I took a job in education and my salary, as of this year, is double what I made in 2004. Would have never been even considered for the job without by bachelor’s degree.
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HH
March 9th, 2009
2:56 pm
Not really! Just adds more costs into my student loans. Its who you know in this town on if you get a good job or not.
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ripdog
March 9th, 2009
3:07 pm
I don’t know if I would fall in this category because technically I never went back to school. I started working for my current company when I was in school. My education has definitely helped my career. I received my B.S., M.B.A., and another Master’s in Telecomunications courtesy of my employer. I received multiple promotions while I was in school and two addtional promotions after graduating from graduate school. With all that said, it really isn’t about climbing the corporate ladder. I feel the skills I’ve acquired in my degree programs, coupled with over a decade of experience have made me an authority in my field. Education has to be coupled with relevant experience in order to mean anything nowadays.
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SMR
March 9th, 2009
3:14 pm
I finished a double major in economics and political science in ‘07 – starting working at a small firm for less than $10 an hour, worked there for a year and then moved to a large firm in Atlanta making 50k. Higher education doesn’t guarantee you a great job to start off and sometimes you have to “pay your dues”. Plus, if you’re going to school for a random, off-the-wall degree, don’t cry when you can’t get a job with your art degree, music degree, philosphy degree etc – double major – get a practical degree to back those up. Think about the job market and the application of your education before you shell out all that money.
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SR
March 9th, 2009
3:24 pm
Since graduating in 07 with BBA degree, i have sill not found the job utilizing my degree. I was turned down many times for not having experience. So i settled for an entry level job where i still have to work my way up. However i never regreted going to school.
If you are working and you need that degree to move up the ladder, then you should definetly go back to school.
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Matthew
March 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
Most people that are whining about low paying jobs and mountains of student loans probably did very little research about their job prospects for employment after graduation, if I am wrong please give give your example. There was a 20/20 speical similar to this a few months back. I was very disappointed in John Stossels conclusion, that college was “over-rated”. He showed a buch of people who got useless degrees at small, expensive private school and could not find jobs in anthropology, creative writing or the like.
I look at the HOPE Scholarship that I received and the co-op jobs, internships and career planning, I did while in school and came out like a rose. Upon graduation I was debt free and took a great job. College does not guarantee future success, its just another tool to catapult you up the ladder.
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JDSV
March 9th, 2009
3:43 pm
My wife and I went back to school and completed our B.S. Degrees in May 2007; Since then I have held two positions both of which required a bachelors degree. My current position actually gave me a 117% pay raise over the previous position. My wife finished her Masters in December and I am still working on my Masters. The greatest reward we have experienced is the impact that our pursuit of educational goals has had on our two daughters. They are more focused and self determined that “they can do this too.”
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Al
March 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
I have a BA, MBA, and will earn a MS degree in my field in May. While several of my colleagues have less education, I would not have the job I have without schools listed on my resume. I know I’ve received interviews, offers, and jobs because the schools opened doors for me, allowing me to shine once I had an opportunity. I also agree that education without experience can make lead to less than satisfying results. Remember, its not where you start but where you finish. Be patient, gain experience, master your craft, build your career.
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ripdog
March 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
I think a lot of people are in the position of having a lot of debt to go along with their degrees because they didn’t plan their career. The put too much emphasis into the piece of paper instead of actually applying book knowledge to real life scenarios. I see a lot of young people in their 20’s come to my company and think they should have the corner office because of the letters behind their name. They are unwilling to get their hands dirty, they really don’t know as much as they think, and they think they are entitled because of where they went to school. I’m a firm believer in co-oping, internships, working in your industry while in school, whatever gets you experience. I work with individuals that only have high school diplomas all the way up to people who have dual Masters’ degrees. My point is, at the end of the day, all your employer cares about is who can get the job done, not what letters are behind your name. Get a relevent education and stop whining that your philosophy degree hasn’t catapulted you to top of the corporate ladder. Is is really that hard. If you want a job painting houses, hell, learn how to paint.
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Veronica
March 9th, 2009
5:48 pm
The Container once has part-time job opportunities with benefits. I had a friend to work there. Her shift was 5a-10a.
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Veronica
March 9th, 2009
5:49 pm
Sorry, The Container Store.
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Veronica
March 9th, 2009
5:50 pm
LiveOps and West-at-Home are legit work at home opportunities.
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jamie
March 9th, 2009
7:28 pm
great guys. im getting certified as an EMT tomorrow evening. Truth be said though, in Atlanta, you can easily find an EMT job making $750 a week. Its not easy, but the pay is decent+benefits
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chakra7
March 10th, 2009
1:33 pm
Read the recent new hire/promotion listings in your local paper to see what companies are currently hiring and/or have recent openings due to someone else being promoted.
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Rick
March 12th, 2009
11:00 am
you could say the same for the funeral home. It is called free enterprise. It will be the business sector who will reverse the financial direction, not the government.
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kristin
March 12th, 2009
11:15 am
Just like the vulture, those who can capitalize in this economy fill a vital niche in society. How those companies’s that were mentioned in this blog negatively affect those who are struggling financially? They are simply recognizing a growing need and seizing that opportunity to better their own situation.
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Meela
March 12th, 2009
11:44 am
They are savvy survivors. They are providing a needed service in this economy. Saying they are vultures would be like saying people who buy foreclosed homes are vultures. If the work or opportunity is available make it work to your advantage if you aren’t hurting anyone.
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David S
March 12th, 2009
12:06 pm
Only a misguided socialist would ask such a question.
Saving is the engine of productivity, not spending. Yes, the government and the Federal Reserve are LYING to you. People who saved and did not engage in the destructive spending and borrowing behavior of the past couple of decades are now in a position to purchase the excess inventory that this bubble created. The prices for these items (housing, cars, etc.) were all too high, and quantity is also too high. The prices must drop, inventory must be cleared, businesses must fail, and those with the means must be allowed to make better use of the assets. That is how the correction flows from crisis to recovery.
Unfortunately the idiots in our government and the Federal Reserve (the cause of all the problems) only know how to reinflate the bubble so it will burst later on somebody else’s watch. It will burst. That is the law of economics, and it cannot be repealed by majority vote (even if you are electing the messiah). The sooner the prices fall and the assets sold, the sooner we will recover from this.
The govt. is doing exactly what the Hoover and FDR administrations did to prolong the 1929 crisis and turn it into the depression that lasted until 1945. FDR even went so far as to force farmers to plow under crops while people in this country starved to death. All this to keep prices too high. Now the same is being done with housing. The more things CHANGE, the more they stay the same.
I am certainly looking forward to spending some of my savings on deeply discounted items. That is the benefit I get from being frugal. Maybe the example these people set will rub off on the rest of society and savings will once again become an important aspect of everyone’s life.
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Shawn
March 12th, 2009
12:46 pm
If you love sports, become a sports official. Start off with high school (to get training), then branch off into recreational. It’s extremely fun and believe it or not, there is a shortage of officials. I make a great part time income between football, basketball and baseball.
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momtoAlex&Max
March 12th, 2009
12:53 pm
I am going to get blasted for this, but I believe that making a living out of other people’s misfortunes is reprehensible. I believe in karma.
Go ahead, rip me apart.
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Boodoggle
March 12th, 2009
1:06 pm
To momtoAlex&Max: Give me your children – you are unfit to be a parent.
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mustang100
March 12th, 2009
1:27 pm
Who was that said that there’s more money to be had, and quicker, when an empire falls than ever there was in the building up of it.
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Sthrngrl
March 12th, 2009
2:07 pm
I say to the “vultures”, good for them, finding a way to survive, even if it is by seizing the opportunities left by others misfortune. But what percent is misfortune ? Karma, what would you say you are wishing back on them? If they didnt do what they do, the abandoned home next door to you will be left to the rats. THere goes your home value even more. These enterprising people are keeping themselves in the game. And not adding another sad story to the long list. The bad economy has hit all of us in some way. Those that took out loans on homes they couldn’t afford with a traditional loan, selfishly took the chance with no interest loans or those arm and leg loans ! ( i wonder what the percentage of these homes being lost and businesses going under are due to greed and the need to have a bigger slice of pie than they could eat. ) Enjoy the indigestion !
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Joy J.
March 12th, 2009
2:24 pm
Don’t be ridiculous! As far as I know, this is still America where free enterprise and “survival of the fittest” made this country strong. It’s not like those who some consider “vultures” are adding any further distress to individuals or to the economy. I say ‘good for them!’
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Wanda
March 13th, 2009
12:03 am
In today’s economy we all need a Plan B and my plan be was to work for myself. I work from home on my own schedule with a company that helps people save money on healthcare. Its a network marketing company, which means its a home based business that has helped me stay home with my kids and still generate an income. I work it part time around my kids. So if you are looking for something that can supplement your current income or just something to help bring more income into your household. You may want to look into starting a home based business. You won’t have to worry about being laid off. I will be happy to answer an questions you have about looking for something that will be a good fit for you.
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Wanda
March 13th, 2009
12:05 am
Sorry, my email address is w_rbowers@msn.com
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miss amanda
March 17th, 2009
11:32 am
I wouldnt want to work for an unethical company. What they will do to someone else, they will eventually do it you, and it will come back full force. Unfortunately,not many people are successful by keeping their nose clean.
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CobbBlogger
March 17th, 2009
2:26 pm
I obtain a degree from a technical college and I guess you can say I am still working my way up the ladder. I have friends who have degrees higher than mine and are still struggling to find a career in their field of interest, but are paying an outrageous loan in return just for striving for a better future. The agency that I am currently working for, in order for you to make more money, you would have to obtain a degree in this field and after working here for quite sometime, that will not be my next move. I kind of regret not entering into a 4 year college to obtain a BA or MBA after graduating from high school. But guess what, this may be next move, because the grass isn’t greener with a technical degree/diploma/certificate as well.
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sandra bacon
March 19th, 2009
6:29 am
I will not retuurn the bonus money, this is what all CEOS have done past and present, everyone knows and keeps quiet, this was on-going before Obama took office, all past presidents knew it , they are part of this mess, they need to bring their money back too
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Lorraine
March 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
Yes I would return the money.
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Sandy
March 19th, 2009
2:57 pm
Yes, I would also return the money. I think I would feel guilty keeping it and knowing that so many people are suffering, losing their homes and jobs. The executives are already making a lot of money for their bad decisions. And if this was a bonus for staying with the company, why are past executives also getting bonuses???
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sharon
March 19th, 2009
2:57 pm
Hell to the naw!
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Damon
March 19th, 2009
2:59 pm
Nope I would not hand over a single dime, its mine AIG and myself signed a contract saying its mine and there is nothing the government or any private citizen can do about it. That would be me attitude if I was one of those execs.
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Business Traveler
March 19th, 2009
3:07 pm
I would keep my money. A contract was agreed to, signed and fulfilled. Those 73 employees kept $1.1 trillion dollars of toxic derivatives from infecting the market. They earned that money. They are not the employees that caused the mess (or as our POTUS says, they inherited it) they have been charged to clean it up.
Keep your money. I would
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Dan
March 19th, 2009
3:10 pm
I love how people are saying what bad decision they made. People who have zero clue of what their jobs are or what the contracts said. It could be if that person wasn’t there they would have lost 400Bil instead of 200bil. The real perpetrators are those who defaulted on their loans and helping them keep houses they couldn’t afford in the first place just feeds the problem
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Michael
March 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
All of you people that say you would return the money would quickly change your mind if you were in the same situation. These people have earned this money and it is rightfully theirs. It is not the governments place to find out how to illegally tax individuals because they didn’t do the research before giving away tax payer dollars like it was growing on trees. I don’t think there should have been any bailout, but the government cannot seize private property out of “fairness”. If Andruw Jones got a signing bonus of 5 million dollars then hit sub .200 the next season causing his team to perform poorly, the team doesn’t get to go and sieze his bonus. The government may have some say in the future contracts and dealings of AIG because of the stake they now have in the company, but they can’t turn back the clock on deals that have already been made.
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kevmoor2005
March 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
Naw, in this economy i would keep every dime of it. It was given to me a bounus, so why give back a bounus???
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Suga
March 19th, 2009
3:23 pm
Oh Hell no. I’d cash that check and be on the first plane to wherever they don’t have these damn tax laws. The Cayman Islands come to mind…
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Auggie Doggie
March 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
Yes, I would give it back, just as soon as the members of congress who voted for the bailout gave back their salaries.
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Valerie Billings
March 19th, 2009
3:34 pm
Yes I would return the money. It should not have happened in the first place. Hopefully they all will give it back including the CEO if he got any.
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reservoirDAWG
March 19th, 2009
3:34 pm
Not a chance. If I sign a contract with an employer I expect it to be binding. If Obama and his cabinet of dumba$$es had any forsight they would have structured the bailout to have wording prohibiting any tax money AIG receives from going to bonuses.
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Texas Pete
March 19th, 2009
3:36 pm
Actually I hope they are forced to give it back. Not that I would if I were them. I just decided that if the Obama admin. is going to start voiding contracts, it will set a precedent for me.
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sd
March 19th, 2009
3:37 pm
I thought about it and I would return half of the money. I figure that I AM entitled to it since i met my end of my contract, however, since the money to be paid to me was supposed to be AIG money and since it is in fact tax dollars, I would return half as a compromise.
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Audrey in Georgia
March 19th, 2009
3:39 pm
Yes, I would return the money. Contractually speaking, the terms of the contract changed
when the company became 80% owned by the government. Since one of the parties
in the contract changed ownership, and thus, rendering the contracts null and void.
They can either pay the money back or PAY IT FORWARD! That school in South Carolina
still needs a builder. I’m thinking the AIG Technology High School!
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Erin
March 19th, 2009
3:48 pm
Simple, Yes.
Just to shut everyone up. Although, they legally signed a contract with a bonus so they have a right to keep it. AIG is legally obligated to fulfill those contracts. If they didn’t they would have gotten sued for more money which I am sure us tax payers would have had to cover.
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Andrew Brown
March 19th, 2009
3:50 pm
I wouldn’t return a single penny of it.
The precedent this sets is very scary to me.
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BUSH
March 19th, 2009
3:50 pm
I would not give it back, in fact I would use my bonus to run a smear campaign against Obama so we can get him out ASAP.
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priscilla
March 19th, 2009
3:51 pm
yes i would return most of it not all of it.
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Andrew Brown
March 19th, 2009
3:55 pm
Also, I mean no offense against anyone here, but I find it very difficult to believe that any of you would hand back most of a million dollars out of guilt, especially to an organization that clearly has proven it doesn’t have the acumen to use it wisely.
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Bill
March 19th, 2009
3:58 pm
I wouldn’t think any of them would return the money. I suspect none of them have any idea of how to useful work so what would they do for a living other than be a flunky in such a company.
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kristin
March 19th, 2009
4:04 pm
Nope!
#1 My family comes first
#2 How many hours does the average executive work (70+ hrs a week)
#3 Bail out had nothing to do with their contract wit AIG.
Sadly the American Public really has NO IDEA what is in these bailouts and stimulus plans. They pushed through Congress so quickly there is no way to understand the ramifications.
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Barbara
March 19th, 2009
4:05 pm
I would hope that someone would have set down with those that were to get a bonus and delayed the payment unitl the company was in better shape and not just increase the burden. I agree this should have been handeled with the bailout was set up. But as usual we jumped into the fire before we made sure we had a rope attached. We do things in a panic insted of thinking them through. Just like this stimilus pkg. What a waste.
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Thogwummpy
March 19th, 2009
6:32 pm
No, I would NOT return it. These were NOT performance based bonuses, they were contractual. And after all, any person that makes more than $70K seems to be despised by the media/activist/parasite poor anyway…so let me weigh ginned-up public opinion (that will hate me no matter what) against taking the money? Be smart and take the cash! By the way, most think executive bonuses is the problem with AIG…but bonuses were less than 1/10th of 1% of the AIG bailout funds. We are going to let worship of non-industrious people morph into mob fascism real quick if we’re not careful. America’s poor are so narcisitically spoiled, they won’t do the jobs immigrants now do. Wanna see real poverty? Go to Africa—then whine about the stuff our loafers aren’t getting for free!
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Rob
March 19th, 2009
6:50 pm
This was not AIG’s money to give out it belonged to the tax payers. To give bonuses to the very people who caused the company to go broke is total stupidity.. Whoever got bonuses should just be happy they have a job period
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Patrick
March 19th, 2009
7:02 pm
No, I would not return it. How can I pay the IRS the 90% tax of the bonus if I give the money back to AIG? AIG isn’t recognized as a charity organization in the tax code but maybe it should be.
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The Truth Hurts
March 19th, 2009
7:08 pm
No I would not return it if it was part of my contract to receive it and Obama and the rest of the Democrat phonies agreed to it as they did by passing the bill, and all you losers on here saying you would return it…no wonder you work at McDonalds your whole life…once a loser always a loser!
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A.S.Mathew
March 19th, 2009
7:21 pm
Since my coscience will hurt to accept money in these hard times, I will
refuse the bonus cheerfully.
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gatordowneast
March 19th, 2009
7:21 pm
I like the answer above…when congress gives back their pay, we will talk about me giving back my bonus. Those numbnuts got us in the mess by pressuring lenders to make loans to those who had no business borrowing money.
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Jim
March 22nd, 2009
9:35 am
No
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Atlanta Native
March 22nd, 2009
9:37 am
I would keep the money, as Federal law required I be paid the bonus.
Congress enacted the funding and required payment of the bonuses in the legislation. To watch them demand back money they required by law to be paid is farcical.
Almost as fun is watching congress enact unconstitutional ex post facto laws to tax them specifically. (Making them bills of attainer, also unconstitutionsal). If I had such a bonus, I would love watching the courts strike down the legislation instanter.
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Chalkdusttorture
March 22nd, 2009
9:44 am
They only ones who should return ANY money are the POLITICIANS who voted for this UNAMERICAN tax. Are the bureaucrats returning the campaign contributions from these companies???? The Obama Administration is turning all of us citizens against each other and gaining power as they pull the wool over your eyes… I’LL KEEP MY MONEY, GUNS, & FREEDOM – You can KEEP your ‘change’….
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mylastnerve
March 22nd, 2009
9:45 am
what about the sneaky person who walks quietly behind you in your cubicle to grab a sneak peak at your work, hoping to find an idea he can steal? what about the person who never uses email so all information-sharing is verbal and grandiose no matter how insignificant? what about the person who bathes in cologne and you can smell them a mile away? what about the person who in every conversation points out the inefficiency of others or the process as if we don’t already know? the person that refuses to answer a direct question because they fear they’re going to be judged and wastes time by avoiding? i could go on but i don’t like to spend sunday thinking about it.
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Scott
March 22nd, 2009
9:50 am
If the bonus was put into a bill ON PURPOSE and was signed off by THE PRESIDENT then I would NOT give it back since it was legal to get it in the first place. Chris Dodd saying he was “forced” to put it in was a joke. If the Democrats had taken the time to read the LARGE bill that they wanted to push through then this would not be happening. But they were in such a hurry to forget what Obama said he was going to do…”I will not allow any bill to go through without first reading it LINE BY LINE so that there are no earmarks or wasteful spending”.
Like Phil Collins sang “Just another day in paradise” If this is paradise then what does hell look like?
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Scott
March 22nd, 2009
9:56 am
Part II
Now I see on the news that the people that LEGALLY got these bonuses are being threatened by others.By harassing them,leaving death threats in their mail boxes,etc. But when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac wanted to give out bonuses nothing like this is being done. Oh wait…Barney Frank said that they were not gonna do this…CYA eh Barney?
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b6542
March 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
fas·cism: We are getting closer and closer. Obama’s Paramilitary volunteers are also on the way.
A political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
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Work in New York
March 22nd, 2009
10:01 am
The picture is much larger than just the AIG bonus issue. Looking to pass a law to implement a punitive tax is unacceptable. This is the “nose of the camel” under the tent. A tax such as this will soon migrate to anyone who has been good enough at their profession to make a good deal of money. A tax such as this will lead to under employment by the very people we need to move the country ahead as why continue to put in the 80 weeks to have it all taxed away. As far as AIG is concerned, there are not very many people in the general populace that understand credit derivatives, swaps, etc. so grandstanding over this bonus issue is not genuine, but rather people operating (the house and the senate) without a true grasp of the entire picture.
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LabRat
March 22nd, 2009
10:04 am
What about the person who is SO attentive to exactly when everyone punches in, goes to lunch, comes back, punches out, and if everyone fulfills the letter of the law in their job description. And yet they refuse to be helpful when you’re swamped and could use a hand for a day or two? That kind of Rules Lawyer is destructive to any kind of team building.
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LabRat
March 22nd, 2009
10:07 am
Yes, I’d return it. With intrest. Just to get people off my back. But I’d want a signed and witnessed agreement that I’d get it back, in installments if necessary, when the company became profitable again. If I did have a contract that is.
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Adittohead
March 22nd, 2009
10:12 am
NO I WOULD NOT….Do the profoot players on a Team with a 0-11 season record give back their million $$$$ salaries-??..Does a presidential candidate who gets $$$ millions in private donations give any of it back-?? this ia a RED Herring.
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Hook
March 22nd, 2009
10:15 am
I started to read this article that was written by Joy Johnston but once I got to where she said, “Pontification Person – This person goes on and on, telling you what their going to say, saying it and then telling you what they said.”, I couldn’t read any more. With writers who can’t distinguish between they’re and their, it’s no wonder your newspaper is loosing readership and going down the tubes.
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bill
March 22nd, 2009
10:17 am
u know after thinking it over as i boarded the plane to boro bora i would defintely take it we me to my new nation
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32 Years In
March 22nd, 2009
10:26 am
Hey, Hook…it’s losing, not loosing
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R.O. Smith
March 22nd, 2009
10:32 am
NO, the Dems passed the bill that said i could have it so since they ok’d it id keep it and take them to court if they try to steal it from me via bogus tax hikes
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ncgreybr
March 22nd, 2009
10:33 am
I would give it back…but then again, I have ethics.
I don’t expect them to give it back. Their pay schedule is that they get a base pay and then work for a “bonus” depending if they deliver the goods. The contract apparently doesn’t say the goods have to be “profitable” goods or “saleable” goods. Those contracts were poorly written giving the people an incentive to get ANY goods into the coompany. The employees getting these bonuses knew they were delivering toxic goods but none of them had the guts to try to stop it. It is greed on the part of the company and the executives in particular.
As for the current CEO…he has been put there by the government to oversee the bailout. It’s not his fault.
My question is why do we want to “retain” these people who distroyed the company? Give their ill gotten gains and shove them out the door. NO ONE in their right minds are going to ever hire them. I keep hearing that “they” are the only people who know how to get AIG out of this mess since they were the ones who got them into it. There are plenty of honorable people out there on Wall Street who are out of work and could get that company back on track.
As for the comment from “The Truth Hurts” about us “losers” working at McDonalds. I could probably buy and sell you with what I keep in the household account. You CAN have integrity and be successful…well maybe not you, but a lot of people can. I can!
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Wesley
March 22nd, 2009
10:39 am
NO, NO, NO I would not give it back and I would sue the GOVT for this bill that congress is trying to pass to tax them at 90% that is unconstitutional. Why are they not reporting the AIG gave away $90 billion of the $170 billion that they got in the first place?
This President is LYING when he said that he was shocked at the bonusus, the wording was in his spending bill that allowed them to keep the bonusus anyway. If he would have kept his word about putting this on the internet for 5 days for the americans to read we might have seen this coming.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!
STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID!!!!!!!!
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Hook
March 22nd, 2009
10:40 am
Gee, then does that mean I’m qualified to be a writer for the AJC?
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Lance
March 22nd, 2009
10:43 am
Oh Hell No. This was part of their predetermined pay plan. Many people rely on bonuses, commissions, etc versus salary. All you damn liberals need to get a life or move to France.
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Chalkdusttorture
March 22nd, 2009
10:43 am
ncgreybr – do you really have a clue of what happened to AIG?? Me thinks not… The employees that wrote the credit default swaps DIDNT NOT RUIN THIS COMPANY. You my friend have been BRAINWASHED by the media and Obama. The Credit Default Swaps that AIG wrote are what SAVED the other financial institutions that bought them. THIS IS WHY THE GOVT HAD TO BAIL OUT AIG. Systematic Risk – Not just because some AIG employees made some bad choices and they felt ‘obligated’ to help. Did AIG force all of those people into ‘liar loans’ that preceded the Real Estate Market crash? Did AIG force your neighbor to stop paying on his mortgage? THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT DOWN AIG. The CDS’s that AIG guaranteed paid out because of AMERICAN greed not AIG greed.
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Russell
March 22nd, 2009
10:45 am
It’s nice to see how generous some of you people are with others money.
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Debate101
March 22nd, 2009
10:47 am
What about those consultants who don’t know anything, but are consultants type of people? They are the most annoying group of co-workers for the time they are with the company. When the job is suppose to be complete, the long term employees spend the next year cleaning up after them.
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jwr
March 22nd, 2009
10:48 am
some of you who think punitive tax laws, etc to take those bonuses back are forgetting two things: First, the company is now owned by the government. Second, while that million dollar bonus may seem sexy now, it will be looking a lot less sexy once the IRS has a team of auditors going over your past 5 years’ returns with a fine toothed comb…and don’t expect much sympathy from the federal tax court, either.
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NIK
March 22nd, 2009
11:00 am
I would not have taken it in the first place.
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Steve Baird
March 22nd, 2009
11:02 am
No I would not return. There was a contract to do certain things and if I had completed them I would deserve the money. The money given by the Gov. is a loan, it will be paid back and giving bonuses is part of everyday business. If the money was just “given” then we would have a say, but it wasn’t so we don’t need to get involved.
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Casual Observer
March 22nd, 2009
11:08 am
32 years In- That was CLASSIC.
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ncgreybr
March 22nd, 2009
11:10 am
“Chalkdusttorture; I guess I must have missed the part where someone held a gun to AIG’s head and made them write the Credit Default Swaps on material that, with a little investigation, would have shown was a bad deal for AIG. Try rereading your post. YOU make MY point! The CDS’s that AIG bought weren’t bought because AIG was altruistic or because they were trying to “save” the other institutions. They thought they would make money from it. (They didn’t!) It was ALL ABOUT GREED!
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Lea
March 22nd, 2009
11:18 am
Ncgreybr.. You said it better than I could. I agree with every word you wrote. Ethically and morally, that money should be returned and I would return it if I were one of those execs. It belongs to the taxpayers and those executives know it.
The responses on this board frighten me. Financially, I’ve been blessed beyond what I ever imagined, and I have always tried to do the right thing. Money isn’t everything,and I don’t have a need to brag about what I have. Morally, we are expected to help those who are less fortunate. I hate hearing all the greedy people on this blog howl about how the “poor” got us into this economic mess. Wake up, idiots and smell the coffee! There aren’t enough “poor” in this country to cause the kind of breakdown we’ve seen– it was caused by the use of dangerous financial instruments and HUGE dollar losses caused by reckless decisions driven by greed, resulting in HUGE payouts like the ones at AIG and other companies. Our country is doomed if you can’t figure that out because it will continue to happen and you’ll continue to spout off ignorant remarks until you lose YOUR job, YOUR little Cobb county McMansion, and that big Suburu SUV that YOU drive while you hog the roads and destroy the ozone. By then, of course, we’ll be a third world country with a few obscenely rich people and a multitude of poor people and NO middle class.
Pick up a newspaper once in a while OR if you can’t read, at least look at a PBS show– then you’ll understand what really caused this meltdown.
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HCS
March 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
If this was given as a bonus from my company I would feel no obligation to return it under any circumstance. I received it under guidelines set out by the company and if the guidelines change, so be it.
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JOJO
March 22nd, 2009
11:46 am
what about the coworkers that are negative all the time and have been with the company forever!! if you don’t like what you are doing move on!!
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Claire
March 22nd, 2009
11:51 am
The government is trying to anger the public against AIG, while the real culprit IS the government for A. Even loaning the money, and
B. Zero stipulations on how the money could be used. If I were a “producing” contractor for AIG, I would absolutely take MY earned bonus (although probably not with a 90% tax on it). Our government is completely out of control. The current administration has NO fiscal responsibility, it is incredible the amount of spending (with no checks and balances)going on, and the damage will be felt for years to come. My only hope is this immature, irresponsible, inexperienced administration will bring about a change to conservatism in this country in four years. If republicans behaved like TRUE republicans, we would not be in this mess and would have had a competent candidate in the last election. Hopefully, Obama will be the best thing for Republicans since Jimmy Carter.
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Merry
March 22nd, 2009
11:53 am
I guess I’m a little messed up on this liberal/conservative thingie. Please straighten me out. Was this bailout mess started by the liberal Bush or the liberal Paulson (whose salary on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs was $646 million his last year)? And then didn’t he bail out Goldman Sachs? Hmmmmmm!
As my favorite coclumnist said “Bush went in as a social conservative and came out as a conservative socialist.”
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John Ellison
March 22nd, 2009
11:57 am
The politicians in Washington have been bought and paid for by Wall Street. Obama’s $800,000,000,000 Stimulus Bill that he signed last month legalized payment of the bonus money to the AIG executives. The problem is Obama and his fellow politicians underestimated the big public backlash when payment was announced. Now everyone in Washington is trying to cover their political asses.
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Vicki
March 22nd, 2009
11:57 am
“Senate Banking committee chairman Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) now admits including a loophole clause in the bailout plan that allowed for the bonuses.”
Do you know that Christopher Dodd has recieved over $100,000.00 from AIG along with a hand full of other member of the Senate and the House? Now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac CEO’s are going to be recieving more money in bonuses, too. I guess Bernie Franke’s mate will be getting more, too!
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KennesawDave
March 22nd, 2009
12:07 pm
I work in a call center in Marietta and the one type of co-worker that they didn’t mention was the “I think I know better than the boss” co-worker. We have one lady here That despite being writen up, suspended and chastized by my bosses still thinks that her way is the best way and doesn’t care what she’s told about how to do her job correctly. If it’s not her way it’s the wrong way. Wonder if she’ll feel like her way is the best way when she finally gets fired?
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Bernie
March 22nd, 2009
12:07 pm
Suits take care of suits. Period. That’s the way it is, that’s the way it always will be. Until Americans grow a set and actually do something about this you may as well just get used to it.
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Merry
March 22nd, 2009
12:14 pm
Bernie Franke?
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leeh1
March 22nd, 2009
12:15 pm
Those adults who had Attention Deficiet Disorder when children who grow up to be co-workers who can’t do anything that requires planning or sequential thinking. It is like working with a pin ball machine, where the ideas just bounce around and around.
Don’t plan, just do it. And then if it don’t work, fix it. And then fix it again.
And if it don’t work then, just do something else. But don’t plan. Just do it and move on. Why are you taking so long? Just do it.
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KennesawDave
March 22nd, 2009
12:16 pm
Absolutely not! The government knew about these bonuses and never made any conditions before they loanded AIG the taxpayer funds to help keep them afloat. Now because the media has hyped the bonuses up everyone is so outraged. The amount being used for bonuses is slighly over 1% of the money loaned to AIG by you and I(the taxpayers) Now that the bonuses have been made public the government is now all up in arms. Give me a break! Even if the government truly didn’t know about these bonus contracts, that just means that the idiots that were elected to office didn’t read the bill they signed. If I had it my way AIG would’ve not been bailed out and it would’ve gone under and the free market would’ve corrected whatever affect the loss of AIG had. All this is, is another step closer to socialism and a step away from economic freedom.
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Samantha
March 22nd, 2009
12:17 pm
If my AIG bonus was tied to production, then it should be returned without a second thought. If it was tied to a delayed compensation, I would still have to realize that if AIG did not receive the bail out, the company would not be in there. So for me, I would not take the money. I believe they should have not taken it to start with. The greed factor appears to be in effect.
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DB
March 22nd, 2009
12:17 pm
Heck, no, I wouldn’t return it. Thank you, US Government, for the bailout, but we all know that the US Government didn’t do AIG a personal favor. It was in the best interests of the government to make sure that AIG didn’t fail. I have a contract with AIG, not the U.S. Government. If the government wants to take over AIG — and wouldn’t THAT be a hideous precedent — then they can re-negotiate my contract, but in the meantime, my contract is with AIG, I did the work, I met the terms of my contract, and if that contract delineated a bonus, then no, the bonus is MINE. I don’t see how becoming poor and struggling would help anyone.
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Manny
March 22nd, 2009
12:18 pm
I would have given back the bonus. And I would have done it as grandiose as I can, because I think the government is poking into the private lives of every recipient- trying to drag up some dirt.
I don’t think the money’s worth all of that scrutiny from the government and/or the media.
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leeh1
March 22nd, 2009
12:21 pm
“Greed is good.” This is what the neocons were all about- no regulation, and everyone is able to do what they want, and to look out for themselves. I’d keep the money and say “Good-bye!” to anyone who wanted it back.
Besides, government shouldn’t be telling private companies how to run their business. This is simply happening now because the Republicans lost, and will change when they come back.
For those who have lost their jobs, or have to take mandatory pay cuts, or have to work harder, you should stand on your contract as well. Look out for yourself, and yourself only. Take what’s yours, and only worry about yourself. The other people will take care of themselves, or go crying to the Democrats.
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EJ Moosa
March 22nd, 2009
12:22 pm
I would have earned it. It’s why I would have stayed there. The losses would have been greater had you decided NOT to retain my services. So I would have paid for myself.
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metoo
March 22nd, 2009
12:26 pm
To those of you who say they would keep the money because of a signed contract, I assume you back the UAW and it’s retires who signed contacts with the auto makers.
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lawzoo
March 22nd, 2009
12:31 pm
Give it back to who? Those bunch of crooked, incompetent theives at A.I.G.? Wait a minute! That’s me!
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Eleanor Rigby
March 22nd, 2009
12:31 pm
Yes, I would have taken it and I ain’t mad at ‘em. I’m mad at our government for giving billions of dollars in bailouts. It was the wrong decision and I don’t believe it was vital. Be wary of anyone trying to push something through in a hurry. It’s usually a scam.
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Shameka
March 22nd, 2009
12:36 pm
Absolutely! When AIG accepted taxpayers’ dollars something should have changed with the way they do business. They can’t go on with “business as usual” when they needed the federal government to bail them out. If we (taxpayers) have to make sacrifices, then I expect the big time executives to do the same dang thing! Greed and corruption is what got us in this mess! We can’t continue in this direction and expect different results. Wake up people and stop being so selfish.
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another observer
March 22nd, 2009
12:38 pm
What about the nit-picker? You know the one that waits anxiously, ready to pounce on any instance of incorrect grammar, or misspelled word? Do these people have a clue how annoying they are and how little anyone else cares about a misspelled or misused word? Or are they so desperate to show off their superior grammar skills that they’re blind to how petty and pathetic they look?
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KennesawDave
March 22nd, 2009
12:40 pm
Meetoo: That is apples and oranges and you know it. AIG and it’s bonus contracts with its workers were not negotiated through a union nor do the amounts of those contracts even come close to retirement or benefits packages that UAW strangles auto manufacturers for.
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Chris
March 22nd, 2009
12:42 pm
The only people who drive me crazy are the lazy thugs at work. These black girls are overweight and do nothing but complain, worry about when they can go home, and when lunch is. I never see them working too! Why are they so lazy? Pretty obviously why you rarely see black CEO’s, Presidents, VP’s, etc.
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princess
March 22nd, 2009
12:45 pm
HELL NO! Can you say Recession?????
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Birdy
March 22nd, 2009
12:51 pm
No, classic is Hook asking if he’s qualified to be an AJC reporter. Thanks for the humour guys.
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rickster
March 22nd, 2009
1:01 pm
iF oBAMA RETURNED ALL THE EXTRA CAMPAIN MONEY HE RECIEVED FOR THE RUN TO PREZ I WOULD RETURN PART OF THE BONUS
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bella
March 22nd, 2009
1:12 pm
NO I would not give it back! AIG should not have given out this money in the first place. That is AIG’s fault and those that mis issued this money are the ones that need to be removed from the company immediately!
My anger is with the government for mixing taxpayer money with a private company and term it a “bailout”! They just handed over this money and AIG, like others, went on with business as usual! AIG should have never paid the bonuses!
Now is the time to take AIG over like it takes over a bank and sell it off to more smaller and stable companies.
As taxpayers we have real problems facing us like Congress not paying attention to what it is doing. Ask each Senator or Representative IF they actually read the bill before they voted on it and I bet that they got the cliff notes version and didn’t even bother reading that!
We are now in a situation whereas we as voters need to make some hard choices coming up. We first need to take back our ability to vote on more issues as a society. Sure it would take more time but the voter gets to decide by majority.
Next we need to outlaw these political contributions from corporations. Limited money given to anyone running for office to $500 per adult per election and only from his/her own district – except for the president since that office is the only one that needs to go national and that one too needs to be limited to $500 per adult per election.
And finally – NO MORE BAILOUT MONEY except directly back to the taxpayer!
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Jason
March 22nd, 2009
1:26 pm
“The Credit Default Swaps that AIG wrote are what SAVED the other financial institutions that bought them. THIS IS WHY THE GOVT HAD TO BAIL OUT AIG.”
It was AIG’s blind willingness to insure (cheaply) mortgage-backed securities irrespective of risk that led investors to keep buying them, as they could use CDS’s as a hedge. If the derivatives market had been better regulated, AIG would’ve been required to keep enough cash reserves on hand to pay its counterparties in the event of a housing collapse. Consequently, CDS’s would’ve been more expensive; the market for mortgage-backed securities would’ve been smaller; and fewer questionable mortgages would’ve been issued.
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Laurie
March 22nd, 2009
3:04 pm
My personal unfavorites when I worked in an office were the gossip types who were so busy spreading discord among their fellow employees they never got much else done,the interupter who never let you finish a sentence,or if you were in a conversation with someone, they interupted like the little buttinski’s that they were. Then there was one who did nothing but make or take personal calls all day and having to hear them say,”I love you”50 million times a day.Lastly, the ones who insist on playing their music so loud and sometimes over and over if it’s a favorite and they just “love this song”!
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Laurie
March 22nd, 2009
3:08 pm
I forgot about the one who controlled every meeting with their tears. They would manipulate with whining and crying for literally 2 hours or more so every meeting you’d feel completely exhausted!!!!
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Casey Conner
March 23rd, 2009
9:19 am
This is Casey Conner (yes, they misspelled my name above, but no matter), one of the authors of the book. Thanks for all the comments…this topic always drums up great conversation and is lots of fun. Our book has quite a few more “Don’t Be ‘That Guy’” points such as “Body Odor Guy and his wife, Too Much Perfume Lady” and “Instant Best Friend”. The book itself is really about how to get along at work, have integrity and communicate effectively with anyone. It’s got “Consultants” in the title, but it’s a good, easy (and, we’ve been told, fun) read for anyone. Again…thank you all!
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JustGirl
March 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
Yes people, bonuses should come from companies that are doing at least OK, so part its profits are shared among its employees. If the companies are failing (to say the least); then the logic outcome is NOT BONUSES. Stop with the “I’m entitled attitude”
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dw
March 26th, 2009
11:14 am
I think as long as you use your personal computer to update these sites then its none of your job’s business. They want you to leave your personal life out of the workplace so they should stay out of your persoanl life as well. First!
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Name (required)
March 26th, 2009
11:19 am
This is what happens when people think that the world cares about every thought in their head. And yeah, I realize the hypocrisy of saying that here
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GWB
March 26th, 2009
11:34 am
Anyone that uses these “social networking” sites are idiots. What is the compulsion to have your stuff in front of the entire universe?
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Jason
March 26th, 2009
11:45 am
Read this.
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Shaye
March 26th, 2009
11:47 am
Regardless of how stupid or compromising comments, pictures, etc., that are posted on the Internet may be, if it doesn’t affect an applican’t ability to do the job, employers are opening themselves up for all kinds of legal trouble. So… to answer the last question: zero.
That said, arguments can be made that a potential employee lacks good judgment, and I don’t see how anyone with half a brain can argue with that for some of these geniuses. It will be interesting to see some legal precedents established as it relates to social media, etc.
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Soulfinger
March 26th, 2009
11:53 am
GWB..didnt you just do exactly that??
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AFAN
March 26th, 2009
11:56 am
Employers can and should go to great lengths to find out about the character of a potential employee…If a company is going to invest time, money and resources into the hiring of a NEW employee then that potential employee should expect to be analyzed with as much technology as available (Cisco probably has some)…and frankly, I think Twitter, Facebook and MySpace are an enormous waste of time…if you want to spend 3 hours at night updating your profile and telling the world that you just ordered a Pizza then go ahead…the economy is in the crapper and customer service is still at an all-time low…I can’t believe the number of people that walk around their job texting and talking and surfing.
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JAYB
March 26th, 2009
12:03 pm
GWB….I believe this counts as a “social network” and I believe you just threw your thoughts out to the “entire universe.” Therefore, you just termed yourself as one of the many idiots. Careful what you say, may come back to bite ya!
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Kiddo
March 26th, 2009
12:09 pm
Who cares what you say about your job…it’s just venting. This is why I like Myspace, you can set your profile to PRIVATE. People take things way to seriously.
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BAC
March 26th, 2009
12:18 pm
how are you supposed to avoid being friends with your boss if she or he asks?
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BAC
March 26th, 2009
12:19 pm
chiming in, piling on GWB
I guess if you are an idiot, you don’t realize it 
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JJ
March 26th, 2009
12:37 pm
What is twitter? Even my high schoolers don’t know……
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shaggy
March 26th, 2009
1:14 pm
Someone this stupid needs to go play in a busy road and remove the bad genes.
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Brooke
March 26th, 2009
1:42 pm
Can you twitter your way out of a speeding tix…when that happens facebook, myspace, twitter, text or use the old fashion way and call me!
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nik
March 26th, 2009
1:45 pm
twitter is the best! i love it
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momtoAlex&Max
March 26th, 2009
1:46 pm
That’s why I set my Facebook page private. No one can see but my friends. And I’d NEVER be friends with anyone that I work with or for. That’s just stupid. Also my FB is set to First Name Maiden Name Married Name. Professionaly, no one knows my maiden name, so they still probably couldn’t find me.
TO BAC: if your boss sends u a friend request, just ignore it…they won’t send him/her a notice that you did it. If he/she asks about it, just “Oh sorry, I’m not on {whatever social media} all that often, I haven’t seen it”
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Kar
March 26th, 2009
1:47 pm
There’s probably a code of conduct clause or some sort of privacy rules that they’re using to prune out the idiots who don’t know how to use some discretion.
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The Grunter
March 26th, 2009
2:31 pm
We have a lot of grunters, throat clearers and hockers. OK if you have a cold, but these folks snort, grunt, talk to themselves and clear their throats every day for months now. Keep your bodily noises to yourself. Loud gigglers too! Get a cough drop or something. The behavior makes me wonder how many germs are floating around in the office. It is to the point where I use ear plugs daily so I can concentrate on my work rather than listen to the harmony of nasal noises.
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LeLe
March 26th, 2009
2:47 pm
Hi momtoAlex&Max… people in FB can search on just your first name + married name, so they could still find you without knowing your maiden name. Go try searching on yourself without your maiden name and you will see. Just wanted to warn you if you thought you were protected from being found by coworkers. Granted, if you are set to friends only, at least they won’t be able to see your pages. I agree, not smart to allow colleagues as friends unless you plan to not make any embarrassing or unprofessional statements. I would recommend using FB “lists” function for anyone who wants to segregate what certain segments of your friends list can see.
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Sarah
March 26th, 2009
2:51 pm
Too bad hand-held device addicts can’t twitter themselves out of this universe. Go to any place and observe people; who appears…at least ostensibly, to have the most gray matter: A person sitting and looking at their hand-held device or a person reading a book. I’m not saying the hand-held divice addict doesn’t have gray matter, it’s usually in the form of yesterdays underwear and not in the skull. The blank look on some faces this posting surely evokes is funny to me.
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Jesse
March 26th, 2009
2:54 pm
Twitter can be a benefit for job seekers if used correctly – but one needs to realize that a tweet can be seen by anyone (including potential and former employers). People do not have to use twitter, but if you wish to do so, then you need to understand what the ramifications might be. This person should be happy that he got a job offer at all (or internship) – especially with a company like Cisco – the answer to his question is easy – suck it up for the summer, commute and do the work that you may not like to get the experience. It is a great resume builder with a great company. Summertime isn’t that long, and there will be more of them in the future. And for people that have questions like this – think about how the question looks to an outside observer. If you wouldn’t ask it directly of the employer – then don’t tweet it either. If you can’t handle that, don’t use twitter – stick to facebook and use the privacy options. As for Cisco, or any other company – they have every right to check twitter or other social network sites. It is a large investment to hire someone whether the company is large or small and they want to minimize their mistakes. It is up to you to make sure that your online brand is representing what you think it should. Now it’s time for me to get back to job seeking.
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Shameka
March 26th, 2009
2:56 pm
Make your profile private and only allow close friends access to your information. That way you can say whatever you like.
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Judi
March 26th, 2009
4:28 pm
It amazes me the things people will post on the internet as if nobody can see them – or only the people they’re posting to.
The internet is WIDE OPEN, people. Joe Schmoe in AnyCountry is sitting in his bedroom reading your words and viewing your thong!
Now, I realize for some people, this is a “thrill”, but when it comes to presenting yourself favorably to the right people, your public internet activities will speak loudest.
I do nothing on the internet that will embarass me or my mother.
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momtoAlex&Max
March 26th, 2009
5:16 pm
To LeLe: they might be able to find me, but they can see nothing. I have tested this with my husband’s account before he was my “friend” (ha ha) in FB and no one that is not on my friend’s list can see anything of mine.
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Jason
March 26th, 2009
5:36 pm
This is definitely happening. I have had department managers ask for temporary access to facebook and myspace so they can check people out before hiring them.
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Has being unemployed changed your perspective? | Blog Break
March 27th, 2009
12:11 pm
[...] in Atlanta, or the current flooding dangers to put things in perspective. BlogBreak contributor Chandra Fox gives her take on how larger life events can put the daily grind of unemployment into a different [...]
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Facing up to own mistakes
March 27th, 2009
1:56 pm
The certification must carry weight in the field of practice. In looking at the question, if you were the hiring manager and you had two candicates of equal caliber, one with additional certification and the other does not have additional certification, who would you pick? Nuff said.
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Sarah
March 28th, 2009
11:13 pm
Be advised actually, even if you have your profiles set to private, there are programs that can get around that and look at your profiles anyways. I don’t know how common this is, but I do know that some colleges are using them to check up on their athletes, and it could very well be used by employers as well.
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The job application kiosk from hell | Blog Break
March 30th, 2009
6:20 am
[...] guest contributor Gary Wheeler discusses his experiences with job application [...]
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HP
March 30th, 2009
10:00 am
I would do it at home too. I see those kiosks take all kinds of abuse when I visit these stores, from frustrated job seekers banging on them, to managers diddling around with them trying to make them work and not knowing what they are doing, to little kids using them as toys. Just save yourself the aggravation. Job hunting is hard enough.
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DecaturCyn
March 30th, 2009
7:21 pm
Through Facebook, I’ve reestablished contact with long-lost cousins, rekindled friendships with college classmates, and gotten to know nice people who would otherwise simply be passing acquaintances. It’s been a terrific way to connect. And yes, I have colleagues in my friends list, too. It’s really perfectly benign as long as you never write anything that you wouldn’t mind posting on a billboard.
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DecaturCyn
March 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
I scrambled that comment a bit. It should have read … “as long as you only write comments that you wouldn’t mind posting on a billboard.”
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Kay
March 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
I applied for a position at Walmart on a kiosk…kiosk from hell for sure!! Took a/b 90+minutes!!
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Home Again
March 31st, 2009
8:40 am
It is a sad fact that the “normal” process for finding and acquiring a job has sunk to a new low using non-human resources to replace human resources. Even for more traditional employment the process begins with the online search. Once you find the job then you must fill out the online application. You have no idea if a human even ever got to see your resume. The Human Resource Department needs to change its name to the Non-Human Resource Department. As a person that is always told “you interview well above your resume!” this is very distressing. I have always depended on the interview to get the job. Truly a low point in American employment practice!
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Sally
March 31st, 2009
10:11 am
Employment kiosks were instituted to prevent store managers from discriminating and level the playing field for applicants, but its all about the software. There are some great software packages and some awful ones – “kiosks” are a specialty and require specialists to make them user friendly. No, you can’t just throw your web site on a PC and expect it to work for the public. Sounds like this Kiosk from Hell was a low-budget afterthought ordered by the same purchasing guy who buys pencils and toilet paper.
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Don’t have the money for a professional resume? | Blog Break
March 31st, 2009
10:39 pm
[...] contributor Chandra Fox gives some handy tips for those that can’t afford to have their resume professionally [...]
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GLENN MILLER
March 31st, 2009
10:46 pm
EXPERIENCE
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greg
April 3rd, 2009
12:03 pm
Yet another example of group-identity think brought to you by the AJC
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John
April 3rd, 2009
12:06 pm
As a manager of an Linkedin group of hearing impaired professionals, I see this all the time. Not only is the job market tough, but once an interviewer sees the hearing aids or realizes that you’re having trouble understanding what he/she is saying, you’re immediately rejected. Only the most open-minded recruiter is able to see past the disability and appreciate what one has to offer. And I believe that hearing-impaired people have more difficulty than other disabled people – except maybe for those who are sight-impaired. Anyone can roll their wheelchair up to the desk and work. But if you can’t hear in a meeting, use the telephone, or understand spoken directions or warnings, you won’t be hired.
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Gretchen
April 3rd, 2009
12:14 pm
Group-identity think? What is that?
I AM disabled and fortunately have been at my job for 5 yrs this month. I believe it IS tougher than it normally has been for those who have a disability – physically, emotionally or mentally – because competition is tougher and the skills needed are becoming more and more scrutinized. For those who have unfortunately been hit with a layoff it will be even harder to bounce back yet alone compete for jobs against those who don’t have the disabilities that employers may assume will be a hinderence to your productivity.
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KennesawDave
April 3rd, 2009
12:15 pm
I am legally blind and have worked for an Atlanta based company now for 3 years. In the past I have found it difficult to find a job regarless of economic times either because most employers or businesses are uncertain of what my limitations were or how they would affect my job responsibilites. However, One outlet that some people with disabilities can take advantage of are work from home programs offered through companies that train people to be Customer Service Agents. The only word of caution I would offer if someone choosed to go this route is to go to Clark Howard’s website http://www.clarkhoward.com to see which ones are listed on his site. DO NOT WHATEVER YOU DO do a random “work from home” search on the NET. You would find more scams than anything. Another good avenue to pursue is if you have what’s called a Vocation Rehab counselor(like here in GA), you can often get job training and even obtain employment through contacts that they have. There are some very disability friendly companies right here in the metro area. You just need to do some research and talk to the right people. If you want to get off to a good start, check with your local Department of Labor office. You can often sit down with someone there that can provide you with some very helpful information to get started.
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j sutter
April 3rd, 2009
2:16 pm
This is not surprising wheher the economy is good or bad. It is reflective of too many employers attitudes about disabilities. They believe you aren’t capable of working. Fortunately with my disability I lead 2 organizations that between them employ over 2,000. Those who have poor attitudes towards those with disabilities don’t get hired or end up fired first when I hear that type of attitude.
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Taron Harrison
April 6th, 2009
4:48 pm
Greetings Tyler Perry I’m 26 years old and , Basicly I need a job. I was laid off from a couple of jobs in Atlanta and continue seeking others , and I need something so I can finish college . You can reach me at 850-591-6373 or 404-256-5391. Thank You for being you . Taron
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elizabeth
April 6th, 2009
9:38 pm
“Pretty obviously why you rarely see black CEO’s, Presidents, VP’s, etc.”
Yeah, a black President? THAT will never happen!
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jasmine`
April 8th, 2009
12:10 pm
how can i get a job and im only 13 bout to be 14 in july really need money an a job !
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jay
April 10th, 2009
12:01 am
Just finished my first day as a valet. It’s a nice change of pace from my FT job and my new co-workers were all cool and willing to help.
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Caroline
April 10th, 2009
8:26 am
Everyone needs to realize that there is no better time to start your own business than in a recession! The key is to start one with a product that is highly consumable, in a growing industry, with a lucrative compensation plan where you can become profitable quickly. Ideally, it would be one where you create jobs for others. This is what I have done! I started out with this being my Plan B, but it has quickly become my Plan A because real estate (my original Plan A) is so hard right now. The best part about it? It’s chocolate… healthy chocolate! If you are interested in what I’m doing, call 1-888-225-3008, ext. 1316.
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KennesawDave
April 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
I’m not much of a salesman so I don’t know that I would take a telemarketer job unless I simply had to. I have worked in 3 call centers and have found most to be very professional and a pleasant place to work for the most part. The only job I would not take regardless of my situation would be as a collector. I’ve worked in 2 call centers that did collections and will never do it again after doing it for 3 yrs. Primarily because I didn’t really make any money because believe it or not I wasn’t mean enough to people. In fact I was more customer servie oriented. I wanted to help people more than beat them up on the phone just to get a payment. Needless to say I never made but 1 bonus check en my entire 3 yrs as a collector. Thankfully I work in customer service now oddly enough in a call center for a large Atlanta based company. The pay isn’t great and the hours can be kind of rough, but I don’t dread getting up in the morning going to a job I hate. Instead, I get up and look forward to coming to work.
Oh and Joy, you are right about what you heard about Ryla. I live in Kennesaw where they are based and not only have I heard that they are a great place to work, but they are also disability friendly. I ride the bus with a guy who works there who makes a fairly decent amount of money working Verizon accounts.
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lynn
April 10th, 2009
2:40 pm
check out SelectCandidates.com to submit your resume
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Justin
April 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
I don’t think I could ever be a telemarketer. They just drive me too crazy!! Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of filing phone complaints online against them to try and get the calls to stop. Not much success so far, but I’ve only tried to file a complaint at http://www.WhosePhoneIsThis.com.
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Corn of the Cobb
April 12th, 2009
12:12 pm
Receiving my Associates Degree from a technical college in computer networking has only led me to a greater understanding of computer science, but no job. The reason why is because most IT carriers require certifications and look upon these as experience. Pursuing these certifications while continuing my education in information security from a university has allowed me time to discover that utilizing both can benefit me in building a career for the future. In short, research the field of your choice because some fields need both and others need one or the other or none.
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Ron
April 13th, 2009
9:06 am
My experience in the corporate world is that men and women who are tall get promoted more often than those who are short. Also, extroverts get promoted more often than introverts, despite the fact that many of these extroverts are totally incompetent. Weight does not seem to be an issue.
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Tia
April 13th, 2009
9:13 am
Of course weight is an issue. People in the world think overweight people are lazy and do not take care of themselves. I have worked in coporate america for 15 years and for one of the top companies of all time. I have noticed thin men and women almost always get promoted and when someone overweight does, they are often called deragatory names having to do with their weight behind thier backs… sad, but very very true. I have noticed and it is not the way it should be that overweight people are discriminated against everyday of their lives. I see people stare at them, children laugh and people make judgements. I wish people didn’t do this to them.
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Objective Thought
April 13th, 2009
9:19 am
What a junk study, there are millions of factors at work here. Consider this – Men who spend more hours on the job, have less time to excersise, therefore gaining weight and deserving a promotion, explaining why more bosses are overweight. Overweight and obese are 2 different things, not clearly discerned here.
Also, men who make more money can disregard appearance and still remain somewhat relative in finding and retaining a female mate, but no amount of money alone can make a woman skinny.
Yes “the old double standard” is, and will be in effect, until women value men solely on looks rather than: status, money, accomplishment, etc…
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Delia
April 13th, 2009
9:36 am
I agree with Ron. I think it seems to be relevant to the introvert v. extroverts personality types. If you are an extrovert, people seem to naturally gravitate toward you (yes, even if the person is an idiot). I have come across many leaders who have big personalities but no knowledge. I have come across people who need to be in leadership positions but are introverted so people assume they are not leadership materials. (Oftentimes, these people reject leadership). Also, for men weight does not matter but it does for women. In fact, more women than men are promoted based on looks not their talent at all. This is why there is such a problem with female leadership because honestly many of then are incompetent. I DID NOT SAY WOMEN ARE NOT GREAT LEADERS but if you choose an idiot of any gender, race, etc.- you will have horrible leadership.
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matt
April 13th, 2009
9:48 am
If they can afford $60+ meals every day, I am sure all that good food is delicious!
Tia,
Being overweight is a choice. If it truly bothered these people, they would consume less calories and excercise more. They make a personal choice everytime they choose what to eat and whether to do something active or something lazy.
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GeoffDawg
April 13th, 2009
9:49 am
Please….people who get ahead in corporate America are the ones to make personal sacrifices of their time and energy. Generally speaking, this will tend to have negative impact on the old waistline. I hope there wasn’t a federal grant involved in this idiotic study.
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lovelyliz
April 13th, 2009
9:50 am
Is there a double standard between professional men & women when it comes to weight?
Does the sun rise in the east?
Is the Pope Catholic?
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MacArthur O. Means
April 13th, 2009
10:11 am
I’m the boss. I’m 30 pounds overweight. Bite me.
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Mike
April 13th, 2009
10:25 am
People who let their personal lives go to pot (no exercise, eat on the run, etc…) and let their life / work balance swing overwhelmingly towards work get promoted more because they spend much more time working. It is only fair they get promoted more… however, I will not make the choice to give my life to a company in order to move ahead. I’d rather know and enjoy my family and friends and spend as much time pursuing personal endeavors…
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Not So Skinny Minnie
April 13th, 2009
10:51 am
Sadly, women, MUCH more so than men, are discriminated against, both professionally & personally, if they don’t meet society’s narrow standards of beauty. Matt, you are woefully ignorant. No one CHOOSES to be overweight. Overeating is an addiction, much like smoking, drugs, alchohol & gambling. BTW, I’ve known many overweight people who are anything BUT lazy in the workforce & by the same token, I’ve also known some thin slackers. You’re just letting your prejudices do your “thinking” (?!?) for you
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joyce
April 13th, 2009
10:57 am
Fat men don’t like work, so they spend their time eating and brown nosing so they can be in charge. If you think not, you haven’t worked very long in the Federal world.
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GeoffDawg
April 13th, 2009
11:08 am
Joyce – fat men spend their time eating so they can be in charge? What a well thought out and cogent statement. Even so, if that is the federal world, now officially nothing in bureuacracy surprises me.
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Susan
April 13th, 2009
11:35 am
Those who get promoted to upper management positions were not overweight at first, but once they get that position watch that weight pile on. Those “business meals” carry a lot of weight.
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Roekest
April 13th, 2009
11:46 am
Maybe fat men are more intimidating that fat women, and that’s why they get promoted.
To all the healthy ^&%^$ out there, us fatties are not evil and lazy because we don’t exercise or because we like good food too often. Some of us (believe it or not!) are quite healthy. All I ask is that you all THINK before spouting off at the mouth about your “desirable” life-style. Do that, and I promise I won’t try to hit you with my car when I see you jogging down the road or in place at the traffic light. Just because you exercise 4 hours a day, 8 days a week, doesn’t make you better or smarter than anybody else. It just means you have little else to do with your lives
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Roekest
April 13th, 2009
11:48 am
Joyce,
You’re an idiot. Please think first.
And perhaps you’re not as successful as you’d like to be because you’re not that bright. Something to think about….
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Oh Brother
April 13th, 2009
1:15 pm
Justin, would you rather get telemarketing calls or support out-of-work telemarketers on welfare/unemployment??
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matt
April 13th, 2009
1:19 pm
Not So Skinny Minnie,
I think you took this far too personally. I’ll try not to take your ‘woefully ignorant’ comment personally, so allow me to clarify. Fat people are not lazy or unproductive in the workplace at all, unless we are talking about a manual labor job. I know plenty of very hard working overweight people, but they do choose their condition. Just like smokers chose to smoke, drinkers chose to drink, gamblers chose to gamble. At some point in their life they made the decision to start heading down that path. It is the equivalent of having a messy room, except a messy room takes a few hours to fix- a messy body can take years. All that food tastes just as good to people in great shape as well, they just exhibit more self control.
Roekest,
Who is on here claiming to be superior to you? What does weight have to do with intelligence? I am sure there are fat and skinny people who are smarter than you or I. To ignore the countless medical facts relating obesity to heart disease is not very intellectually sounds, and threatening to run joggers over is just plain childish.
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carol mcdaniel
April 13th, 2009
2:11 pm
Enter your comments here i work for atelemaking.the co was in kennsaw ga.iwas a very god emoply for this co.i worked 7 days a week some weeks.i was let go on 12/26/o6. i have not worked sence then.
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Fat
April 13th, 2009
2:34 pm
I think paycuts would be the best for long term success. That way the employer is spending less money but still enjoying the same quality of labor. No one is going to quit in this economy. Admit it, you’d still show up to work if they cut your pay 15%.
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Not So Skinny Minnie
April 13th, 2009
5:15 pm
Ah, Matt, you must be one of those lucky people who’ve never had a weight problem, otherwise you’d know being fat is NOT a choice. Gee, I, personally, don’t remember ever waking up one morning, looking in the mirror & saying to myself “Ugh, I HATE my slim, trim perfect self. I think I’m gonna gain 40 pounds. I get sick of compliments, looking good, being treated nicely & feeling good.” Gaining weight is a gradual thing. You can’t pinpoint where/when the problem begins but then there comes a point where you realize there now IS a problem. And eating is the one unavoidable addiction, if one is cursed with an addictive personality. No one has to take that first cigarette, beer, crack pipe, etc, but we do have to eat. (Roekest, you ROCK!)
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lovelyliz
April 13th, 2009
6:51 pm
Overweight professional men are seen as being too busy to exercise. Similarly weighted women are labelled as lazy.
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matt
April 13th, 2009
11:37 pm
You are not stuck in that cycle. It will be hard to break, but you can do it. It will take a long time and a lot of sacrifice, but are you not capable of accomplishing anything you truly try to face? No matter your weight, if you look hard enough at yourself you’ll never be happy. The weight is something that you retain the option to control. I support you if you want to start facing this, it is not futile. Eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables you care to, never drink soda (diet sodas are just as bad), avoid processed carbs or sugars, and exercise whenever you get the chance (make chances, it can be fun). You’ll be faster, lighter, more capable in a dangerous situation, feel better, look more attractive, and you’ll probably live longer. I wish you the best.
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Brian Lewis
April 14th, 2009
12:32 am
Well, sounds like I am part of the working-wounded (an apt description if there ever was one). I have been laid off for the second time in a year, and while I do not meet the usual definition of disabled, and I take nothing away from those folks that really are disabled, my hi-tech on-the-job skills have finally run their course and I am now unemployable in the IT industry. For years I have been struggling with a really trashed lower back due to injury and hereditary, and in the past few years I have had very high numbers of days off due to illness. An employer I had a year ago, was unbelievably tolerant of this and did not dock me a single days pay thru severe back problems, cancer treatments, mental disorientation due to neurological pain drugs, they were just excellent. However, my last employer, was told to terminate me from the project by the client because I took three days off across a weekend due to a bad gastro issue. I had an at-will contract so there was nothing I could do about it, my employer didn’t like it, but they had no other work. So here I am, going to job interviews as a 55 year old, mildly overweight male who limps when he walks because of his chronic back issues. I can’t get a job that requires bending or lifting of any kind, and I am no longer sought after in the IT industry. I am looking at retraining. But the cause of my disability is completely fixable. I have no insurance, even when I had good health insurance I could not afford the copays for seeing my specialists. It is getting harder and harder to walk, and I would not be able to walk if it were not for the drugs I take that also impact my cognition to varying degrees. So, do I battle on and keep sliding but retrained and stop work when I can no longer physically get around, or do I go straight for getting declared disabled and unable to perform my usual work, new work, and if my back is not operated on, my condition will last till I die? I have had an exceptional run in hi-tech, but lost everything including my life saving in a divorce, business closure and home foreclosure. Oh well. Batter up!
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Not So Skinny Minnie
April 14th, 2009
9:03 am
Matt, you ARE right but I wish it were that simple. Ask just about any overweight person, myself included, I openly admit, but I think we’ve all been on that lose weight/gain it back rollercoaster. Very frustrating, especially since during our “thin” periods, we do look & feel better by far
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Bob
April 14th, 2009
10:44 am
Just so you know, matt is fat.
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matt
April 14th, 2009
8:09 pm
who told you
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steve
April 14th, 2009
10:16 pm
i would like to see an article on how to deal with getting elderly parents to understand their limitations. my mother has dementia and lives with me , an almost daily problem is trying to explain to her why she can no longer drive or live by herself, i explain why ,but she just gets mad and cries, i know I’m not the only one dealing with this, please use your resources and give us all something to work with
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Today's Layoffs | Today's Layoffs
April 15th, 2009
7:19 am
[...] to come!!!!!More people who are being laid-off are now suing their former employers. Would you? http://tinyurl.com/c6e35dNew blog post: Rhode Island Extends COBRA Subsidy To Laid-Off Small Business Employees [...]
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Steve
April 15th, 2009
8:40 am
Depends on the circumstances
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Drago
April 15th, 2009
8:43 am
Georgia is a right-to-work state, thus you can be fired, laid-off, terminated for any cause except discrimination against age, race, color,creed, national origin, etc. And the unemployment office will not help you if there is any sign of discrimination. If you suspect being fired due to prejudice reasons, contact the Atlanta Legal AID Society for starters.
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FTMEMM
April 15th, 2009
9:10 am
I think anyone should sue their employer if their is cause and it is based on any type of discrimination that is improper. Empoyers have the power to absolutely do whatever they want to employees they no longer want around – you can removed for your job pretty much for no reason and get nothing in return.
There is no loyalty out there, from employees or employers. The difference, usually, is that an employer who chooses to terminate an employee has the potential to cause allot of damage, much of it that could be avoided or lessened if the employer would just show some compassion.
I feel there should be more protections for employees when it comes to job loss, mainly to soften the blow. I think this should particularly apply to larger companies that have the resources to do so.
Regardless, anyone who think being fired of laid-off cannot happen to them, it can! Even if you do outstanding work, things can change – network throughout your career, do everything to keep your options open, because things can change at any time.
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Adittohead
April 15th, 2009
9:13 am
WELCOME TO THE 21th Century & the GLOBAL ECONOMY…AMERICA
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FTMEMM
April 15th, 2009
9:14 am
Agreed – paycuts are probably best for long-term success if the industry or business needs to do this. It is unfortunate, but neccessary in these times.
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HP
April 15th, 2009
9:33 am
I got laid off in December 2008. Although I am still very angry, I don’t see the point in suing them. In all honesty, I don’t want my job back. I don’t think they have any money (or I wouldn’t have gotten laid off). I don’t want to end up with a mark against me with any future – and probably better – employers. I know there is a lot of age and other types of discrimination out there, and good reasons for people to sue. I just don’t think for me this is an option. I also have a husband and two kids and this is hard enough on everyone, without adding the stress of a lawsuit. Sometimes you have to know when to walk away. It is not being weak, it is being strong enough to put this in someone else’s hands and know that in the end, everyone gets what they deserve, good and bad.
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amy
April 15th, 2009
9:51 am
correct me if i’m wrong, but isn’t Georgia a “Work at will” state?
Meaning you can quit at any time, and they can lay you off at any time, and it doesn’t matter what the reason, that’s just the way it is.
Why waste more money suing? That isn’t going to solve anything.
Plus, as a benefit of actually working, if you are laid off, you can collect unemployment until you are employed again. Your paycheck pays into unemployment, so why not take advantage of it, if you are the unfortunate and do get laid off…..
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Scoutmamma
April 15th, 2009
9:52 am
My husband was recently laid off after 20 years of devoted service. And I truly mean devoted service. Over the years this company has just gone down the toilet and employee loyalty means absolutely nothing to them any longer. While our family is hurting financially, his release from that company is really the best thing to happen to him, and us. There’s nothing worse than putting 100% of your heart, soul, and devotion into something you believe in just to get the heave-ho from management.
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itsme
April 15th, 2009
10:00 am
Why would you sue the company that did not have enough money to keep you? Seems counterproductive. I would hope the company would stay in the black enough to pay 65% of my COBRA.
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FYIonEEOC
April 15th, 2009
10:15 am
Did you know that anyone can file a complaint against their employer if they feel they have been discriminated against whether they are currently employed or have been “let go” (fired or laid off). All you need to do is to file your complaint with the local district EEOC office. You can do it in person or by phone or by postal mail. The Atlanta district EEOC office is located where the former Rich’s Department Store was — across from the Five Points MARTA Station. Would suggest you hit the http://www.eeoc.gov web site first and check out the Mediation process available that allows resolution without litigation or hiring attorneys to hear your charges against your employer. Also suggest you write and document what happened to you and your opinion for a satisfactory settlement to resolve your complaint.
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Jefferson
April 15th, 2009
10:24 am
Work is highly overrated.
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Real Deal
April 15th, 2009
10:45 am
A business is a financial risk taking enterprise to provide goods and services that consumers or customers will buy for more than they cost to provide. Individual owners and/or stockholders invest capital and take the risk. They must hire people and buy raw materials to produce the product or service. IF THEY CAN’T SELL ENOUGH PRODUCT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO LAY OFF OR FIRE THE PEOPLE THEY PAY. IF THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE CAN’T DO THE WORK OR OFFEND CUSTOMERS WITH A BAD ATTITUDE, A BUSINESS ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO FIRE THEM. THIS RACE CARD CRAP IS JUST DISGUSTING! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF WHATEVER COLOR YOU ARE.
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SAWB
April 15th, 2009
10:53 am
You can sue for anything. “Feeling” discriminated against is not going anywhere though. There has to be actual discrimination not a feeling.
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catlady
April 15th, 2009
11:29 am
You pay ALL your COBRA. That is, you pay the total amount of your insurance, rather than your employer paying a share. And employers pay into the unemployment tax, it is NOT take out of employees’ checks.
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The Voice
April 15th, 2009
11:34 am
OK…..things didn’t go my way so I will grab the closest lawyer advertising on TV and sue. Sue somebody, anybody, anyone….just sue. Wow….the children of the Greatest Generation that won WWII surely can whine…..geeeez pull your self up and and get a job. Is whining and sueing what your parents taught you….I think not.
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Louis
April 15th, 2009
11:36 am
What a sue-happy society. Getting fired or laid off and having that suddenly become a race issue is just another example of how people look to government to make them happy and pay them off. Funny how money makes everyone feel better who believes they’ve been wronged. Pay me and I’ll dop my charge. Work hard, be dependable, show your value everyday, take care of customers. Quit all this sue your employer nonsense. What a country. Give me $200k and I’ll go away. Nice…
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ornery
April 15th, 2009
11:47 am
Really does depend on the circumstances.. I think there are some companies out there that are purposely reducing staff because of the presidential administration and perceived anti-business mindset. Though that would mean govt and business are both to blame. If I had not received a severance (as minimal as it was). I would consider legal action in large part of the pure incompetence of the owners. If an organization has financial problems, it should say so and how to fix the problem. If they just go on a whim and lay everybody off with no foresight or decision, then they are asking for trouble. I never took the anger way to a layoff, it’s “part of the process”.
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FYIonEEOC
April 15th, 2009
11:51 am
Filing a complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is not about race or suing someone — it is about equal rights. It includes gender, nationality, sexual, religious, age, disability as well as racial issues. It is about your equal right to fair employment and/or dismissal.
Your tax dollars pay for EEOC to accept your allegations of perceived discrimination and then to decide if you were actually a victim of discrimination. Look it up before you judge whether the http://www.eeoc.gov could help you if you were treated unfairly. There is no fee unless you decide to hire your own attorney — which is not necessary to file an EEOC complaint. Filing a complaint is not filing a lawsuit!
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N.J,
April 15th, 2009
11:57 am
Not surprised. I am also disabled moved here from another state, in a county just outside Atlanta, and started looking for bus lines to take to the doctors office or to stores, and not only did they not exist, there are no taxi companies that exist either, or those that do tell you that they can come and pick you up in three hours, and then often they do not show up at all. This area is basically backwards as all hell. Not just in the handling of the disabled but in just about everything. .
My advice is to get a lawyer right from the beginning. They work on a percentage basis and can only take a percentage of past payments you are owed. They also know the details about when the state loses by default by failing to respond within the proper dates. A lot of people dont get benefits because they dont know the law, and dont know that the state has broken a rule that requires them to start making payment. Lawyers know this, but people who apply on their own do not.
Secondly, fill out the forms properly. Most initial rejections come from not doting your I’s and crossing your T’s. The tiniest error on the form gets you a rejection.
Third, if you are rejected, act immediately within the stated time frame to do whatever you need to do to contest the rejection. Fill out the required “contestation” form within the 30 or 60 or whatever the amount of days you need to get them in. If you do you stay in position to get your case before an administrative judge, if you do not, you go right back to the beginning of the process and have to start as if you never filed before.
Most people are rejected for technical reasons, not real ones. Next most people who are rejected go back to the beginning because they get discouraged and dont follow the process within the time limits. Dont give up, do everything within the time limits and about 70 percent of applicants who do end up collecting benefits. The government makes this hard primarily so people will give up.
Learn the time frames. If the state must answer you within six months, and you do not get a letter in six months and one day, go directly to a lawyer. The time frames are legal requirements both for the applicant AND the state.
This is why I recommend getting a lawyer to handle this immediately. They dont cost you anything but a percentage of the money you would be owned for the time prior to your being awarded SSI or SSDI, and its better to let them take 25 percent of that money than to not collect at all. They do not get a percentage of your future payments.
I think if everyone who was disabled got lawyers from the get go, the state would have a lot harder time rejecting anyone. Primarily because they make so many mistakes they would either have to repair their system, or just start paying. This is a situation where it pays to get experts on your side. And lawyers are those experts. Sometimes a lawyer might drag out the case a little longer, because the higher your past benefits are, the higher their total dollar sum becomes, but in the end, you are rather more likely to win with one than without one.
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HP
April 15th, 2009
11:58 am
So what do you get when you run down to the EEOC and file these suits, FYIonEEOC?
There are a lot of misinformed people on this board, but I think the people filing these suits/complaints are also misinformed. A lot of people DO think they are going to get a monetary settlement of some kind. I think all you are going to get is your crappy job back. And most of the time, when people think long and hard about it, they don’t want the crappy job and would be better off spending their energies looking for a new one.
Believe me, I KNOW these employers are full of it and there is a lot of shady things going on. But filing a complaint or a lawsuit isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you have to move on with your life. It is stressful enough being unemployed.
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Mary
April 15th, 2009
12:03 pm
It isn’t the guys who won WWII who are doing the whinning! They’re too old to be working or laid off..in their 80’s!
Far too many companies are rewarding remaining employees for lying about the issues and resolutions!
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2009 THE YEAR
April 15th, 2009
12:12 pm
Georgia is a right to work state period. Employers need no reason other then your services are no longer needed. Right now things are slow for a lot of companies and while last year they could overlook the fact that the employees were not fully working, they cant do that any longer. Thus the consolidation of jobs in the work forse. Means nothing other then they are cutting back in employee play and waisted time that they have paid for over the years.
As a self employed person might I as this question. How many of you are typing this while on your employers time? Thought so.
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FYIonEEOC
April 15th, 2009
12:13 pm
To answer HP, if one opts for a Mediation procedure at EEOC, what you “get” is an opportunity to listen and find out WHY you got in this job situation (unemplyment or harrassment) and have someone (employer or managment) listen to you while you tell your side of your job story. Sometimes that lessens the stress of being unemployed from no fault of your own. Sometimes that allows you a return to a better job or better accommodations at your former job. Not all people who file complaints hate their jobs and many would be glad to return under “certain” circumstances. Everyone’s job story is different. If you had a “crappy” job, then you were probably a “crappy” employee — don’t you think?
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4Unions
April 15th, 2009
12:35 pm
Layoffs are not as devastating to union employees because the company provides the needed assistance for employees to re-enter the workforce by providing the much needed financial assistance in furthering employees education and technical skills. In addition, most employees are paid following a layoff based on their years of service with the company. On average employees remain on payroll up to six months following a layoff…..during this period employees oftentimes find new jobs without experiencing a decrease in their household incomes….VOTE 4 UNIONS
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Your Employer
April 15th, 2009
12:41 pm
I owe you a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That is all. I do not exist to provide your healthcare benefits, or to match your 401k, or to babysit your kids. I compete with other employers to attract the best employees. Employees compete with other workers to get the best jobs. That’s how the free market works. If you sue me, I will fire you so fast your head will spin.
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The Voice
April 15th, 2009
12:46 pm
Mary obviously you don’t know how to read. I said the children of the Greatest Generation…..idiot.
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HP
April 15th, 2009
1:05 pm
FYIonEEOC: Read “Your Employer’s” post. I don’t think that was a joke.
‘Nuff said.
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Jefferson
April 15th, 2009
1:47 pm
A human resource — how degrading to a person.
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The Voice
April 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
Hey Mary I bet you are unemployed….for lack of attention.
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clowny
April 16th, 2009
6:58 pm
I’m currently unemployed. I worked for this company I really like and I started to noticed things that were out the norm like I was not getting the proper training like my coworker was getting and we performed the same duties. Well, I was rated high on my job performance. The next month I was fired. I was making in the 40’s so this was great for me. I went to the eeoc and filed a complaint. It did no good. EEOC is working for the major companies. It’s sad to say. With me being unemployed. I couldn’t hire a lawyer. Legal aid has not been helpful either. Did I hear anything back from EEOC? No. Georgia is a Right to work State–please read below
Since the 1940s, twenty two states (and Guam) have enacted Right to Work laws. They are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Whether or not you agree with Right to Work laws, and whether or not you want to live in a Right to Work state, it is important to recognize that the Right to Work laws are not to be confused with the concept of Employment At Will. According to J. Steven Niznik in his article entitled, Employment at Will, “The Employment at Will doctrine means that employment is voluntary for both employees and employers. As an at-will employee, you may quit your job whenever and for whatever reason you want, usually without consequence. In turn, at-will employers may terminate you whenever and for whatever reason they want, usually without consequence.” For more information about Employment at Will, be sure to read Mr. Niznik’s factual and comprehensive analysis.
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sharon
April 17th, 2009
7:48 am
I am guilty of all 4. Sometimes you just don’t want to be bothered.
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mike
April 17th, 2009
7:58 am
i have all the bad listening traits, but i think that’s b/c the people that do talk to me are usually
idiots not worthy of being listened to in the first place.
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My Guess is....
April 17th, 2009
8:15 am
“sharon” and “mike” are either the same person or are married to each other.
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itstillamazesme
April 17th, 2009
8:28 am
I agree with sharon, and if you are human you know that we have done exactly what mike and sharon has done. Me, personally, I am guilty of all 4 when someone is either irate or yelling at me, or if what they are saying is so off the wall. I will never forget as a child my mom took me to a physician because she thought I was hard of hearing. She was quite happy to find out that I passed all hearing test, but was unhappy with me when my doctor told her I had selective hearing. See my mom would yell at me and i would turn her into Charlie Brown’s teacher wonk wonk wonk and not listen…Needless to say I was punished when we returned from the doctor’s and i have kept that trait through out my life. Sharon or Mike, I bet neither of you were listening were you!!! LOL
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itpdude
April 17th, 2009
8:43 am
All of us are guilty of the above at one time or another. Sometimes there is the long-winded talker that does not get to the point (something I’m guilty of often) or you don’t have time or you are in a bad mood. . . . whatever. It happens.
But there are some listeners that are enormously worse than others. I’m to blame here as well, but I do notice the exceptionally poor listeners are the twitterers, IM chatters, texters, etc. These technologies are great. I use them myself. But we must be aware of the pitfalls of such tech; poor listening habits being one of those pitfalls.
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Adittohead
April 17th, 2009
8:45 am
AJC……WHINE……WHINE……..WHINE…Looking forward to the day the AJC goes out of business.Stops its presses.
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sd
April 17th, 2009
8:55 am
I’m sorry. What?
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Not again
April 17th, 2009
9:03 am
Another sign of a bad listener is the telling of the same old stories over and over again. If it did not happen in this decade there is no need to tell it, especially over and over again.
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Hmmmm
April 17th, 2009
9:05 am
I’m guilty of all 4 but my main issue is severe ADD. My mind wanders really bad. My fault though, I should try harder.
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Mike S
April 17th, 2009
9:15 am
True. Most of us are guilty but in many cases we are justified especially when you ask a simple question and the person beats around the bush- so we interrupt. Right?
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Dogboy
April 17th, 2009
9:17 am
Maybe we aren’t bad listeners, maybe you are a lousy talker.
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sharon
April 17th, 2009
9:21 am
“Not again” you are so right! If it did not happen in this decade there is no need to tell it over and over again. Heck, even if it happened months ago I don’t want to hear the same story over and over. I have a co-worker who is always bragging about the stud football player he was in high school! Keep in mind this man has clearly been out of high school 35 years!. I have the co-worker who likes to stop at my desk and tell me about her day at the YWCA. Baby stories always make my mind wonder. I tune out stutterers, long people and people who brag. Time is too valuable to waste on idle chatter. If people could learn to read body language then we wouldn’t be bad listeners because they would know when to shut up.
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Tyree
April 17th, 2009
9:44 am
Like, I don’t think I’m a bad listner.Like, maybe you’re the one that’s a bad listner. Like, I’m just trying to get my point across. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, maybe I should text you while driving to work. Like, I’m an authority on the subject. Like, Im talking here. Like, it’s all about me.
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Watta Load
April 17th, 2009
10:09 am
What? I’m sorry I wasn’t listening.
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Ive
April 17th, 2009
10:24 am
Rude – One-and-the-Same – Interrupting.
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OZZFEST
April 21st, 2009
11:46 am
I know several dudes down in Albany that already make plenty of money selling “green”.
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Beverly
April 22nd, 2009
11:22 am
No one seems to care. I have to remind them every year. Not appreciated
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Rene
April 22nd, 2009
11:28 am
I feel appreciated by other staff members; however, my boss is another story. This is my first experience working with a non-profit and trust me when I tell you that I’ve never experienced such a lack of direction and structure before in my 30 years or work history. I know the economy is bad and jobs are hard to come by but sometimes I wonder if this is worth jeopardizing my physical and mental stability to hang on to a job where the top person (who you’re suppose to be their right hand) has a jekyll/hyde personality on a daily basis.
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Janet
April 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
No one seems to care at it’s administrative professionals day; and I work at a place where admin’s do not get the respect that they deserve. So yeahhhhh! Happy Administrative Professionals Day to Me!
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
What a made up holiday! Are we nothing but a bunch of children that have to be constantly rewarded or praised to feel validated? I guess I really do not feel the need to be appreciated – just want to do my job to the best of my ability everyday, learn new skills, and either move on or up when the time is right. I really do not care if my boss gives me a crappy card or flowers.
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Nenah
April 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
I’m the Front Desk/Purchasing Admin for a medium sizes company of 150 people. I have not received any acknowledgment for my staff I work directly with. I had someone from accounting give me a card & candy, when I said “Thank you”, she stated “even though you aren’t really an Admin well you sort of are, anyway I thought you should be acknowledged.” I thought it was very nice of her to acknowledge me for what I do, being that technically I’m not her department admin, even though I do help them when they need it. A customer calls in and says “Happy Admin Day” I was shocked! How nice of a customer to acknowledge what I do. I admit I would not be unhappy if I never received acknowledge for what I do, however having this as a holiday and then having the expectation I should receive an acknowledgment sucks! I told my husband to acknowledge his receptionist, I went and bought the gift for him. He takes it to work and no one else in the office even realized what today was. In fact I was surprised about how low-key the advertisement was for this holiday. I think Earth Day took more acknowledgment today. I noticed on a website there is a Receptionist Day in May, well that’s not even on my calendar. So how or why would anyone remember it? I admit I’m feeling a little bitter about this Holiday. It’s like any other one out there Xmas, Valentines Day, just a way for people to make money. I think Bosses day had more coverage then Admin Day.
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VC
April 22nd, 2009
11:49 am
I agree with Kristin. I do a good job and my boss is appreciative of everything I do. I view myself as a professional and don’t need a plant or a card to know that. I always take this week off because I dislike it being such a big deal and a special holiday where my boss will feel like he has to “buy” me something. I’m sure the other assistants are getting flowers, cards and candy. I’m happy that I chose not to be part of all that today.
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linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
April 22nd, 2009
11:50 am
Kristin, it seems we do, because so many executives fail on a regular basis to show their appreciation for what the staff does…daily. It used to be that we’d get flowers, a card from the boss or firm, and a gift that was not just a gift card or generic thing — nowadays, it’s a gift card in a rubber-stamped thank you card… at least the bosses sign them with real ink…
however, i’m fortunate that my boss tells me no less than every few days that he appreciates what i do and how hard i work — not in so many words, usually, but the “thank you” attitude IS there. For the first time truly there in nearly 40 years of working. So i’ll take the gift card to a store i rarely shop at and be thankful that the firm is willing to fork out a few bucks to each of the staff members.
the “crappy card or flowers” are at least a token of appreciation, kristin, from people who frequently forget to say anything at all — i’m with you, i’d just as soon work, learn, and advance.
but being genuinely shown appreciation, as i am with this boss, is priceless, to me.
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Penny
April 22nd, 2009
11:58 am
Until this year, we were always recognized. This year apparently they forgot! It would be nice to feel appreciated. We are so short-staffed and stressed out all the time that the only time we hear anything is bad news. It really would be nice for all of us to be recognized!
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Dawn :)
April 22nd, 2009
12:13 pm
I have read some of these comments and they certainly reflect some jobs that I have held in the past. I am very happy to say that I AM appreciated where I work by ALL of my coworkers. I work for a hospital and I am the only administrative professional on our unit. I did not even know that it was Administrative Professionals’ Day and I was met with greetings, flowers, cake, and a card too. YES we ARE all children that need validation, recognition, love and care on a DAILY basis. It is a human thing that nobody should be without.
I have suffered without it in the past and I am really super grateful to have such wonderful loving, caring co-workers and bosses. I am not getting rich in money here, but I am rich in spirit!
Afterall, our relationships are the most valuable and important things we have.
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Becky
April 22nd, 2009
12:14 pm
No, I don’t need anything given to me to make me feel validated at my job..BUT, it would be nice once in a while to hear them say, thanks for everything that you do..Like driving across town to pick up the owner because he left one of his three cars in the shop, or because I got your lunch while I was out getting mine, or I called all over town trying to find something for one of your granddaughters…
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
12:31 pm
My point is why “Administrative Professionals”? Why not Nurse’s day or Teacher’s day? I could go on and on with the list of professionals who are in a role that assists higher up the food chain. Even bosses have bosses that they answer too. It is a silly made up holiday just like Valentine’s Day.
Dawn,
I have my family, hobbys, and own self esteem that provides me with love and care, I am not looking for love from my workplace.
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Melissa
April 22nd, 2009
12:48 pm
I too am the only admin in my division who supports the director, manager, and a 40 person team. I do not get any recognition today, and I also received nothing for Christmas. I did get a card and candies for both of my boss’s for Boss’s Day. I feel the need for acknowledgment and praise for doing a good job but because I am not one of the technical IT employees, my work is often overlooked and taken for granted.
Happy Administrative Professionals Day to You and Me!
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Tammy
April 22nd, 2009
12:50 pm
My manager is very pro-active when it comes to recognizing the work we do. Each year we (there are 3 of us) have carte-blanche to go anywhere we want for lunch on him plus the company rewards us with a gift certificate. Some of you are right – we don’t need recognition to feel validated but is sure is nice when it happens. Happy Admin Day to all!
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Carla
April 22nd, 2009
12:56 pm
I work for a large organization. While most of the assistants around me are lauded by their bosses, mine chooses to totally ignore the day. I’m not sentimental about such things, but a simply “Happy ——” would do. Relatively new here, last year was the same. My Christmas gift also went unacknowledged. Like any other of the number of relationships we manage, time spent in work relationships almost equals personal ones, so why not make it fun? Like Becky said: it’s encouraging to hear that you’e doing a good job, even if it’s obvious. Someone, tell my boss, please!
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Sam
April 22nd, 2009
1:12 pm
Its disappointing but my department is not very good at acknowledging things like today which I find odd seeing that I am the only staff person for the entire department. Congrats to those of you who are shown appreciation on this, our day.
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Kerry
April 22nd, 2009
1:22 pm
If my workplace really wanted to “appreciate” me, the middle managers would put the kibosh on the bickering, nagging and malicious behavior by other women in the office. (Oh, whoops! The middle managers participate in that, too.)
It totally offends me. And that’s something donuts for the office don’t solve.
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Becky
April 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
There are alot of people that don’t get the aknowledgement(sp) that they deserve & that doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate them..I would bet though that if you google it, you will find that there is a date that you don’t know about for lots of people..
To all that fit into the category of Adminstrative Asst. or Professionals or whatever you want to call it, I hope that you have a great day & please know that you are cared about by someone..
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Shickey
April 22nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Do you people not get a paycheck every week? Employment – an exchange of money for performance. Call your mother if you need a pat on the head.
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Loretta
April 22nd, 2009
1:58 pm
Our boss is too consumed with buying a boat, so the last thing on his mind is appreciating what his employees do…he wont’ even make a speech of appreciation at the company christmas party, so admin professionals day has definitely gone unnoticed.
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Becky
April 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
Shickey, I would love to call my Mother, but she passed away 19 years ago..
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Nay
April 22nd, 2009
2:15 pm
Got flowers, a card and breakfast! It is good to know that all your hard work is recognized. They did not have to do anything for me. Our organization is freezing our merit increases, so I thought this was a nice gesture. Count your blessings everyday. There are 100 people or more waiting for your job!
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Monique
April 22nd, 2009
2:21 pm
My boss just left for the day and I thought maybe a Happy…day. No nothing. The other people in our building are receiving gifts. I have been receiving ecards from other Admin staff, that’s nice.
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J
April 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
My boss went out of the country and forgot before leaving, my supervisor forget, and my coworkers forgot. A graduate student actually wished me a happy Admin day. Given I’ve been putting in 11.5 hour days lately I feel because we’re short handed and doing a lot of grants I guess my feelings are quite hurt. Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything, but an acknowledgement would have been nice.
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LS
April 22nd, 2009
2:34 pm
I had no idea it was Administrative Professionals Day until I got a bouquet of flowers at the office – they were not from my workplace, though – they were from my family! (My bosses have no idea)
I think this day is overshadowed by Earth Day which has so much more publicity.
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Arthur
April 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Today has been an amazing day! The senior management staff purchased flowers for the administrative assistant’s in our group and We are going to lunch at a great restaurant.
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Jessica
April 22nd, 2009
2:41 pm
This is the second year that I’ve been forgotten… I dont feel appreciated at all despite all of the hoops that I jump through to make my mangement shine. It’s discouraging – too bad it’s not the right time to look for another position….
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Tasha
April 22nd, 2009
2:58 pm
Ok ladies 1st we need to stop being picky. You will never please everyone. I thought you guys were admins. You should know that already. LOL
For those who like the day, enjoy it. For those who don’t, then don’t. If someone gives you a gift, politely tell them that you dont acknowledge the day.
This day was to acknowledge those who have the biggest job in the world, doing what no one else wants to do. So why not have a week to appreciate us. We are the ones who really make decisions that matter, coffee selections, reservations, supplies.
In my current role I support 150 employees 12 of whom are VP’s so I am very busy, but they always appreciate me on a daily basis which is cool. Do I need the thank you’s? No because I am doing my job and this is it. Do I like the thank you’s? YES.
This year, I have to rub this in, I received a weekend trip to Las Vegas from my team. Round Trip, first class. Best gift I every receieved for doing something I love.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
3:11 pm
Wow, that Kristin is a real tool, huh?
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Deb
April 22nd, 2009
3:12 pm
I am the Dean of a Graduate School at a State University. I have 5 staff with different positions that work in the office. I try to let them each know how much I appreciate all their hard work more often than once a year and I let them each take one day of “free” vacation during the year. If I want to buy something for them for this one day it comes out of my own pocket – there is no “firm” to foot the bill. I am not paid a large salary and we haven’t had raises last year or this year. Last year I spent $20 each to buy a hanging plant for each of my office workers. This year, I can’t really afford it. Any thoughts on this from administrative professionals? I don’t want to seem like a jerk.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Oh, dear, what a great DAY! As I stumbled into work this morning, still half drunk from the night before, I was greeted with a large bouquet of lilies, lots of donughts, and a small parade! There was glitter and confetti everywhere!! I was so excited! And my boss was standing on a chair singing “Only You”. I just couldn’t stop smiling, my cheeks still hurt!! And I hadn’t even finished off my donught platter when a caterer came in with Lamb and Filet Minion and little dancing frogs that fed every bite to me while stroking my head and whispering sweet nothings into my ear…..oh, such a nice gesture. I just kept waving my arm around, “What, all this for…ME?” “No, no! You SHOULDN’T HAVE”. But they did, and they were all, OF COURSE!! And then…the great FINALE!!! Wow, a pony ride through the office!
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
3:27 pm
thats quick censorship
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Debra,
I wouldn’t describe myself as a tool – but I bet your last dollar that those who are bent out of shape about not receiving some sort of trinket for a made up Hallmark holiday are also the biggest martyr types out there.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
3:33 pm
I have not been acknowledged for my hard work today either.
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tom
April 22nd, 2009
3:35 pm
Shouldn’t you be working and not blogging?
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Becky
April 22nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Deb, do you have any plants at home that you could break off & give to them in a small pot? This is what a coworker did for us at Christmas..
Maybe bring them a small bouqet (sp) of flowers from Kroger…Do any of them read? Maybe a book of some kind? To me, it’s sometimes the small things that mean the most..Me, I would be just as happy with a card & a “thanks” for being dependable & doing good job..
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Petunia
April 22nd, 2009
3:40 pm
I love Earth, but why is Earth Day overshadowing my Admin Prof day? what gives?
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Becky
April 22nd, 2009
3:42 pm
Why does everyone always say a made up holiday by Hallmark? Please do some reserch before you start spouting off..Real people make up these days & Hallmark does what they do..Make money off of it..If you don’t want to be a part of it, then don’t..No, I’m not a martyr..
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Christina
April 22nd, 2009
3:46 pm
The CFO got all four of us a potted flower plant and the President got us all a large arrangement each. It was nice because I have never had anything before. To each their own on here, but sometimes I think it’s nice to have a little gesture of gratitued. My previous employer was so cheap and he never even said thank you, to which I got laid off right before Christmas. So, I think just to know you are doing a good job, especially in these tough economic times, is not enough.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
3:52 pm
i love blogging.
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tom
April 22nd, 2009
3:55 pm
I love working
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Irie
April 22nd, 2009
4:02 pm
I felt truly appreciated today! I am a temporary employee (working for a temp agency), but my employer still recognized me! I have a dozen roses and carnations and we were treated to a continental breakfast this morning. I hope I am hired on a permanent basis.
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Jennifer
April 22nd, 2009
4:03 pm
If I look back to two years ago I was unemployed on Admin. Professionals Day. It was a really difficult time for me. A year ago I worked for a boss who took advantage of his staff but he remembered admin. professionals day and gave me and his assistant $50 gift cards to Red Lobster. I would have rather heard him say thank you sincerely instead of getting a gift card. This year I am at a new company, its small. There is only the boss and I in the office 90% of the time. I didn’t think he would remember Admin. Professionals day and he didn’t. But I don’t mind because he is the most understanding and caring boss I’ve ever had. If I am out sick, its not the end of the world. He is family oriented and sincerely cares about his employees. I bet his wife will say something to him about Admin. professionals day when he gets home. He will be embarassed that he forgot because he does care about his staff. But he has nothing to be embarassed about because he shows he cares about me each day.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
4:19 pm
Oh, Tom.. Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Toooommm. Let me tell you a story Tom. Let me tell you a story. You see Tom, once a long long time ago there was this little boy, lets call him, oh, I don’t know, Tom. And he was all angry and small and stuff. He was sad. But he didn’t want anyone to know so he was very curt with everyone. Butting in and whatnot. You know, pretty common. But, nobody noticed because you had to squint really hard to even notice him. He was so small!! Aww, but he was the cutest thing. And the girls at the office just went gaga over him, dressing him up in little sweaters they’d knit and letting him borrow thier lip gloss and stuff. He was just the darndest thing! So cute! Like a little schnoodle or something! So, don’t worry, You will get to work SOME day!! Just embrace who you are!!
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Mary
April 22nd, 2009
4:21 pm
If I don’t expect anything, I won’t be disapointed. It IS nice though when someone remembers. It doesn’t always happen so if it does, I feel as if everything I’ve done is worth it. The boss is a Dr. Jeckle Mr. Hyde so I never know if what I say is the wrong thing or not. Kind of walking on eggshells.
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Admin
April 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
I remember our support staff. However, I am only the assistant to the Director and he and the rest of the staff forget every year. I even send an email to remind them to at least thank everyone but most times they do not.
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Larry
April 22nd, 2009
4:35 pm
Just to let you all know I care and I gave our office – Administrative Professional flowers today. And I am not even the boss but a co-worker who appreciates everything she does for us….
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
4:50 pm
Becky,
An ampersand is not an abbreviation for the word and. Please do some research before you begin typing.
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Debra
April 22nd, 2009
5:43 pm
That was a zinger!!
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Sandy
April 22nd, 2009
5:50 pm
It looks like the majority of people would prefer to end Professional Admin’s Day and I agree. This started out as Secretary’s Day back in the 1940’s. It accomplished its mission, now it is time to move on. Contact the organization that started this day and week, and let them know enough is enough.
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ungrateful B's
April 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
This looks like an administrative bitching column more than anything else. Really?!
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
6:56 pm
I apparently have the greatest boss in the whole wide world! Every year we receive a letter that let’s us know how much we are appreciated and in that letter is $100. I’ve worked for this company for 5 years and it’s happened every year. Other girl’s have been there 20+ years and they’ve always received $100 (I guess no inflation!). This year he went a little beyond – and bought lunch for all of us and our spouse’s if we so chose. He’s the greatest boss I’ve ever had and I look forward to this time every year!!
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Kristin
April 22nd, 2009
7:01 pm
Oh, and I forgot to mention I’m a different Kristin!! Irony!
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Becky
April 23rd, 2009
8:39 am
It might not be correct, but it is used AND accepted..Some people just always want to be nit picky..
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Jane
April 23rd, 2009
12:20 pm
I work for two departments totaling about thirty professionals. One department always remembered me; the other department has never done anything. This year, however, our Dept. Chair retired and the new Chair hasn’t done anything at all. Call me a child if you want although I am a mature women of 52 and have been in this line of work for over 35 years (but, NEVER a MARTYR, Kristen!) but it does feel good to be acknowledged, especially in this day and age when one person is the support person for so many people (boy, do I miss the days when I was Administrative Secretary to just the top dog!). All is takes is a THANK YOU! And, no, Kristin, these folks DO NOT remember on a regular basis to express any thanks what so ever. So different from other places I’ve worked where I did feel appreciated. Anyway, Happy Administrative Professionals Day to me and to all those other ladies (and the occasional gent) who don’t get acknowledged or thanked!
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l
April 23rd, 2009
12:56 pm
Jasmine, go to http://www.dekalbcountyga.us and go to the Summer Youth Employeement link. Good Luck!
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Greta
April 23rd, 2009
2:45 pm
I was looking for a blog on this and I am so grateful to have found this thread. I have always hated this made up holiday. I have been an Executive Assistant for 10 years and this stupid day always grated on me. I agree with Kristin, why do we have Administrative Professionals Day or Week? There is no “Project Manager Day” or “Accountant Day”. Why is there an Administrative Professionals Day? It has a tone to it, like “pat the idiot on the back” day. We are respected and paid professionals just like anybody else. It’s offensive. Plus, there are a ton of subjective job titles that may or may not fall into an Administrative Professional category. How do you know who to include and who not to include? What’s the deal- it’s treating anyone who works in an adminstrative capacity as children.
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Katrina
April 23rd, 2009
3:02 pm
I do feel very appreciated. I work at a church, and the other staff has been just terrific. Admin. Professionals Day was even another staff member’s birthday, and they chose to take primarily ME out to lunch. Of course, I brought the gentleman’s birthday present and we celebrated that too. My boss paid for my lunch at Cosi, and the rest of the staff got me a beautiful plant. Not only do they tell me once a year that I’m appreciated, but I they do tell me constantly. (Must be because I’m great at finding the bit of paper that’s jamming the printer.)
We are a non-profit organization, and a struggling church (especially with the current economic situation). But we are a tight-knit group and I feel very blessed to be in this position with these thoughtful coworkers. I wish everyone could experience the appreciation and thoughtfulness I’ve been blessed to be around. And my husband sent me a card at work! He’s taking me out to dinner this weekend, and I’m taking him out as it’s his birthday. Yay for gift cards! 
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Debra
April 23rd, 2009
7:11 pm
Dear God, Knit me a Sweater and I will wear it everyday!
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Melissa
April 23rd, 2009
7:54 pm
Dawn, I LOVED your comments. Well said!
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Tasha
April 24th, 2009
12:24 pm
I agree with ungrateful B’s comment. Just do your job whether you are thanked or not. Because if you dont there will be another admin out there who will do it without complaining.
This is our job. If you get thanked Wonderful, if you dont it shouldnt matter. Do you tell your boss that they are wonderful and you can’t make it without them? NO, so u want to receive compliments but cant give them.
Im tired of hearing ya’ll want to cancel this day because its offensive. How can acknowleding someone for all their work be offensive. Ya’ll complain entirely too much. The ones who get aknowledged love it and the sorry hags who dont complain.
Maybe your not doing your job as well as you think you are.
Get a life. If you dont love your job and cant do it regardless of the acknowledgement then your in the wrong business.
Admins are special thats why they acknowledge us for a whole week and no other profession, so if you dont feel special maybe your not going above and beyond your call of duty to be acknowledged. You ever thought of that? That gives you something to think about.
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Greta
April 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
Actually, my boss told me that he didn’t acknowledge it because I was more than just an admin. So does that mean that he over values me or under values the position. That was my point- there is a tone to Admin. Day that causes some people feel like they are insulting someone for acknoledging them. Do we work harder than other positions and deserve a holiday? Or do they have it to make up for treating some admins like crap all the other days of the year?
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Scrooge
April 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
I sent the following message to all my girls here at work:
Happy Administrative Professionals Day.
Please take a moment to contemplate my thoughtfulness and then get you butt back to work.
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Becky
April 24th, 2009
4:20 pm
I think that we all enjoy being told thank you and that you are appreciated regardless if it’s at work or home..No one has ever died from being nice to others..
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Mthomas
April 27th, 2009
11:05 am
This is my second time applying for unemployment benefits. My first time was 3 yrs. ago and it went pretty smoothly and I collected benefits for about a month and hoping this time around it goes smoothly. I think alot of people are embarassed about collecting benefits, but like you said that money is meant for situations like this.
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Roger
April 27th, 2009
10:27 pm
I can’t get benefits, so I’m living off credit for now. I made the mistake of resigning from a contract job which I was not qualified for but was hired anyway. Don’t make the mistake that I did. You’ll not get your benefits started back.
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Midtown chick
April 27th, 2009
10:33 pm
I’m collecting benefits for the 3rd time. Layoffs seem to hit me every 5 to 7 years. Good ol corporate life. I found the benefits process to be smooth and the DOL people not too unpleasant. The worst part of this experience has been from my friends and family making disparaging and hurtful comments about my collecting unemployment. I will never make collecting benefits public again, people are too hurtful and mean about it.
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VGrant
April 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
If you can afford to avoid it I would. I couldn’t and went down to sign up at the Cobb County Big Shanty Office.
Overall it wasn’t a bad experience and I was treated fine. Sure I could complain about being hearded like cattle a little but times are bad, the place was crowded, and the unemployment office workers, I’m sure, are overworked.
Bottom line, I got what I needed for the 12 weeks before I found another job. I have no complaints.
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mamaj
April 27th, 2009
10:41 pm
I worked for 34 years, and fortunately never had to apply for unemployment, but given the situation going on now, it would not have been a problem for me.The embarrassment would have come from being hungry and not taken advantage of it because of some misplaced stupid pride!
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justin
April 27th, 2009
11:05 pm
you shouldnt get to collect unemployment $ if you were fired for not doing the right thing in your job in my opinion.
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Yanamom
April 27th, 2009
11:17 pm
Make sure your contact information is correct, especially your phone number. The do most of their followup by phone.
Also, show up for all hearings, even if you get a job before the hearing. A friend didn’t show up for a hearing when her company contested paying benefits to all of the employees that they had just layed off. She lost and now is paying back everything she recieved, out of her current unemployment benefits! She decided that since she was already working at another job and no longer getting benefits, she didn’t need to be at the hearing. She didn’t realize that if she lost the appeal, that she would be required to pay back all the money she had already recieved. Instead of making her pay it back while she was working, they waited for her to claim unemployment benfits again and are taking it out of the money she is getting now.
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LMS
April 28th, 2009
1:03 am
This is the second time I’ve had to draw unemployment benefits. The last time was in 1995. I was laid off from another job in 1999, but found a job within a month. No such luck this time. I’ve been unemployed since my company (commercial real estate – they had not closed any deals in about 6 months) laid me off in December.
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msu
April 28th, 2009
1:14 am
Justin, you mentioned that “you shouldnt get to collect unemployment $ if you were fired for not doing the right thing in your job in my opinion”. Everyone’s case is different and thats why an investigation has to be done, i was fired, for something i had no control over, even though i was warned. When DOL, investigated they granted me favor and approved me over my employer. People get fired for all sorts of reasons and some employers do make it look like it was for profession reason, that is you were not doing your job. However it can also be personal reasons as well, like the employer wants you out and will do all kind of things to force you to resign/quit or get you fired.
I don’t like the idea of being unemployed, i have held a job since i started working 15yrs ago. I did my best and i was still fired. It even turned out that my employer is now being investigated.
Also, know that people who get fired and it was their fault, they do not recieve benefits, but again, there has to be an investigation and everyone’s case is handled differently. I had to go through a series of stuff that other unemployed people don’t have to go through.
At the end, i was granted favor. Loosing a job is not a good thing, and applying for unemployment is a very humbling experience. But its better to get unemployment than starve, commit suicide, or even robbery. Thank God we live in a country that offers unemployment benefits.
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Misa
April 28th, 2009
1:17 am
I’m caught in the temp agency trend. The assigment ends and the office does not tell you anything just that it simply ended. I applied for beneifts and waited the 21 days as advised. I went on my own 6 interviews and applied to hundreds of jobs online. After 21 days I contacted DOL and was told b/c no contact was made w/temp agency benefits will not be granted but I could appeal. I continued to certify weekly but called the temp office to inquire why they did not tell me. The nonchalent representative said you signed the papers when you enrolled w/us (over 8 months ago might I add and I signed dozens of forms). I calmly suggested in the future and due to the nature of current economic times; to let employees know to call weekly and if not it would affect unemployment benefits. She said um-hm and hung up. I re-established contact w/the agency from that call and now wait for a decision if previous weeks will be approved. I hope so b/c I need it and it’s not as if funds are w/drawn from the temp agents paycheck. It will show how many people are collecting unemplyment from that office but affecting her direct pay, absoulutely not! I only hope when she goes through this one day she will remember what she put others through. My experience at DOl has been ok. The workers are not rude, just over worked and each person gives a different answer to the same question, but what can you expect. They’re trying to keep their job 2???? What have we done to ourselves America?
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think!
April 28th, 2009
2:48 am
Unemployment benefits are part of your employment package. They are yours! Your employer pays into a state fund. If your employer did not pay into a fund to cover your possible lay off, your employer should pay you a higher wage or salary; or give you better benefits. Don’t let people who have never put one moment of thought into the employer/employee dynamic, lead you astray. Collect what you are owed.
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mary
April 28th, 2009
3:08 am
This will e my second time filing. only b/c I am still in school, have sertified every week and just one day the checks stoped coming and no one told me anything. So finally I demanded to speak to a supervisor. I was told that my year had ended and that I needed to reapply. In doing so, I have not had ANY income. But no one told me oh it expired, or anything. Now I am a student with a 4.0 gpa, no income @ all, and is about to be homeless. Might I add, I have two kids and we don’t get assistance from the state. Also, I was told we are over worked and backed up in our cases. So I aksed well where and how do I apply for a job here to help out, that will help the unemployment rate, and line down. She told me well you will have to contact Thurman, I said give me the nmber, what do you know, she did not have it. The office in cobb county is awefully slow, treat people like crap and very nonchalant. I was fired b/c I complained to my corporate office that my supervisor had violated HIPPA and I followed the chain of command. Still no one protected me, my rights, my privacy.
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mary
April 28th, 2009
3:17 am
our faith lye’s in the hand of someone who might be having a bad day. When more times than none, that it is our money and they want to tell us if we can have it or not. You are right, we do live in a country that have unemployment but, have to wait now over a month to even have a hearing to see if you are going to get it or not…..I was in the office last week and was speaking to people who was wondering where their check was, had not received one in three-six weeks. There is no communication with these people. You go down there and have to take a lunch bag with you, only to be told, there is nothing I can do…… SO OF US JUST WALK RIGHT ON IN, REQUEST A SUPERVISOR, THEN THEY ARE OUT. I have noticed them and got a few names.
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Be Well
April 28th, 2009
6:26 am
Think! is 100% on point. Everyone should re-read that comment.
MSU – Everyone is entitled to an opionion, no matter how wrong it is.
Justin – Wait until it happens to you.
Mary – 4.0 GPA huh? I’m concerned about; ‘have sertified’, ‘faith lye’s’, ‘checks stoped’ and ‘i…is about to be homeless’. Commissioner Michael Thurmond’s information may be found at http://www.dol.state.ga.us/
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shashi
April 28th, 2009
7:51 am
For Admin Prof Day last year my super gave me a card and took me out to my favorite venue. I felt great. Keeping up the good work.
Then the Nepotism started. It went downhill from there.
I watched a Day Care provider turn into a Administrative Officer in 8 months of being here. WOW!
She was really smelling herself now. Being rude and nasty. I complained. Should never have done that.”How dare I demand respect”. Downhill from there.
At this point we were not fully staffed, leaving me to cover 4 branches and 6 when the other MA was on leave. When I say cover, I mean…Travel,Travel Vouchers,Timesheets,Credit Card Purchases,Training and more!
Admin Prof Day came, and I just knew I was going to be recognized being as though I had busted my butt all this time. Oboy was I wrong!
I watched everyone around get taken out to lunch and more. I sat at my desk doing other branch tasks, and not one person said a word to me.
At the end of the week(Admin Day) my super comes to me acting like she forgot about the special day and hands me a pack of old a$$ sample craft cards she made when I fist got here two years ago(I think she forgot I saw them already)they were hideous. Then she says, “I would take you somewhere but I dont know what you eat”.WTF, are you serious! You took me to my favorite venue last year you fat..<>. Anyhoo,I was/am pissed.
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shashi
April 28th, 2009
8:08 am
Im not trying to be rude or anything to the folks telling others to get over it are more than likely the folks that got a simple “Thank You”. However, There is a such thing as respect in the workplace as it is at home This builds morale at home and work.
You expect your husband to show you how much he appreciates you every once in a while right? What happens when you don’t award your child for good behavior, they tend not to do good in the future, especially when your constantly awarding the bad behavior. Although we are not children, everyone knows that we tend to act that way when we feel as though we are not appreciated. Everyone needs love and appreciation, regardless of your age. It keeps you strong.
Teaches people not to be ignorant towards good deeds. Regardless if it’s your job or not(we all need some sort of reassurance, in the workplace and home).
We all know what results in not being appreciated EX:
Horrible customer service(you ever called a business and end up with a rude lady on the phone?) where do you think that results from. NOT BEING APPRECIATED FOR HER GOOD WORK AT SOME TIME.
Psychos: Where do you think the term “Going Postal” comes from.
That being said, I know who I am, and what I am capable of…but i will not be disrepected in no way!
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Savvy
April 28th, 2009
9:23 am
Hey Scrooge,
On your smug comment that ends with ‘…get you butt back to work…’ it would be one your Admins that would correct your spelling.
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CobbBlogger
April 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Well, my manager and the entire staff purchased the administrative staff gifts. And it was very thoughtful of them. With all the work we do, hell we basically run the office. So I was very appreciative of my gift, it was worth it and I wasn’t expecting it, hell they even sanged to us!
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CobbBlogger
April 28th, 2009
2:34 pm
I am guilty of 1, 2 and 4 ok, and maybe 3…lol. But honestly, I don’t think it’s me, my mng is a bad listner as well, she’ll instruct/ask me to do something, then turn right back around and will ask me again or I’ll give her an update and she’ll again she will ask about what I told her. The reason why I tend to not listen to others at times is because it’s either I already know what’s going on and pretend as if I’m listening, or I just don’t be in the mood to listen to people who are not open minded when it comes to expressing ideas on a job.
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allen
April 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
I am 17 years old I need a summer job with evening hours. I like customer service or anything right now. Please any suggestions?
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CobbBlogger
April 28th, 2009
2:38 pm
And I forgot to add, I can’t help interrupting callers who tends to asks questions that I hear on a daily basis. I just try to make a long story short.
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CobbBlogger
April 28th, 2009
2:40 pm
I couldn’t be a telemarketer. I could care less for making sales.
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jake
April 29th, 2009
5:18 pm
restaurant. work as a busser, host, expediter, or dishwasher. or server if they don’t serve alcohol.
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becky for obama
April 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
I go to work when I am ill, because my company will fire you for calling out sick. So go
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Vee
April 30th, 2009
1:58 pm
I have to say there are people that come to work here EVERY day sick … coughing and sneezing. The sad part is they have had whatever it is for 6-18 months. You would think they would have better since and go and take care of it. They just bring that nasty stuff to work with them everyday. Also, these people are very nasty because they cough and sneeze without covering their mouth. Also, whenever they are in the bathroom they ONLY run their hands under the water and then dry them. What kind of sense does that make to just run water. You would think by working at a technology company that profits billions you would have people with enough smarts to be clean and considerate of others. I know am talked about here because I spray Lysol all day every day as well as Netra Air.
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Name (required)
April 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
I can’t say I’m worried. I’m in good health and tend to avoid situations where the media attempts to scare the public needlessly.
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SAR
April 30th, 2009
2:55 pm
With the media hysteria on full throttle about the loss of jobs, the hosuing market and how wr’re about to have another great depression, people are worried about losing their jobs so they come to work sick. Before some to the media hysteria people would call in sick but now the employer can quote one of a thousand new articles about people being out of work, eating rats and living in tents in the woods.
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WOW
April 30th, 2009
3:03 pm
I cannot believe that someone who voted for obama actually has a job. Thank you Becky for Obama for showing me the light.
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klein.g@deutzusa.com
April 30th, 2009
3:03 pm
Thought you would like to read this.
Take care
Kathy Weinert
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Ha!
April 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
I work with a bunch of pigs (Engineers) who take dumps and don’t wash their hands, so yes.
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Nameless
April 30th, 2009
3:49 pm
I work for a company that is always looking for reason to fire their employers. I really hate that if we do have employers to get this, they may be out of a job. Employers in these tuff time just do not care about employees, it will just give them ground to fire you
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Sarah
April 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
I’m sick of about every ugly person I work with.
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Bronc
April 30th, 2009
4:07 pm
True is..companies talk about what they will do and talk and talk however no real actions are taken…they expect you to come to work no matter what…until someone dies then action is taken..sad but true that company loyalty is only seen when situations are at the worst..
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patricia
May 2nd, 2009
1:36 am
I just read your article on the flu situation and just wanted to comment on your grammar in the last sentence. It should read “have you ever *gone* to work…” And, yes, my kids do call me the Grammar Nazi.
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Pam Patterson
May 3rd, 2009
6:34 pm
Since I’m not working my usual full-time office job due to a layoff, I’m seeking anything part-time to keep up my administrative skills and to stay busy. I have alot of medical background, but would certainly enjoy any type of company and bring loads of skills to the table.
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JUANITA
May 4th, 2009
10:43 am
Enter your comments here
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JUANITA
May 4th, 2009
10:44 am
Enter your comments here
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Laurel
May 6th, 2009
4:18 pm
I was laid off with no warning what so ever! Included in the offer of 1 month severance pay, for over 3 years of loyal service, was a very restrictive agreement stating that I would not “bad-mouth” the company nor try to sue them. I was forced to sign it or lose my home! You see, unemployment payments will not cover my bills. I had to have that severance to pay my bills while I search for new employment. It stinks! They deserve to be sued!
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Allen
May 6th, 2009
7:47 pm
I’m a 54 year old male on disability, and I’m looking for something part-time. I can make up to $800 a month and keep my disability income. Any suggestions? I would appreciate it very much….Thanks
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denasia
May 8th, 2009
10:27 am
im 15 bout to be 16 in like 4 mouths how do i get a job
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Kassie
May 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
First of all, I think learning how to use language correctly will help. No one will hire you if you cannot speak English correctly! Just a tip….for all teens…
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John Tackett
May 14th, 2009
11:17 am
Would the Chief allow his officers to wear jeans on duty? If not, then he should not wear them either.
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Reader
May 14th, 2009
11:20 am
Jeans are okay when the Boss says it’s ok!
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itamazesme
May 14th, 2009
12:11 pm
Within in reason – jeans should be fine. Meaning no tootight, low riding, jeans with holes, or graphics. I know that people with common sense would know that these type of jeans are inappropriate, however, believe it or not our jeans day was taken away for the reasons stated above.
As a police chief, it would be out totally – unless as Mr Tackett says, the officers are allowed.
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Cutie Pie77
May 14th, 2009
12:13 pm
I guess it depends on what is written in the code of conduct book. if there is not any specific regulations on uniform, then no, you shouldn’t be requried to wear it.
personally, I feel jeans should only be allowed on casual friday.
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nana
May 14th, 2009
12:16 pm
I think as an officer of the law he should wear a uniform. As far as us non-law enforcement, I see no problem with a casual Friday where jeans are allowed.
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Tiffany
May 14th, 2009
12:21 pm
Let’s be real people not everyone can wear jeans to work. I don’t want to see anyone’s underwear or muffin top in the office
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Soulfinger
May 14th, 2009
12:24 pm
Depends on your job. If you work at Family Dollar, than why not!
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prootwadl
May 14th, 2009
12:32 pm
My workplace is business casual, meaning no jeans during the normal work day, but people who work help desk during the evening/night hours have a much more flexible dress code, and folks who are on 24×7 coverage can wear whatever they want (within reason) if they’re called into the office in the wee hours of the morning
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georgiapeach
May 14th, 2009
12:54 pm
My office is allowed to wear jeans 5 days a week. We never see anyone, so it’s no big deal what we wear. It’s nice perk!
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Eric
May 14th, 2009
12:56 pm
My company has recently went to an all casual dress code allowing jeans any day of the week. However, we were told that no jeans with holes or bare midsections. We are also not allowed to wear tennis shoes except on Fridays. This was a very welcome change and seems to have increased morale at the company. No more dry cleaning bills. But of course, we were told to use common sense when dressing…nothing objectionable. So far everyone has complied.
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Jessica
May 14th, 2009
1:02 pm
I can wear anything I want to work…even my pj’s…I work at home for my company..great perk!
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Jessica
May 14th, 2009
1:04 pm
Although the money is good, I couldn’t do it. I can’t stand the sight of blood and I would be too easily disturbed by what I saw (i.e. people in pain, dying). So I went the business degree way
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TheForgottenMan
May 14th, 2009
1:09 pm
When you are doing physical labor or work in a jeans store they are OK.
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Eleanor Rigby
May 14th, 2009
1:15 pm
I remember when police officers had to wear a cap, a tie and patent leather shoes. They were so handsome in their uniform and it commanded respect. I also remember when nurses had to wear a cap and a dress, no slacks. The rare woman police officer also had to wear a skirt. I also remember when people would always dress up to go downtown. I miss those days. I guess I’m old.
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Heidi
May 14th, 2009
1:36 pm
It all depends on the look and quality of the jeans. If they are faded, torn, etc. then of course it’s not okay. In the same way that torn or stained khakis would not be okay. But, if they are a consistent, dark wash and you look put together, why not? What’s the difference between nice jeans and a pair of khaki pants?
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Becky
May 14th, 2009
1:46 pm
Not only does my company allow jeans, we were shorts..The owner of our company said that he tried the suit and tie gig and that wasn’t him. He said that if people wanted to deal with him, they will have to accept him as he is..He ahs been known to go to meetings with his worout clothes on and a do rag around his head..I’ve been with this company for 25 years and we have always been able to wear shorts and jeans..In fact the VP is wearing flip flops to work today..
We are a fairly big company with about 45 people and have been in business for over 80 years, so I guess it works fine..
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Becky
May 14th, 2009
1:47 pm
Sorry for the typos…
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Malika
May 14th, 2009
1:55 pm
I think it depends on the company. I went into Washington Mutual once and everyone was so casual and lax all I could think was that I didn’t want the people handling my money to act and look like they’re on vacation. Wachovia had a much more mature demeanor and now look where both banks are. Call centers, day care centers, pet sitters and the like should be allowed to dress down. Or if its a place where clients are in and out, it looks bad to have people looking casual. But if no one sees you, wear what you want.
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J
May 14th, 2009
1:56 pm
I’m wearing jeans right now, so YES!
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lantana
May 14th, 2009
2:01 pm
At some places of work, casual Friday has become casual Monday throurh Thursday with Friday becomming “Lets wear our yard working clothes to work day. It is embarrassing and un professional.
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Lori
May 14th, 2009
2:18 pm
My office has casual Friday’s when we are allowed to wear jeans. I am always in a good mood on Fridays because of this. I am just more comfortable in my jeans. I an understand looking professional when you see clients, but I’ll never understand people who sit in box all day long being told to wear uncomfortable clothes that no one but their computer and 4 gray walls are going to see.
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justice isserved
May 14th, 2009
2:23 pm
I teach school and jeans are allowed only on special occasions. I think a police officer, unless the assignment is an undercover officer, should wear a uniform. The chief is the supervisor he should be leading- setting an example. Plus I love to see a man in uniform!!!
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Royce
May 14th, 2009
2:27 pm
People are so uptight. The biggest crooks wear a suit and tie each and everyday, yet we don’t trust the guy with flip flops and jeans on who is perhaps closer to having a check on reality, than a tight az suit wearing prick in 98 degree weather. Again who is better prepared??
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Wardrobe Malfunction
May 14th, 2009
3:04 pm
What Royce said! And who cares what cops wear? The uniform does not make them any less of a creep.
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Grayhairedmonkey
May 14th, 2009
3:54 pm
Refer to the dresscode.
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sc
May 14th, 2009
3:55 pm
Never in a professional work environment. Even if the boss says it is ok… have some standards people!
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sc
May 14th, 2009
3:58 pm
Of course, I think people who wear sweatpants outfits out in public have given up on themselves (who have not just come from the gym). Why even brush your teeth for that matter
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Becky
May 14th, 2009
4:01 pm
Amen Royce..sc, who says that you can’t have standards in jeans? If the owner of my work place says that I can wear jeans every day, why shouldn’t I wear them..I can’t tell you the number of people that have told him and us that they wish they could wear jeans at work..Comfortable, happy people make for great workers..
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sc
May 14th, 2009
4:12 pm
Depends on the kind of person you are. Leader or Follower?
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Becky
May 14th, 2009
4:27 pm
Well since the owner is 75 years old and has a very successful company, I’d say he’s a leader..As for his employees, most of us have been here for over 20 years, so I wouldn’t consider us followers, we all own our own homes, cars and take vacations yearly..Either way you want to phrase it, I’m happy in my job wearing jeans..
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SMH
May 14th, 2009
5:34 pm
Malika, your argument is flawed. Washington Mutual employees only wear jeans on Fridays and Saturdays. They are also owned by JP Morgan Chase. They are also one of the FEW banks that passed the stress test and is doing ok. Wachovia, on the other hand is under investigation with Wells Fargo, who bought them out.
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JB
May 14th, 2009
6:28 pm
As my Dad used to say. As long as the job gets done!!!!!!!! The snake of the office may be designer down and the person wearing the jeans is running the place.
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Seadawg
May 14th, 2009
6:56 pm
Doesn’t matter what you wear long as it’s clean, not tatered or offensive & the employees act professional. Look at Trader Joe’s, great place to shop & customer service. I’d love to wear tropical shirts to work.
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ornery
May 14th, 2009
9:59 pm
Public Safety should be wearing a uniform, though should they wear Type A (dress) BDU types or standard should be open to interpretation. Elsewhere jeans should not be a problem.. I don’t even understand why newscasters have to wear a dress clothes. Wearing ties should be as a very last resort kind of thing. Reminds me of the problems a certain legislator had wearing jeans in the Georgia House of Representatives. Come on now get a grip! I’ve worked in all matters of work environment jeans don’t destroy productivity or respect.
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nic
May 14th, 2009
10:00 pm
does it really matter? jeez, whats important is that the job is getting done
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John
May 14th, 2009
10:17 pm
Jeans are never appropriate in any office or professional setting. Neither are tank tops, capri pants, or anything else plainly casual. A professional job is just that–professional. If you don’t want to dress appropriately for the job, them you don’t want the job. You should quit or get fired–no ifs, no questions asked. This is a nobrainer.
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Walter Little
May 14th, 2009
10:19 pm
I see nothing wrong with the Chief wearing jeans. Some people – and I’m thinking of Jonesboro’s mayor – jump all over the stuff that does not amount to a hill of beans, but are afraid to address the issues that are really important.
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Steve
May 14th, 2009
10:40 pm
Jeans are fine to wear at work, period. John is apparently one of those people who believe in perception instead of work. John, please quit your job now since you obviously care more about the way people look than how they perform.
I have worked for a few different companies in the last couple of decades, and the ones that were overly concerned with OUTDATED concepts of ‘perception’ have all had troubles because other companies with less gestapo like tactics have taken all the better employees.
Jeans are fine, as long as they are worn in a ‘business casual’ fashion. That means no baggy jeans, no holes, no stained colors to make them look dirty, no dragging on the ground, and no low riders or overly tight jeans. I have seen people dress, act, and work, far more professionally in jeans that the unethical, uptight, dress for success but don’t let ethics get in your way old-schoolers.
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Susan
May 14th, 2009
11:43 pm
If you dress professionally, you will work professionally and do the job right. If you dress casually, you will work casually and be less careful in doing the job correctly. A person who doesn’t take pride in how they dress at work won’t take pride in how and where they work. No employee of mine will ever wear jeans if they want to continue working.
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Dave Foreman
May 15th, 2009
6:46 pm
I filed for unemployment this week and it was pretty easy. Only took about 20 minutes to listen to an informational session and sign up on a computer.
I would like to ask others how long it took for them to receive their letter stating if they qualify for UI. Also, how long before you have an orientation meeting where you can sign up for training and career seminars? I have heard the system is behind schedule and am anxious for any paths that will lead to a new job.
Dave
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Kay
May 16th, 2009
2:14 pm
I don’t think one clothing item should overpower the outfit–Johnson wore jacket & tie with jeans (which has failed to be mentioned here). It’s not like he’s out there in jeans & a t-shirt, c’mon! If it costs over $200 to dress him in uniform (on my dollar), screw it, let the man be comfortable (& pay for his own attire) as long as it’s professional–and I find jacket & tie professional(regardless of the stinkin’ jeans).
Get over it people–we need to budget! Not to mention we should be allocating funds to better train & pay our law enforcement, not to buy them shiny new duds! Who gives a crap how spiffy their attire is–they need to catch the criminals!!
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Does it pay to be tall in the workplace? | Blog Break
May 18th, 2009
2:16 pm
[...] we had a good discussion about the impact being overweight had on promotions. Men with a few extra pounds fared better than their female [...]
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AltaDiva
May 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
I believe that extremely tall women may face a bit of discrimination in the workplace. As a 6′1 female, I am constantly having to assuage the feelings of my shorter male counterparts. If I had a nickel for every time that I have heard from a male boss or coworker, “You must be 6′3 because I am 6 feet.” No, you are 5′9-5′10 and you really need to come to terms with that. Fortunately for me I am attractive, slim, and I know my stuff! God has blessed me with height and I have finally learned to take it all in stride…
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Eric
May 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
As the Chief of Police, hs should dress like the Chief, No Jeans. Police departments are a paramilitary organization and those at the top should dress like it. Also, from his picture, I heard the Family Dollar had razors on sale.
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Sean
May 19th, 2009
4:47 pm
I don’t know, this sounds real suspect!
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sako
May 19th, 2009
5:01 pm
That gives a new meaning to googling.
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Slim
May 19th, 2009
5:02 pm
Unless you’re one of the 50K Google employees, it really doesn’t matter anyway. So McDonalds employees, fear not.
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RickyBooby
May 19th, 2009
5:04 pm
Google is most likely simply mining data on how much specific users are visiting job search websites, seeing as how it is pretty much a good indication that someone is at least interested in what’s out there in the job market.
It’s not rocket science.
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RGB
May 19th, 2009
5:47 pm
One approach is to spend gazillions of dollars on the development of an algorithm to determine if employees are likely to leave.
Or Google could hire qualified supervisors who know something about their employees’ goals and career objectives (by actually talking to them). Nah, there’s nothing high-tech about that approach so it would never work.
What was I thinking?
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Papa
May 19th, 2009
6:01 pm
At my workplace it is patent who doesn’t want to be there. And it is likewise obvious who is wanted there. The equation is simple – the Golden Rule: He who has the gold rules (the actual workers suck it up and go on). How many of us pray for a slighly stronger marketplace so we can move on …
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James
May 19th, 2009
6:02 pm
There’s no way to justify a Chief of Police wearing jeans. He represents the law enforcement arm of the City and should do so in professional attire or a uniform. If he wants to wear jeans to work he should get a job as a construction worker or a Calvin Klein model.
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Derek Irvine, Globoforce
May 21st, 2009
2:29 pm
Wow. “Current and former Googlers said the company is losing talent because some employees feel they can’t make the same impact as the company matures. Several said Google provides little formal career planning, and some found the company’s human-resources programs too impersonal.”
And the goal is to solve this with more technology and less of the human touch? What I read here is employees crying out for some personal time and recognition of their efforts and contributions — more importantly, they don’t want just a pat on the back. They want to be told, specifically, how their efforts ARE making a tremendous impact.
This isn’t that difficult — strategic recognition is designed to accomplish precisely this by giving employees the appreciation they deserve while tying those efforts and recognitions to strategic objectives achieved. This line of sight combined with appreciation is what Google seems to need — not another algorithm.
More on this concept of line of sight and appreciation is available here: http://globoforce.blogspot.com/2009/05/defining-employee-engagement-whats-your.html
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MikeB
May 21st, 2009
10:45 pm
There is something more to this story than is being reported……….. On the subject of what has been reported, I never have read where he refused to wear a Jonesboro PD uniform…….. Just that he was asked not to wear jeans. From what I saw, he complied, and was willing to serve some portion of his suspension.
That to me does not sound like a Chief that should be fired. Sounds like he assumed he could wear cloths on duty that he in fact could not………… He was willing to pay for his misunderstanding, but that was not good enough for the Mayor, so he fired him…………. That is unless there is something else not being reported.
Hate getting half a story, but thats the norm these days…………..
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Tommy
May 21st, 2009
11:37 pm
You wear the uniform the boss says to wear. The police Chief works for somebody. He lost his job for being dumb. Go wear your jeans at home dumb A$$.
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BJE
May 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
These are the EXACT words from the Luther Maddox for Mayor website… “”I am the only candidate that will form a team with the council to take Jonesboro forward. The constant bickering and personal agendas will stop. I will consult the council and seek their input on issues as they arise during the course of running the city.”
I know the best and brightest from Harvard don’t line up for office in Jonesboro, but this is pathetic. Absolute hypocrisy, but what can you expect from a moronic hick town???
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Atlantaguy
May 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
I’ve seen the video reports of this guy. While I’m sure there are small town politics at play here, there is NO WAY I’d allow a man with a handlebar mustache, rotten/missing teeth, and a mentality that thinks it’s ok to wear cowboy boots to work be my police chief. What were they thinking to BEGIN with when they hired him? This isn’t lower Louisianna, folks. It’s metro Atlanta. At least fake at being professional!
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ND
May 22nd, 2009
2:36 am
Americans are too image-conscious.
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ornery
May 22nd, 2009
5:03 am
Sounds like there is a bigger problem than just jeans here with the termination. I would strongly suggest the chief retain a employment lawyer specialist and file a suit against the city.
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Mariah Strobe
May 22nd, 2009
5:31 am
If you are in a physically demanding job, I belive jeans and dark (not colored or white) sneakers are fine.
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Scott
May 22nd, 2009
5:55 am
A Chief of Police or any ranking official in law enforcement is a leader that sets standards for the men and women that serve under their command. Therefore, as a leader they are expected to lead by example.
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Steve
May 22nd, 2009
7:02 am
It reflects his attitude of the seriousness of the job and of the capability to follow orders. I know what the rules are, but I don’t care to follow them. The man doesn’t possess the attitude or the respect for the job and is now right where he should be – FIRED!!!
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Semper_Fi
May 22nd, 2009
7:48 am
If the previous Chief was wearing jeans for any duration, then the subsequent Chief is repremanded for the same action, it apears that there is another underlying issue. Jeans were an excuse.
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TRUTH
May 22nd, 2009
8:25 am
Semper Fi and I agree. (He’s a Marine, I’m Army). Jeans are where we are as a society. They can be dressed up or down. It normally puts the person receiving the “wearer” at ease. If you were going to a formal meeting, then appropriate dress mandates. This is nothing more than an excuse. I work for a laarge corporation, they still beleive in business casual, which are slacks and polos. What is the difference between that get up and jeans? Lighten up folks. Really….
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Owned by 3 huge dogs
May 22nd, 2009
8:34 am
It is possible to look “professional” in jeans……if you wear them the right way and with the right shirt and jacket. Jeans are perfect as a uniform. As a nurse, I wish I could wear them too. They wear better, last longer, and are much less expensive than the whites that I have to wear. And it is my understanding that he is (was?) the chief in a smaller community. He most likely did not sit in an office all day. I truly would rather deal with a cop in a pair of jeans than some hotshot in a perfectly tailored uniform. But then I am an old hippie anyway. And I have never been a mainstream thinker. But common sense and logic are not mainstream in today’s society, either. Don’t back down, chief, some of us have your back.
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G5S2P7
May 22nd, 2009
8:44 am
Brad is a good man and I doubt he’s ever met a stranger. He’s one of those few people who will do whatever he can to help you no matter what your circumstances are. I doubt he’s out on patrol on a daily basis and therefore if the policy manual says he can dictate the dress of the department then he’s within his rights to wear whatever he deems appropriate. I don’t see the Mayor winning a judicial review of the case. If they’ve had 6 police chiefs in 9 years it sounds like there is a problem somewhere else besides the police department……specifically the Mayor. He’s seems like he has nothing else to do but to but into everyone’s business!! Give’m hell 406!!
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exmarks the spot
May 22nd, 2009
9:10 am
This is not about jeans, this is about ego, power and the abuse of that power. It’s time for a new mayor!
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John
May 22nd, 2009
9:12 am
I doubt the real issue is jeans, it sounds like a small-time politician is trying to make himself look more important than he really is! Too bad it isn’t this easy to get rid of politicians in office!
As for the jeans, there is NOTHING wrong, in the case of the (former) Police Chief it may have made his job easier to look more casual when dealing with the public. I have to wonder if the useless mayor will require undercover cops to wear uniforms when on duty?
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Owned by 3 huge dogs
May 22nd, 2009
9:30 am
Oh and that remark about his teeth was really uncalled for…….I would be willing to bet that the department doesn’t offer much in the way of dental insurance and do any of you have any idea what the chief’s salary is? Not too many honest cops are rolling in dough.
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Cindy
May 22nd, 2009
9:32 am
Get real… the issue is not with the Chief wearing jeans – time to get rid of the old school Mayor!
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Troy Bolt
May 22nd, 2009
9:55 am
Sounds to me like Boss Hog is at it again. He kinda favored the Hog. Small town politicians are most of the time on a power trip. The chief stopped wearing the jeans when he was told to so whats the problem now.
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The Voice
May 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
I work in public safety and how you present yourself to the public is most important. When we arrive on the scene we have to take control and if we arrive looking like Bubba from In The Heat of The Night then were are looked upon as Barneys from Andy Griffith. He is the Chief. He leads the department. He should be the most professional one there. He openly challanged the mayor (who is recgonized as a first class moron) in public. Never Never Ever air your dirty laundry in public, it does nothing but cause problems and lower morale. I don’t feel sorry for the chief….I feel sorry for the officers.
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TexasFreako
May 22nd, 2009
10:06 am
Luther Maddox is an ignorant redneck. What Brad Johnson wore was fine and professional with the included sport coat and cowboy hat. I guess now every top cop in the state of Texas is unprofessional. You can look professional in nice jeans. It made Brad Johnson more approachable and that is what the public likes. It is time to get fat backwoods redneck squeal-like-a-pig slobs like Luther Maddox out of office but I guess first we will have to remove his head from his a$$.
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hrw
May 22nd, 2009
10:35 am
The Mayor has the authority to ensure his top police officer dress appropriately. The Chief in turn should set an example for his subordinates. The Police Chief must understand that when he is in the public eye; his appearence is judged by the citizens who help elect him into office. While his attire was clean and his appearance was in order; this was not a good example to set for the other police officer. You come to the office in a professional dress attire setting an example for the rest of the police officer to follow. When dress on duty in jeans it send a wrong message that other police officer might follow. It would not look professional if any police officer show’s up in jeans to make an arrest or to try and solve a problem dressed in that manner. If this was not an ongoing offense, the Mayor should administer the chief a written discipline letter. A chief does not disobey the Mayor’s orders even if the Mayor is wrong. Chief, you can wear your Jean off duty when you are out shopping or around your community. I think you do not mean any disrespect to the Mayor since you were already in your Jeans oand dress coat on your job! If you were working uncover, he Mayor would not disagree with you wearing jeans. I think the Mayor do not want this to become a trend with police officer that might assume they can do the same. Atlanta detectives wear their dress hat when going to honmocides calls, they look good because they are also wearing suits. Those hats are appropriate.
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C. M. Thornton, III
May 22nd, 2009
10:44 am
I have been a cop for 15 years. I would like to comment that jeans and a fu-manchu mustache are by NO mean professional attire and grooming standards for a chief of police, especially in the metro Atlanta area. The chief represents the entire department and that department’s image. If the chief does not want to wear the uniform that he demands his officers wear, at the very least he needs to wear slacks, dress shirt and tie. The chief must set the example of professionalism for his officers to follow. This chief obviously does not do that. They mayor was right to enforce a professional appearance for the police department.
On a side note, it’s standard world-wide for police departments to wear uniforms. In fact, on our department’s application there is the question, “Do you object to wearing a uniform”. Uniforms represent unity and professionalism. Blue jeans, injected into this setting, represent individualism.
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B
May 22nd, 2009
10:45 am
Is the mayor black?
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Rick
May 22nd, 2009
10:49 am
I think the lesson he learned here is that jeans are appropriate to wear to the unemployment office.
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HRPufnstuf
May 22nd, 2009
10:53 am
Six Police Chiefs in nine years? I don’t think the problem is with either the Chief or with the jeans. Sounds like that city has some serious problems with management, and the Chief is just the latest scapegoat.
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arlene
May 22nd, 2009
12:05 pm
The mayor did not forbid the chief from wearing jeans. I think that if he had told him not to wear them and they were still worn, he should have suspended him. The city council halved the suspension, and they were supposed to meet tonight. But the mayor jumped the gun and fired the chief. Sounds like a “petty power decision”to me…or a p***** contest!
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Peter
May 22nd, 2009
12:50 pm
The whole thing sounds personal…… a vendetta !
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26belly
May 22nd, 2009
1:31 pm
In the metro Atlanta region, people shake their heads once again! There goes Clayton County.
In the words of Allen Iverson…
“we talking about jeans!”
What is the change in the crime rate of the municipality of Jonesboro, GA?
How many officers have increased their professional training and skill level during the tenure of Chief Johnson?
Has the Jonesboro Police Department assisted in improving the conviction rate of the DA’s office for cases involving Jonesboro, GA?
“Are we talking bout jeans?!”
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Karen
May 22nd, 2009
3:11 pm
We are talking Clayton County people…..the ghetto! Who cares what he wears if he has to run after drug selling thugs and murderers! It is 2009….Small town USA good ole boy system makes me sick. I am sure he is more comfortable trying to keep rotten Clayton County safe in jeans than in a uniform….and it saves tax payer dollars – they do not have to pay for the stiff uniforms that are heavy and very uncomfortable! Get Real Mayor – look around and see what is really important. Jonesboro was once a nice place…..now is it terrible.
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Karen
May 22nd, 2009
3:13 pm
Enter your comments here
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hmr
May 22nd, 2009
3:40 pm
Here is my take, not just on Clayton County, but on corporate America, period.
If a person is handling their business in their job duties, it should not matter what they wear to work. Yes, I understand in some professions business attire is more appropriate, but I’ve learned that clothes do not necessarily equate to adequate job performance. Just like a degree does not automatically make a person qualified for a job. There are more important things to focus on in the workplace.
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BJE
May 22nd, 2009
6:23 pm
Again – EVERYONE READ THIS. These are the mayor’s OWN words. This is what HE said in running for this office. He completely lied.
“”I am the only candidate that will form a team with the council to take Jonesboro forward. The constant bickering and personal agendas will stop. I will consult the council and seek their input on issues as they arise during the course of running the city.”
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Christian Business Journal » Google’s Approach to Employee Engagement: Surprise! It’s an Algorithm
May 22nd, 2009
10:48 pm
[...] Google’s Approach to Higher Turnover, Lower Engagement [...]
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Karen
May 25th, 2009
1:42 am
Be conscienous. If you really want work and save some money, you should look like you want to work. Like a young lady and a young man. Think about some things you are really good at and look for something relevant to that. Be confident, sell yourself and always ask questions.
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S. Hurley
May 26th, 2009
6:40 pm
Enter your comments here
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Carmen
May 26th, 2009
6:56 pm
I sent my resume via e-mail to apply to an Executive Assistant position posted on the AJC Job section. The reply came with a charge for (I think it was) $45.00 or so to re-write my resume in a way that I was certain to get the job. The company sending the reply was a convent of nuns and clerigs is you can believe it. The web-site even had picture of some of the nuns working from their office in California!! I replied with an e-mail stating that I was not interested but we had a laugh at the office with the scam. I wonder sometimes how many people actually fell for that one.
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DeeMack
May 26th, 2009
8:10 pm
I also thought I was getting a Google CD for 1.95 cents and did not READ THE FINE PRINT. They proceeded to take $47.50 out of my bank account. I reported my card as being lost and paid $5 for a replacement. That will not happen AGAIN! I had to remind myself; “If it’s too good to be true, it is!
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gmr
May 26th, 2009
8:49 pm
I was a victim of Mystery Shoppers. I was scammed out of $6,000.00 thinking that the money orders that Bank of America (BOA)cashed were real moneygrams.
Now I am stuck paying the money back to BOA. If you have been scammed by Mystery Shoppers email me at Imginga@aol.com and lets see what we can so legally about it.
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Vanessa
May 27th, 2009
5:23 pm
I just came across your Blog. I’m an overweight Businesswoman. It has taken a lot of hard work for me to get to where i am today. Long working hours, eating at my desk, commute travel and stress and convenience food has me overweight. Not because i’m lazy but because i’m too busy and allow my physical conditioning to go out of control. Every day i deal with more and more overweight business people. In fact i suspect most of us at executive level will all be overweight in a few years time. Many businesswomen like me are heavy not from laziness but career drive. Yet we do get snide remarks, mainly i notice from other women. No one heads the slim woman who takes the lift how ever when i take it i’m a fat lazy cow
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Cal
May 27th, 2009
9:06 pm
I was a victim of a trucking company name Bailey & Bailey trucking in Long Lane, MO. The owner placed ad in internet hiring owner operator only. She put pay settlement for 5%/7 days, 3%/14 days, 401K…are nothing but scam. She not only rush me to go on the road before she send me IFTA but also violated DOT regulation for not requiring drug test from me. After i worked a week, she lied to me about pay me for another week due to it took a week to put new employee into their system. By the time she said she can pay me, she find another excuse for not able to pay me due to she never got pay from all of the shippers for 3 months and she doesn’t know what’s going on in their payroll dept. She never pay me for total $6.7K, I lost all my saving for fuel expense , lumper and toll.
Any driver or owner operator see this comment, please be aware and tell others, do not apply job on this company. the owner is professional SWINDLER!!
.
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kelsey
May 27th, 2009
9:36 pm
i am 15 years old and need ajob will do just about anything
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april
May 28th, 2009
5:40 pm
how could i get a job and i 13. also does it matter how old you are alongvs you do the job and get it done.
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Patricia
May 29th, 2009
12:48 pm
Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Then have someone else check it again. Apparently this message has not been received by some job applicants.
If the position you are applying for requires an online application, do not leave the experience fields blank and refer to your resume. Some commonly used job application software does not always flag the fact that there is a resume attached. Even if it does, it is more work for the person reviewing resumes to have to look somewhere else.
Use the words and phrases in the job description to describe your experience. In large organizations, the first cut of applicants may be done by a HR person who doesn’t know the field. Using the same words to describe your previous experience will help get your application through to the hiring manager.
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unemployed guy
May 29th, 2009
12:59 pm
It never hurts to read up on resume tips. But I can tell you that it really is b.s. We’ve come to the point now where we try to make those who have lost their jobs….through no fault of their own…feel as if it’s the construction of their resume and cover letters that is holding them back from reentering the job market.
The truth is, if you’ve included correct information, free of grammatical and spelling errors, and you’ve tailored the cover letter and resume to the company and job you’re applying for, then you’ve done all you can really do.
People are not hiring and of they are, there are 100’s, if not 1000’s applying for the same position. The idea that your resume didn’t get you the job is false. When the economy is good, and people are hiring, you don’t see all these articles about resumes, because, they really don’t matter as much as you are lead to believe in tough times.
The best way to get a job is to know someone who can put you in touch with an open position and has some sway with the people doing the hiring. Failing that, the best way is pure luck. You, or your resume just happen to be there when the person hiring makes time to look for someone and is ready to hire.
95% of every other “tip” you read about how to get a job is b.s. Luck, timing, personal relationship, ready error-free resume. Those are the keys.
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Tony
May 29th, 2009
1:39 pm
By all means, have someone proofread your resume. Do not simply let your computer “spell check” do the deed. When I review resumes I go straight to the employment record. Are there any gaps? Frequent changes? The author of the article is correct about long and wordy resumes. Don’t do it! References will be checked.
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Sheryl
May 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
I work for the CDC and I’m scared to death.
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Doug
May 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
Patricia:
Good stuff.
Thanks!
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Philip Smith
May 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
An example of how to get a great work environment & Culture:
Joy,
The Fruit Farmer, Inc. is a leader in delivering farm-fresh fruit directly to companies nationwide.
We partner with corporations to provide daily baskets of fresh fruit to their employees. We deliver a wide variety of fruits that give employees a healthier option for snacks and lunch at their place of employment. Based in Atlanta, Georgia
(www.thefruitfarmer.net)
Great for boosting the attitudes at work and help employees eat healthy.
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Lots of them
May 29th, 2009
2:35 pm
Lots of them are going to quit. They are losing touch with who they were and are becoming just another high tech company. People will leave in droves when they realize there is nothing magic about working there after all (ala Microsoft).
It doesn’t take an algorithm to figure out who is going to leave. People that feel underappreciated, bored, underpaid, etc (right or wrong) or think there is a better oppty elsewhere won’t last. High tech workers don’t usually last more than a few years at a company regardless of circumstances. Companies have very little loyalty to their workers, and vice versa. Google won’t be any different. They’ll have retention issues just like every other similar company.
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JENNY`
May 30th, 2009
3:28 pm
hELLO I’M A TEENAGER LOOKING FOR A PART-TOME JOB ANY IDEAS.
SINCERELY JENNY
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Is casual dress at work going out of style? | Blog Break
May 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
[...] had a good, spirited discussion on BlogBreak recently about the Jonesboro police chief who was fired for wearing jeans instead of a traditional uniform to work. A recent article suggests that casual days at the [...]
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Brett Shepherd
May 31st, 2009
10:21 am
Hell where I work casual dress would be an upgrade. We have grown men coming to work in saggy jeans, tennis shoes and t-shirts. We have women coming in as if they just left CLUB ESSO! It’s a damn shame that nobody takes pride in coming to work dressed up anymore. But I guess when your supervisor is sloppy, then why shouldn’t the workerbees?
I take pride in coming to work dressed professionally, although I have been guilty of wearing jeans, a polo shirt and loafer type shoes on Fridays. But my dress down is still 1000% better than everyone elses best day.
The company I work for takes no pride in being professional and in this day and age..it’s a shame!
Brett Shepherd
Norcross, GA
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Jazmine
May 31st, 2009
2:13 pm
man jasmine.im fourteen now and im lookin for a job from friends, internet, e-mails, it’s hard pimpin just do wat u do and you mite find one.
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hopelessly unemployed
June 4th, 2009
10:50 am
For those of us in double digit areas (yes they do exist in Ga dont let the static rate of unemployment fool you, it was created by 45k people dropping off the rolls while waiting for the state extension that is federally funded) HB581 was passed 4/3 and signed into law on 4/21. We were finally allowed to apply on 5/22 they are talking about 6/25 before funds come out.
Something is wrong as all other states are giving retro benfits and you can google what those benfits are, not Ga. a regular UI claim takes 3 weeks and it is looking at up to 5 weeks for SEB. yet they can mail a letter on 5/8 of eligibility and do a dry run on a bank acct 5/26,lol….yet still no money.
The whole point of UI/EUC/SEB is so jobless workers do not loose their stability, well my 4 kids are about to watch their stuff get put on the side of the road and have no roof over there head. I worked non profit and grant cutbacks mean you loose your job and the county where i live another plant closed yesterday so I’m sure our 11.5% rate will go up again.If Macdonalds would hire me I’ld be tickled to death cause I could put us into an efficiency.
So good luck collecting and even better luck for future job finding
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Jim444
June 4th, 2009
1:53 pm
Being a Worker is for SLAVES. I am not a worker and never want to be someone’s “employee”.
I would be embarrassed to dress professional like I’m some “worker bee employee”.
People no longer take pride in “work”. No one wants to be “at work” anymore.
Today, everyone wants to be retired and living the good life.
To be a “worker” or “employee” just shows you never made it big during the boom.
Many people got rich during the 1980’s – 2005. If you didn’t get rich then, you’ll NEVER get rich now.
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Michael
June 4th, 2009
4:14 pm
I am 15 years of age and really need money to go back to school next year. I would do just about anything to make money this summer…Could anyone help me?
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nate
June 5th, 2009
9:38 am
brian lewis go call allsup in bellville ill they will help you get ssdi you more than qualify sounds like to me what are you waiting for they take 25 percent of your award but at least you will have income comeing in each month. i am 45 with degenerated disc diasease and stenosis of spine with 2 disc shot at L-4 L-5 with a torn nerve and i take 100mg shots of insulin for diabeaties and 6 pain pills for pain. come on dude do you really think anybody is going to hire people like us in todays world i dought it. so call them you will be glad you did.
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dan
June 5th, 2009
9:50 am
come on people do you really think anybody in the social security administration or ssdi for disabled people really care about your condition no they dont i call then hitlers ss because there trained to deny you no matter what. why do you think they pay a independent doctor to see you there doctor ssdi hes paid by the social security office du. so please make sure you get a lawyer before you apply or you will get denied all the way to federal court. god bless and good luck.
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neal kelley
June 8th, 2009
11:45 pm
every hate a brown noser… it does not save you.. make you are target in some business enviorments..
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Atl Hawk
June 8th, 2009
11:45 pm
Not at all. People who get their rocks off by telling the boss is doing the same thing. I cant understand why people dont get that karma is real. Whatever you do to others will be done to you. If it is your time to leave a job then its just that time. Snitching should not be rewarded.
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Mike D
June 9th, 2009
1:44 am
I had a 3 year long affair with my boss at Wachovia. I actually fathered her second child, but she eventually moved on.
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Jimbo
June 9th, 2009
2:04 am
Some insecure bosses enjoy the attention from brown-nosers. Personally, it makes me nauseous.
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HP
June 10th, 2009
12:20 pm
Yes. Sad but true.
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Georgia’s highest-paid executives: Are they worth it? | Blog Break
June 12th, 2009
5:40 pm
[...] know from the public outrage over AIG bonuses that executive pay remains a controversial subject, especially as the economy continues to [...]
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Phillip
June 14th, 2009
10:25 am
So many “job opening” listed in ajc and other papers (via hotjobs) are nothing more than marketing scams for collecting contact information. (mainly for online continuing education and resume writing services) Highly frustrating and unintentially requested, job applicants are bombarded by phone calls and emails trying to sell everything from MBA’s to auto insurance to home mortgage refinance to magazine subscriptions. It may not be illegal, but it certain is an exploiting of a loop-hole in the anti-spam laws. These ads can be found in every category and every major paper in the US.
It would help if the AJC (and others) would identify these fake job ads and refuse to publish them in the “jobs” sections if they are not truly employment opportunities.
Smacks of false advertising.
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Robert G Flanagan
June 15th, 2009
5:32 am
Not from where I’m sitting. At Averitt Exress I was just forced to opt for part time status or unemployment benefits. I had just received a raise from $16.00 per hour to $17.00 per hour. My raise was taken away and I was forced to take a $2.00 pay cut along with the loss of all benefits. Averitt had never done this before. While part time employees had been let go last year, full time employees had never been forced to become part time loosing all benefits.
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Capitalist
June 15th, 2009
12:11 pm
If we value our freedom as we have known it in America, we need to protect the free market. People should be paid based upon what the market dictates, no matter what they do. Where do you draw the line? If you want to limit executive pay, why would you stop there? Why should athletes and entertainers be allowed to make millions and not some of the most educated, brightest business people? Wouldn’t we also all benefit from lower ticket prices and cost of goods and services resulting from lower advertising cost if athletes and entertainers were paid less? Why should an owner of a private company be allowed to make whatever the market bears and not a CEO of a public company? The private company has investors as well. This is a slippery slope.
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sharonda
June 15th, 2009
4:39 pm
I’m looking for employment I do have experience in retail I am 16 yrs. will be 17 yrs. in one month
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Mad Haddy
June 15th, 2009
11:15 pm
I was in a situation where I felt that I needed to take on as many tasks as possible to keep my job. Guess what? If your boss does not like you because you are more knowledeable and receive kuddos from external customers, she will get rid of you anyway. If you feel threatened, update the resume and start looking for another job now, you will be one step ahead of the game.
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Lisa
June 17th, 2009
4:35 pm
I am 17 I really need a job to help me save money for my books for college this upcoming fall
or volunteer opens to gain experience
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Becky
June 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
Does having sex on the pool table with the boss count as a crush?
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Will
June 18th, 2009
3:03 pm
When I was married the first time, I had an affair with a co-worker. I divorced and the co-worker and I had a four-year relationship. Don’t regret it. Am about to mark the 11th anniversary of my second marriage. I’d be open to another relationship. What you up to tonight, Becky?
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Too Easy
June 18th, 2009
3:07 pm
Twice. Married ‘em both. No cheating involved either time.
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Too Easy
June 18th, 2009
3:08 pm
And, no. This isn’t Becky using another screen name.
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Becky
June 18th, 2009
3:21 pm
Will, that my dear was in my wilder days, sorry..
Too Easy, what do you mean by that? I never said I was easy..Guess I should mention that this crush lasted for about 5 years..
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Nora
June 18th, 2009
3:35 pm
I think “Too Easy” describes one of those co-workers you married (at least if you’re who I think you are).
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Becky
June 18th, 2009
3:47 pm
Nora, I’m not who you think I am..I didn’t marry the boss..
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Jim
June 18th, 2009
3:59 pm
I nail my secretary every night before we leave the office.
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Nora
June 18th, 2009
4:03 pm
Becky, I was talking to “Too Easy”, not you. (Sorry!)
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Becky
June 18th, 2009
4:04 pm
Jim, every night? WOW
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HANNAH
June 18th, 2009
4:13 pm
Enter your comments here
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HANNAH
June 18th, 2009
4:13 pm
HAVING AN EMOTIONAL AFFAIR RIGHT NOW WAITING TO SEE IF IT GOES ANY FURTHER…
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Jim
June 18th, 2009
4:16 pm
Becky, except the weekends. She is just so hot:)
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Becky
June 18th, 2009
4:40 pm
Nora, thats ok…Thanks..
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Absolutely!!
June 18th, 2009
4:42 pm
Can I have Becky’s number?
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Misse
June 18th, 2009
4:42 pm
I have never liked giving my number to strangers so it seems that work is one of the places I can feel confortable getting to know someone before actually “dating”. This has led to two relationships. One lasted for two years and I have been in the other since 2005. We are getting married this summer!
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Absolutely!!
June 18th, 2009
4:47 pm
But really, I have had many. you can’t help it. You spend more time with co-workers than significant others and co-workers can sympathize with what you have to deal with all day, so it is easier to talk to co-workers. Bottomline is just keep it discreet and don’t let it get to involved. Co-workers should definately have extra-marital affairs it is good for business.
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deezanutz
June 18th, 2009
5:49 pm
Jim that is hilarious. Does your company have any type of romantic relationship disclosure in its compliance program?
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Becky
June 19th, 2009
10:50 am
I don’t do well in the hot, so it’s a good thing that I work indoors..My husband is a roofer and to me that would be one of the worst jobs to do when it’s hotter than hades outside..
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FCM
June 19th, 2009
4:50 pm
Yep but he’s married so that would be an absolutely will not go there.
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Scottay
June 20th, 2009
9:37 pm
I used to load airplanes for a living on that hot pavement and never batted an eye but now that I’m older and fatter, I can barely handle the walk across the parking lot to my car at the end of the day. I salute anybody that has to work outside.
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Super Dad
June 20th, 2009
9:48 pm
I would think porta john pumper would be pretty rough in super hot weather.
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Daniel
June 20th, 2009
10:33 pm
A Summer camp counselor ranks pretty high on this list b/c you have to deal with kids who are getting hot.
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LizDawg
June 20th, 2009
11:04 pm
I always think roofers, paving, road construction, etc. would be the worst in the heat.
Some like it hot and some sweat when the heat is on
Some feel the heat and decide that they can’t go on,
Some like it hot, but you cant tell how hot til you try,
Some like it hot, so lets turn up the heat til we fry!
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Lillian
June 20th, 2009
11:24 pm
I think my lawn-care man has the worst job in the heat. Because he’s so reliable he has a lot of clients. He’s out there from sun up to sun down burning in the sun. Let’s not forget how some powered lawn movers tend to give off more heat.
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john
June 20th, 2009
11:56 pm
Hot! yeah sitting bin a cab of a truck with no a/c or load/unload same Van (box) in lower Ala. or in a cab w/o a/c on a piece of heavy equipmentfrom sunrise to after sunset 7 days a week or until jobs done or it rains. drink mgallons of water/ eat light . in truck take off uniform shirt and under shirt and hang in cab so moveing brezze will dry them before next stop . Oh! yeah I know HOT!!!
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Ex-Ramp Rat
June 21st, 2009
12:20 am
Scottay, I loaded airplanes as well. I too, am older (and also fatter). This is my first summer off the ramp, (52 yoa and retired). Last summer I placed a thermometer on the ramp on a 95 degree reported day, (as today). It read 118 degrees!!! God help you if the pilot leaves on the APU, which blows even more heat! The only shade is under the airplane wing! The belly of the beast, (cargo bin) is only cool the first 20 minutes the plane reaches the gate. This job is awful HOT in the summer!
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Jay
June 21st, 2009
1:14 am
I used to work at a Steel fabrication shop. No A/C inside the workshop. Just some fans and doors at the ends that could be opened. A lot of equipment running and welding machines and torches. If it’s 90 degrees outside then it’s 110 degrees inside the shop. Thank God I wasn’t a welder. Welders have to wear long sleeves and thick gloves so they won’t get burned so they are that much hotter.
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godawgs
June 21st, 2009
1:47 am
Police officers (no, I won’t denigrate them by calling them ‘cops’ like every other media article does). They have to wear thick bullet-proof vests underneath the layers of their uniforms and carry all kinds of heavy equipment outside of the layers of their uniforms, and spend most of the day outside responding to calls or pulling over people who can’t follow traffic rules. I can’t imagine how irritating it must be to deal with ungrateful, combative people everyday, much less when it’s 100 degrees out and you’re wearing all kinds of layers and carrying a 20 pound belt full of equipment on your waist.
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Matt
June 21st, 2009
2:02 am
I deliver for Pizza Hut and our uniforms are all-black. Not pleasant in this 95-degree heat.
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Bullneck
June 21st, 2009
2:07 am
A police motor officer wearing all the gear and seating on a 900 pound heater.
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The Sarge
June 21st, 2009
2:32 am
As crazy as it may seem, expose as little skin surface as possible…this means 1) long sleeve shirt (no short sleeves), 2) long pants (no shorts), 3) hat, preferably a desert/jungle “boonie-type. If not available, a ball cap will do/protect the neck area w/kerchief/etc and 4) hydrate often (no sodas, coffee, or those sugar-ladden “sports drinks”…just H2O). Also, time your exposure…20-30 minutes/5-10 min rest. Sunscreen on exposed areas…face, back of hands. Keep an eye on those around you/ensure all are onboard with this one.
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The Sarge
June 21st, 2009
2:42 am
Ramp Rats Everywhere: Try to avoid prop/jet blast. Besides blowing hot air, this is a definite safety issue (flying debris/FOD…foreign object dammage). Keep your head “on a 360 degree swivel”. In my post-retirement job, I do a fair amount of flying; this 360 awareness is something I do not see demonstrated much.
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Cicely
June 21st, 2009
2:58 am
I have a friend who fixes Air Condidtioning. He was up in someones attic today doing a repair and said it measured 132 degrees. Unfortunately he is going to be in my attic tomorrow since mine is broken too.
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butch
June 21st, 2009
4:14 am
install gas pipe in apt. attic avg. temp. 130 plus
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Wally
June 21st, 2009
6:30 am
My hottest job was the summer I was a roofer in Oklahoma. Salvation came in late July when I got another job at the computer center on campus where I maintained equipment in big, air conditioned rooms.
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Jerome
June 21st, 2009
7:12 am
Working in the tobacco fields in south georgia you had to contend with the heat and gnats.
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Mark
June 21st, 2009
7:18 am
I work as a biologist doing wetlands and endangered species work. Try hacking your way through briars and brush all day with a machete while carrying your equipment and watching for snakes and other dangers. The only water you have is what you can carry or like myself, you can use a water purifier in the field. Nothing like purified swamp water to cool you off on a hot day.
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Chris Broe
June 21st, 2009
7:39 am
Try being a used car salesman on a hot summer day. Try getting in all those hot cars for test drives. Forget about it. Rich corinthian leather can leave 3rd degree burns on hot days. But you’ll get a good deal. So buy American.
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clyde
June 21st, 2009
7:51 am
I spent a good deal of my working career in a boiler room containing 3 very large boilers.I mean 9 stories tall.The soot blower repair crew had a shop on the seventh floor.They were worse off than I was.At least I got to move around and go outside on occasion.
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Delta Slave
June 21st, 2009
8:01 am
I have to agree with Scottay, Ramp Rat, and Sarge. It’s plenty hot working as a ramp agent. Not only is it hot on the ramp, it can get hot in the cargo bin with no air circulating and tossing bags. Back for the knees and back too. These planes are coming in back to back and you don’t have time to stay hydrated. Seems like my employer doesn’t care either
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Road Scholar
June 21st, 2009
8:02 am
I have worked as a carpenter/roofer, manuel unloader of tractor trailers and rail cars, and on laying asphalt. I made a decision early to get a career that involved AC. I decided that broiuling under the sun, being baked, or fried was not in my future.
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catlady
June 21st, 2009
8:25 am
Roofers and asphalt layers have the worst job. But I have a friend who locates utilities (before you dig) and that is a miserable job, too, with the walking and carrying and digging, around pavement and under bushes and around aggressive dogs. He suffers.
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Fly like a Eagle
June 21st, 2009
8:33 am
Mail carriers have a very hot job also, no air conditioner in the mail trucks. A lot of walking on some routes, but that is better than being in the trucks all day for all curbside delivery routes.
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Vishlysr
June 22nd, 2009
2:53 am
We’ve crossed mid 2009 and it is a welcome relief to know that the overall productivity is increasing. Usually productivity falls in a recession. So there are overall some good signs. But what about the ones who have lost their jobs? Thankfully, there are some websites where people who have been affected by job loss in the current recession could share their anxieties and problems with others having faced similar problems in the past. One website that is interesting is http://www.angstcorner.com.
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jess
June 22nd, 2009
9:24 am
I’ve had several…and let me tell you–”working” under the desk..while he is on the phone/signing important docs…best situation ever!!!
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Shasta (Creme Soda)
June 22nd, 2009
10:12 am
Being a prostitute I can honestly say having to work the corner on a Hot Saturday afternoon/night is the worst.
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Turd Ferguson
June 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
Oh absolutely!! Some were married, most were not and all went “all the way.” 9 in 7 years to be exact or about one every 9 months…Im thinking that was a company record!!
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LOL
June 23rd, 2009
12:34 pm
Excuse me but this post is getting a little too freaky.
So you all dated your co-worker. I do not want to go there. Yeah done it and hate it now. So there you got it out of me. Jezz.
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Sam
June 23rd, 2009
7:42 pm
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Sam
June 23rd, 2009
7:43 pm
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DIPPER
June 26th, 2009
2:11 pm
This is the exact reason why someone gets more time in jail for killing a dog than for killing a human….
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Elmer's
June 26th, 2009
2:16 pm
No, but I did bring some good Michael Jackson jokes with me today to work. Had my co-workers howling – just like a dog.
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tj
June 26th, 2009
2:36 pm
why would anyone even worry about the jail time someone gets for killing a dog or a human ?? One of the ten commandments states Thou shalt not kill!! Just ignorance dipper!!
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No way
June 26th, 2009
2:45 pm
I have to listen to my coworker call her house about 10 times a day to check on her dog and cat, so does that count? Not including the times that she has her Mother hold the phone so that she can talk to them…
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Becky
June 26th, 2009
2:54 pm
No,didn’t date all of them, some of them were sex only..
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Jessica
June 26th, 2009
2:58 pm
Dipper—your a dip. Do you really think your hero Mike Vick got more time for killing a dog then someone who murdered someone? Moron. As the saying goes, the more people I meet…the more I like my dog.
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DJ Sniper
June 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
I’m a dog owner and I love my mutt, but I draw the line at certain things, and taking my dog to work is one of them. Sorry, but you just don’t need to bring your dog every place you go.
I hate to bring up Michael Vick, but oh well, I’ll do it anyway: What he did was deplorable and stupid and he deserved to be punished, but dang, people were running around here acting like he killed the Pope or something. That whole fiasco just goes to show how pet obsessed our society is. I do believe that Vick would have been treated a lot less harshly had he been accused of something such as rape, assault, or anything like that. Let’s not even begin to talk about the nutjobs from PETA.
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DIPPER
June 26th, 2009
3:11 pm
NO one said anything about being a VICK hero… I have 2 dogs myself but I’m also a family member that lost a love one due to DUI… So before any of you get started about PETA, get your facts and reasons straight.
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DIPPER
June 26th, 2009
3:12 pm
Taking your dog for walks, lakes, parks are great but bringing them to work and to a ball game is a little to much. Petsmart was the best thing for a dog. Next we will be taking dogs to TGIF for lunch.
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DIPPER
June 26th, 2009
3:13 pm
Jessica, maybe you will understand if someone killed your mom while DUI…
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scottie dog lover
June 26th, 2009
3:16 pm
I am able to bring my dog with me to work everyday. I have a very laid back work environment.
To all you Dipper haters…I think what he was making a comparison to is that Mike Vick got more time in jail for dog fighting than Donte Stallworth got for hitting and killing a pedestrian while under the influence. I’m not condoning this, just interpreting his statement.
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Becky
June 26th, 2009
3:17 pm
DIPPER, sorry for your loss..
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scottie dog lover
June 26th, 2009
3:22 pm
Yes, Dipper…sorry for your loss. I hope I was on the right track explaining your statement.
As far as taking your pet everywhere…I can take my dog to work because I work for my in-laws. I admit, these are special circumstances but I don’t take my dog everywhere else.
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Soccer Mom
June 26th, 2009
3:30 pm
Why does every comment section end up trashing someone that made a simple statement? Let’s just stay with the subject! I would probably take my dog with me, but she doesn’t like men, so my boss would have to stay home. HMMMMMMM………..
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melissai
June 26th, 2009
3:48 pm
I work from home so my dogs are with me every day. If I did work in an office and had the opportunity, I still would NOT take my dogs out of consideration for co-workers that may have allergies, have fears, or may just not like dogs in general.
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Nancy
June 26th, 2009
3:56 pm
Since our office opened its doors in 1999, it has been pet friendly – so much so that it was a negotiation in our lease. On any given day, we’re allowed four dogs in the office, and have a “doggie calendar” so that we can keep track. It does wonders for morale, and says something about the people who work for our agency.
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ace dancer
June 26th, 2009
4:28 pm
my supervisor looks like a small dog so I am already covered with this new ‘ hallmark – buy another greeting card’ holiday
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Mac
June 26th, 2009
4:36 pm
I wouldn’t mind having an office cat. But the manager wouldn’t allow it.
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Sue
June 26th, 2009
4:38 pm
It depends on the dog. A friendly, laid-back dog would be fine to bring to the office one day but a skittish/unfriendly/yappy dog would be better off at home.
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ncgreybr
June 26th, 2009
4:48 pm
I got an older German Shepard from the Humane Society last year during the summer. He had been found on the side of the road, very emaciated and they felt he had obviously been abused. I took him home and it took several days for it to get used to the house. It will NOT stay iinside the fence. He has cataracts and doesn’t see well and is almost deaf (should I have named him “Lucky” instead of “Bear”?) I decided the only safe thing was to bring him to work with me each day. I own a retail store. He stays behind the counter (leashed to a bolt) and most people never even know he is there. There is a note on the door “Caution:Do NOT awaken the guard dog!
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Connie
June 26th, 2009
4:48 pm
Mine are with me right now in my home office, and would be good additions to AANY office. Preferable to some of the “humans” one meets in the workplace!
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Miss V
June 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
My dog is handicapped from a spinal injury sustained in a car accident and needs to be checked on often, so it would be nice to bring her with me to the office instead of running home every 3 hours like I did with my last job that didn’t allow pets. Right now, I am self employed with my own office, so she is able to be with me everyday. If I do return to full time work it will need to be in a pet friendly office.
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BiteMe
June 26th, 2009
5:20 pm
NANCY – HIRE ME!
I would LOVE to work somewhere dog friendly – I like my job, but would LOVE IT if I could have my little furry friend next to me to keep me cool while dealing with the constant stress this place brings about
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Kitty Conrad
June 26th, 2009
5:29 pm
I grew up on a non-mechanized tobacco farm in the 1950s and had to handle green tobacco all day in July and August heat. I found out 50 years later that the reason I always felt sick was that I was poisoned by nicotine from the sticky gum on green tobacco. I’ve dug ditches, shoveled coal and shoveled manure; all are improvements over the tobacco field.
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poolshark
June 26th, 2009
5:45 pm
Yuck. I bet yall are the same people who let your dogs lick u in the mouth but then wear masks in public to prevent the swine flu. Such strange fruit we are
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Sarah Holland
June 26th, 2009
5:57 pm
I rescue the Newfoundland dogs in need of a new home, that’s all I care about. These gentle giants
need an extra hand sometimes and I’m there for them. These chat groups or comment columns
always turn into something altogether different than the original subject. If you can’t say something good I have always believed you should keep your mouth shut.
I’m retired but would love to take my Newfoundland’s to work if I had a job. So go make something out of that. To all the dog lovers in this group, you’re very special people.
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Chris
June 30th, 2009
9:11 am
Remodel Project Management is also one of the worst jobs in America. Low pay for the 18 hour days and handling complant after complant. HGTV is the biggest contributer to the remodle world because they set the expectations that a remodel in your house can be done in a few days, NOT IN THE REAL WORLD! Project Mangers have very high stress for little pay.
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Billy Bob from cobb
July 3rd, 2009
11:25 pm
I am not worth near as much as I am paid. Last year I made nearly a million dollars off other peoples work. I am sure the dems hate that. When I hire someone all I consider is how much they can make me. The best thing about this down turn is people will work so cheap.
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Trizzle
July 3rd, 2009
11:58 pm
@Billy Bob: Nice, you must place contractors.
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Billy Bob from cobb
July 4th, 2009
12:02 am
Sales and marketing
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Rocketroy
July 4th, 2009
7:06 am
Gotta include the foot soldiers serving in the desert countries! Loaded down with gear,and always mindful of danger, has to be the toughest hot weather job……and the pay is lousy! On this celebration day,include a little “cool prayer” for them all….guys and gals……many reservists,over 40……tough going! Rocketroy
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Allen Radwill
July 7th, 2009
4:18 pm
Allen Radwill is worth mucho dinero, and I am not simply speaking about myself, for myself or of myself. Too often do we sell ourselves short when it comes to asking for a salary commensurate with experiences. Too many employers only look at the surface while many grind away at the results of a background check, an internet search or rumors from friends.
Let me state that when it comes time to interview or be interviewed, the best I can muster is a direct look into the eyes of my potential employer or employee and hope that they look back, speak directly and with a compassionate clarity and boldness! To find value, integrity and other traits which we all want (as an employer) can be an overwhelming task and expense, only to result in a failed acquisition when it is all said and done.
Allen Radwill never doubts the ability of would be employees when first interviewed, however, building upon the discussion with knowledge and past experiences can quickly lead to finding out what the candidate really knows. So, to sum up, let’s take a lesson from the master of deceit and understand that truth is as good as the teller, trouble is, who is the teller?
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MacArthur
July 9th, 2009
5:07 pm
It’s been 10-plus percent here in Carpetland for months. Help!
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kevin
July 9th, 2009
6:23 pm
dont yall worry, obama gonna make everything alright.aint that right america?
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joho
July 9th, 2009
7:04 pm
C’mon get real, its already OVER 10%, as usual, the fawning ajc is reporting NEW claims, doesn’t report those who have run outta unemployment bennies, or taken pt jobs, or have given up!!!
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Nan
July 9th, 2009
7:04 pm
It seems that unemployment and the economy will continue to get worse.
It seems that Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank must have no love for the United States as they tend to do and say things to bring it down and destroy the way of life of many people. They all must have not paid any attention in their economics class. Until they are out of office the USA will suffer and that is ashame.
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Laurie331
July 9th, 2009
7:09 pm
The unemployement number doesn’t account for people who are furloughed (for whatever amount of time), no longer on unemployement (their benefits have expired), under employed (not working for the full wage/salary level, ie contractors). Obama wants to start taxing companies next year for health care, cap & trade, etc. Just wait, that number will hit 15% by December. I worked as an analyst for a large investment firm. I know this stuff like the back of my hand. We need a revolution!
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R.D. Stien
July 9th, 2009
7:22 pm
I am sure the all-mighty Obama will save us. Hail the great Obama!
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Nan
July 9th, 2009
7:29 pm
Obama was going to create all those new jobs. Where are they?
So far all of his moves are creating more job losses so he wants to raise taxes on people who are struggling to make sure more jobs are lost. After he robs from the rich ( and rich in his mind is middle class) and gives to the poor, then the middle class becomes poor and they can not spend , causing more companies to cut back, to increase unemployment some more, and then you tax more, cut more jobs, pay more handouts, raise taxes some more, soon you have no body paying taxes, no jobs, no income, Third world economy here we come.
Also AJC sugar coats it to make things look better than they are. How about the people who can no longer collect unemployment, how about the people who took pay cuts just to keep a job.
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dj
July 9th, 2009
7:45 pm
Oh no…. working hard … will get your butt on the unemployment line quicker than you can say “lickidy split”. Workers today, give hard working fellow employees a hard time. Some employees have the attitude that they are doing a corporation a favor just by showing up to their job. They think along the lines, ” hey, I am here so pay me.” God forbid a supervisor ask them to put in a few extra hours of work. The employee will look at the supervisor as if he/she has justed killed their mother. Their attitude is, ” Wait a second, you expect me to work now that I am here. Are you crazy?” ” What do you think this place is ….. a job!” ” Wait one second, you want me to work …. in order to get paid.” Good help America ! It is now a disgrace to work hard in America ! Who knew !
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Look At The Sheep Talk!
July 9th, 2009
8:04 pm
Poor dumb souls. Your small minds and dark soul-less hearts just will not allow you to process that Obama was hired to fix the mess you people made!
Where are all the jobs the $2 Trillion Bush tax cut was supposed to produce? Where are all the jobs the tax cuts Sonny and the boys gave to the rich were supposed to produce?
So your response is to blame the guy who has been in office for 5 months? You sad sheep have no clue just how bad your guys have screwed up do you? It’s going to take years to clean up the mess, and in some cases, a decade or so. That’s how big a FAIL you people produced.
So make your little bitter comments on blogs, keep watching Fox News so you’ll know what to say, have fun at your Neo Nazi..ur..teabag parties, and oh yeah, how’s the succession stuff going? Hopefully some of you will be leaving the country soon.
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Nan
July 9th, 2009
8:51 pm
I guess sheep do talk, it seems that the sheep who follow Obama can not see. The look at the sheep person has hatred in his heart, based on the last paragraph. Talk about bitter comments, leave the country, we want to protect the country. Obama may be a nice guy but in over his head and no clue on how to fix things. Obamaman makes everything sound satisfying and delicious, he plays to your childhood wishes. He wraps everything up with hope just to make you feel good.
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Sherl
July 11th, 2009
2:37 pm
Just remember sheep followed Bush into a wasteful, needless war which he did not have the money to pay for. The bill is due!
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Purple
July 11th, 2009
2:41 pm
Nothing is immediate. Neither economic crisis nor recovery. No one man (Bush) could ever cause all this. No one man (Obama) could ever fix all this. I, too, am unemployed, frustrated, losing money, and mortified at the prospect of higher taxes. I live in Boston, and I’m moving to Atlanta in a couple months. The cost of living in MA is simply too much for me with no income. But, blaming someone isn’t going to get us our livelihood back. Politicians respond to pressure. Get on the government websites and find your local representative’s phone #/email. Inundate him with calls/emails that are short and pointed. “We can’t shoulder the burden of any more taxes. Give us a tax break, help small businesses, and get new jobs created FAST. Why don’t the politicians take a pay cut like the rest of us? We won’t vote for you again if you raise taxes. Then you’ll be unemployed, too.” It’s not about Red State vs Blue State; it’s about what’s best for all of us. PurplePlease.net – for freedom and independence
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Elliot Garcia
July 11th, 2009
3:12 pm
Hey Sheep, How is Cap and Trade going to create more jobs? It is simply adding more tax to US Companies so that they can move overseas. Obama talks a big game but is full of empty promises.
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Woodstock
July 11th, 2009
4:04 pm
Still working but it seems like we have layoffs every 3 months so that’s not too comforting. Just gotta keep the nose to the grindstone until they come and tap you on the shoulder.
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jt
July 11th, 2009
4:34 pm
Good luck to all you child-support obligers out there.
Take names and write them down.
You’ll be able to deal with them after the collaspe.
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Julie
July 11th, 2009
4:55 pm
The unemployment rate was 10% under Ronald Reagan making the current unemployment rate no different now. Reagan inherited a mess in 1981 and Obama inherited a mess in 2001. It took 18 months for Regan to clean up the mess and I suspect things are not going to be any different for Obama. Deep recessions suck.
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Tessie JOnes
July 12th, 2009
11:48 am
My husband and I lost lay off in 2008, and life has been very hard. We are losing our faith in finding a job. All the resume we send out in mail and email are negative, no response. My husband specialty were transportation and security and I was in the administrative assistant, he is in the mid 50’s and I in late 50’s fifty. We don’t know what else to do. Thank you for listening.
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cmarvin@freeliteaz.com,nstjm@comcast.net
July 12th, 2009
12:33 pm
This is an important quality! And is something you have and strive for. Think Gabriella & Theo should read
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