Employers & employees
I don’t know what these Business Colleges are teaching these future and current Managers nowadays, but I can tell you this, by treating your employees’ as “objects” and their total disregard of the “people” side of things, you will reap what you sow. If this “new” management style thinks they are getting employees to be more productive by treating then poorly, guess again, all they are doing is creating a hostile work environment, and discontent employees.
I have been in the work force for 30 years, and have seen my fair share of bad management, and if have you noticed, most companies that go out of business are not the fault of their employees, but rather, “ the bad Management”.
I was employed by a company here in Denver for almost 14 years, I walked away because I could no longer take what was being dished out, and watching our customer base implode, the writing was on the wall, I went back to school and learned something new, the ones who stayed on went down with the ship, all because of a management style that alienated their employees and their consistent poor customer service. Yes, I landed that “new job” and guess what? New boss, same as the old boss!
I have a 21 year old son, and I can tell you his attitude is typical of the kids nowadays, there is no loyalty, he would not think twice about leaving a company for another, just for a “change” if nothing else, even if it paid less! Tell me I’m wrong here!
Just remember, as the old saying goes: “What goes around, comes around”
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You hit the nail right on the head Ray. For some reason employers now seem to think that employees are dirt and can easily be replaced. To get loyality you have to show it as well.
I drove buses for the Regional Transportation District, for over twenty years. Several years ago, they brought in a hired gun to streighten things up. Almost over night, the place became a living hell, their policy was your here till we can get enough on you to fire you.Mass firings began, they fired faster than they could hire replacements, and as a result they forced those who remained (the unfired) to work obsessive long hours to cover for those who were fired. The discontent grew and many quit or retired, as I did. To this day several years later, they have one quit for each replacement they hire. Their reputation has spread around the state, so they are now having difficulty finding people to apply.
I now work for a smallercompany , whose approach to it's employees is 180 degrees different than my former employer, everyone is happy and very productive what a difference in atmosphere it is.
I am surprised to hear this because the "old" way of management followed Taylor's "scientific management principles" which led to BPR and worker alienation. The newer management teaching are more about group dynamics, creating teams, and creating social goods.
Far more human-friendly and far more likely to produce work environments in which staff are loyal and management are ethical.
Perhaps the managers you are encountering went to the wrong schools?
The problem with management is that there are schools that teach people to be managers. Management, which is usually a higher paying reward for being a good soldier, suddenly starts thinking that it can fine tune the workers to be even more productive. What often happens is overmanagement, where managers haven't a damn clue what to do and should leave the processes of production up to those that actually do the work. Then alienation sets in, and, especially in crappy paying jobs, near 100% turnover rates become commonplace.
Managers in general are useless. As they become more and more controlling, it becomes more and more apparent. Sit down, shut up, make your six figures, and let the real workers continue to create wealth.
Posted by Kyle on April 4, 2007 12:00 AMMr. Copeland has a very valid point. There are too many management types that subsribe to what I'd call an "old school" mentality in how they operate. Any organization's management that thinks it can alienate, aggrivate or otherwise abuse/imtimidate it's employees into being productive are probably setting themselves up for a big disapointment.
Abusive policies only serve to damage the relationship between management and the managed. Ultimately, they lead to employee turnover, increased absenteeism, lost productivity and a host of other ills.
Finally, it should be noted that there is a difference between "management" and "leadership". Sadly, there seems to be a general diminishment of the quality of the former and a profound shotage of the latter.
Posted by Thom Challenger on April 4, 2007 02:46 AMNot sure why all of you are complaining of your bosses and any manager that you work for. If you can do such a better job why not go do it? If the company you are working for is there for the bottom line only, go start a competing business and drive your old boss out of business. I am sure that you will treat your employees better than any boss you ever had.
I have a problem hiring any quality worker today. When they come in for a job the formost question is how much money will you pay me and how many weeks vacation do I get. They find it absurd that I ask them to show up for work on time and when they can't be here on time that they call. That is a real problem for them to call as it is really none of my business why they over slept or were just to lazy to get out of bed.
Asking them to treat customers they way they want to be treated is also a foreign concept in dealing with the public, as that is my job as it is my business and I dont pay them enough to be nice. And god forbid you ask them to wear clean clothes with out holes in them. My favorite applications are the kids with so much metal stuck every where you have to wonder what they were thinking by putting a 1 inch hole in their ears. Yep all employees are good and the owners and bosses are bad.
I will agreee there are bad managers and should be removed and when I end up with one, they know where the door is.
In a nut shell if you dont like the boss or management where you work, go start your own business and you wont have to worry about poor management any longer.
A good businessman treats his employees with respect to get the most out of them, but would be foolish not to recognize that workers are, indeed, commodities. Hire people who will do the work you expect at the most competitive price. And if someone isn't doing the job you expect, get rid of them.
By the same token, if an employee doesn't like how he's treated or is dissatisfied with his compensation, quit. It's not much more complicated than that.
The best bosses I've had hired me for what I bring to the table, my unique skills, creativity and work ethic -- and I was competitively priced. Then they've stayed out of my way and let me do my job. Bosses who micromanage show their lack of trust ... and soon they saw a lack of me.
Posted by prima facie on April 4, 2007 09:47 AMI think the problem with the "us vs. them" mentality of management v. worker is that your workplace is not your family. You may have aquintences at work, you may even have some friends. But work is just that. Work. If work was fun, it wouldn't be called work, it would be called fun.
Do what you are hired to do. Don't worry about anything else. In Colorado, unless an employee of a union or the state, you are an "at-will" employee. Learn what that means, and understand that as an employee, you are valuable to yourself only. The company you work for, no matter how conscience they may be, is looking out for one thing. Understand that and keep your best interests for yourself, your family and your reputation in mind, and you will never have a problem with management.
Ray, the world is changing around you every day. Some for the better, some not. It is your ability to adjust with it that will seperate you from the others. You have two choices really. Change with the changes and allow progression (whatever form it may take), or keep the "why can't it be like it was" way of thinking and get lost in the shuffle. Unless you own the company you work for, pay attention and as my boy Kenny Rogers said, "know when to hold em, and know when to fold em."
Good luck with your career(s)
Posted by Dan2 on April 4, 2007 10:08 AMDan2,
You are offering terrible advice that would ensure a life of hopping from one job to another, being alienated, and never having a career.
We meet people at work who become friends and even life partners, and it is important to be able to look upon one’s occupation with a degree of pride and satisfaction.
As a manager, I do my level best to make the workplace more than just a drudge, and I am not just looking for “one thing”.
I am looking at today, tomorrow, and years to come, and want employees who feel like they are getting more than just a paycheck in return for their time, effort, and ideas.
Colorado may indeed have “employment at will”, but that doesn’t mean that managers need to treat employees as goods to be disposed of on a whim. Companies that think that way get less than they pay for, and they never build intellectual capital.