Comments on: Look beyond millennial-washing benefits for happiness at work

By: Modite - Engagement for the next generation

Modite - Engagement for the next generation — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:39:53 +0000

[...] 5) You have to pay dues. No one gets to skip paying dues all together. I didn’t like my first job, but I moved on. Good things are learned from bad experiences. The key is to learn those things and move on as soon as possible. The real world isn’t all that great sometimes. Young workers shouldn’t have to pay dues to a workforce that is often dirty, unethical and shameful. [...]

By: Rebecca Thorman

Rebecca Thorman — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:53:41 +0000

@ Cody: I’ve too found that those interruptions are always the worst. People work on their schedules and you can’t do much about it. Unless you can close the door! =)

By: Cody McKibben

Cody McKibben — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:21:51 +0000

I can attest to the need for a door that closes! (#3)

At my day job, which I’ll be leaving soon, I’m everyone’s go-to guy, in the middle of the office, with an open workspace. Good for me! But, there are CONSTANT interruptions, and for some reason, EVERYONE thinks that I am ALWAYS free to do whatever they need at a moment’s notice.

Not very efficient. =)

By: Modite - Engagement for the next generation

Modite - Engagement for the next generation — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:38:07 +0000

[...] Going to grad school is not having the guts to get on with life. You’re not telling corporate America anything by indulging in a larger map. You’re just making it harder to figure out which road to take. Want to give the finger to the establishment? Go blog. Go start your own business. Go to work every single day and rock every single day. [...]

By: Rebecca Thorman

Rebecca Thorman — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:09:01 +0000

@ JP- What a nightmare! I’d be interested to hear how you moved past this position and found something you enjoyed. Sometimes it’s hard to realize that not everyone is as unhappy as you when you’re in a situation like that. You keep holding on thinking it will get better and it never does. Knowing when to fish and when to cut bait can be a talent!

By: JP

JP — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:06:44 +0000

I had a great company once. The problem was that they were in MN and had no clue what was really happening in the day to day matters at the office. My immediate boss wouldn’t let me ever have off. He always left two hours early. I was doing property management and had to live onsite. I was really sick one day-left early a hour after arriving at work to go to the doctor. I called and told them I was taking my meds and going home. He came knocking on my door and told me I had to come into the office-he had a bike ride planned and needed to leave early.

By: links for 2007-07-17

links for 2007-07-17 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:24:44 +0000

[...] Modite – Look beyond millennial-washing benefits for happiness at work I comment about an experience in a previous job where “flexible” work hours had been touted in the interview but didn’t become a reality. (tags: commented happiness_at_work) [...]

By: Rebecca Thorman

Rebecca Thorman — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:36:57 +0000

Great point, Bryan. In the future I would ask for something in writing as well, and try to talk to potential co-workers prior to accepting a position. In my current position, I take advantage of a flexible schedule more than anyone else, but that’s how I work best. My boss understands that sometimes I just work better at 9 o’clock at night or outside at a coffee shop, because he’s often the same way. It is worth noting that most of the time, however, I work best sitting directly in my office, something that’s hard to remember when it’s a nice day outside : )

By: Bryan Person, Monster Blogger

Bryan Person, Monster Blogger — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:09:09 +0000

Ahh, the “flexible schedule” issue. I had a similar problem on a job of mine a few years ago, Rebecca. During the interview, the owners were quite clear about there not being set hours. It would be up to me to manage my time and workload.

But by a few months later, the owners seemed to have forgotten that pledge. I think that the flexibility they touted in my interview wasn’t really embraced by all — or any, as I recall — of the other employees, so it created conflict when I tried to take management up on its original word.

What might I have done differently before taken the job?
1) Asked some tougher questions about their meaning of “flexible” and gotten something in writing.
2) Asked some and tried to get a sense of whether a flexible work day was part of the company culture.