Random thoughts III

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carvers4math

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Mar 15, 2012
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Last time I got pulled over, I had three young kids in the car, a sick dog vomiting and on the way to the vet, and a bloody nose from my endless allergies. Cop took one look at how pathetic I was and said, "I was gonna ask if you knew how fast you were going, but maybe I should try and help you instead?":twitcy: He did help get my nose to stop bleeding but he was going nowhere near the screaming kids and the dog puke.
 

cowgirl836

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I have four pages of my cross stitch done already. I'm flying.


Also, now we have to move closing back until after we move. Had a solid hour of mild panic this morning but both bank and builder are like this is fine, this is not uncommon, you shall move in then close, shall be ok. Also getting $500 (!!) in free faucet upgrades cause the plumber done f'd up. Think the builder was worried we'd be upset. I mean yeah, I wish they hadn't messed it up but we'll take it.
 

VeloClone

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Jan 19, 2010
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I don't have kids, so it may not be the best comparison, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But being in people management, it's kind of like having 120 kids. If you let even the best behaved kid get away with stuff, eventually they'll continue trying to push the envelope. And those kids talk. If you let Billy get away with something, Susie is going to find out about it and try the same thing. And if she gets called out on it, you're going to have to explain why Billy was allowed to while Susie wasn't without it being favoritism (or discrimination).

This, 1,000 times this. Even worse when you have to deal with Civil Service Rules.
 

cowgirl836

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I don't have kids, so it may not be the best comparison, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But being in people management, it's kind of like having 120 kids. If you let even the best behaved kid get away with stuff, eventually they'll continue trying to push the envelope. And those kids talk. If you let Billy get away with something, Susie is going to find out about it and try the same thing. And if she gets called out on it, you're going to have to explain why Billy was allowed to while Susie wasn't without it being favoritism (or discrimination).


the person who is fast becoming my mentor here said they try to manage like they parent. I don't think quite in the way you mean but encouraging them to grow and helping that happen but slapping the hand when it's needed.
 

cyhiphopp

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Jan 9, 2009
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Ankeny
The habitual sickies don't get the honor of my acting abilities. I usually ask them if they need a ride to the doctor or make them as uncomfortable as I can. If I recognize the number, I also like putting them on hold and checking my E-mail, sometimes making them sit for 5 minutes and then having to call me back.

I guess I'll consider it nice that our time off is just time off. No reason needed. DH has a couple sick days he can use and I think he did for his wisdom teeth.

My time off is just PTO. I shouldn't HAVE to give a reason. But in my litany of different managers I have had a few that ALWAYS asked what was wrong. One manager advised me to go to the doctor every time I called in sick. If I have a freaking headache or temporary stomach issues I am NOT going to go to the doctor and pay out the *** with our companies crappy insurance.


I don't understand why some people look down on others taking "Personal Days". If I get my stuff done and it doesn't hurt anyone else then why the heck can't I just take a day off when I feel like it.
 

VeloClone

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Jan 19, 2010
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Brooklyn Park, MN
Last time I got pulled over, I had three young kids in the car, a sick dog vomiting and on the way to the vet, and a bloody nose from my endless allergies. Cop took one look at how pathetic I was and said, "I was gonna ask if you knew how fast you were going, but maybe I should try and help you instead?":twitcy: He did help get my nose to stop bleeding but he was going nowhere near the screaming kids and the dog puke.

Some people will stop at nothing to get out of a ticket. Did you still have the imprint of the steering wheel on your nose when the cop got to your window?
 

coolerifyoudid

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Feb 8, 2013
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KC
I don't have kids, so it may not be the best comparison, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But being in people management, it's kind of like having 120 kids. If you let even the best behaved kid get away with stuff, eventually they'll continue trying to push the envelope. And those kids talk. If you let Billy get away with something, Susie is going to find out about it and try the same thing. And if she gets called out on it, you're going to have to explain why Billy was allowed to while Susie wasn't without it being favoritism (or discrimination).

Another option is the "deterrent method"

 

cowgirl836

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Sep 3, 2009
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My time off is just PTO. I shouldn't HAVE to give a reason. But in my litany of different managers I have had a few that ALWAYS asked what was wrong. One manager advised me to go to the doctor every time I called in sick. If I have a freaking headache or temporary stomach issues I am NOT going to go to the doctor and pay out the *** with our companies crappy insurance.


I don't understand why some people look down on others taking "Personal Days". If I get my stuff done and it doesn't hurt anyone else then why the heck can't I just take a day off when I feel like it.


I very much dislike that attitude.
 

cowgirl836

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Almost everyone looks down on you. You're short.

week_zps174889c6.gif
 

cyhiphopp

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I very much dislike that attitude.

But seriously. I almost never take time off. I took a week long vacation last summer with my boys and it was the longest I'd ever been off in my 7 years with the company. I've lost a lot of days of rollover PTO the past few years because I was not able to take time off at the end of the year during our BUSY season.

I feel guilty almost every time I take an extended period off because of all the **** you get for not being around. Someone is bound to get miffed because you didn't get every last ounce of work completed before leaving or upset that they have to back you up for a period of time.
 

coolerifyoudid

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Feb 8, 2013
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KC
My time off is just PTO. I shouldn't HAVE to give a reason. But in my litany of different managers I have had a few that ALWAYS asked what was wrong. One manager advised me to go to the doctor every time I called in sick. If I have a freaking headache or temporary stomach issues I am NOT going to go to the doctor and pay out the *** with our companies crappy insurance.


I don't understand why some people look down on others taking "Personal Days". If I get my stuff done and it doesn't hurt anyone else then why the heck can't I just take a day off when I feel like it.


I hope you don't think that was a shot at you at all. I get tired of the employees in here that are always "sick" instead of just scheduling PTO. My workplace is not one where if someone misses, they can just catch up later. When someone is out, there is someone else covering for them, usually at a detriment to their own work.

Not having foresight to anticipate needing a half day after the previous night's concert, or being sick after every three day weekend gets really really old. It's also extremely unfair to the other co-workers if it goes unchecked. A little honestly goes a long ways with me. After 10 sick days in two months, I stop running when I hear "wolf".
 

cyhiphopp

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Jan 9, 2009
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I hope you don't think that was a shot at you at all. I get tired of the employees in here that are always "sick" instead of just scheduling PTO. My workplace is not one where if someone misses, they can just catch up later. When someone is out, there is someone else covering for them, usually at a detriment to their own work.

Not having foresight to anticipate needing a half day after the previous night's concert, or being sick after every three day weekend gets really really old. It's also extremely unfair to the other co-workers if it goes unchecked. A little honestly goes a long ways with me. After 10 sick days in two months, I stop running when I hear "wolf".

Yeah that's ridiculous and would tick me off as a manager. I'm almost never off and I usually plan ahead. There are just some days, rarely, when I have to/ want to call in.
 

coolerifyoudid

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Feb 8, 2013
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KC
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm taking a break from wearing any Cyclone gear. I don't want to hear the random "Hoiberg" comments if I should happen to encounter a Jayhawk that wants to be dooshy in the grocery store.

I need a few grieving days.
 

cyrocksmypants

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Dec 29, 2008
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the person who is fast becoming my mentor here said they try to manage like they parent. I don't think quite in the way you mean but encouraging them to grow and helping that happen but slapping the hand when it's needed.

You HAVE to think like that as a manager. If you don't, you'll fail.

Yes, I absolutely agree with your mentor. And while some of my employees dislike me, many more look up to me as to how I'll take individual time to teach them and help them grow. But we weren't talking about that aspect.

You've just got to be careful to not show any favoritism. It's a running joke that "Ben hates all of his employees equally". But it's got to be that way, ESPECIALLY in your potential case where you'll have just a handful of employees. As soon as there's any kind of assumed favoritism, it's incredibly difficult to dissuade that ideology.

In an ideal world, we'd like to say "Billy got away with it because all of his work was done and he excels at it while you, Susie, just skate by and watch the clock." But as this isn't an ideal world. If Billy is a guy and Susie is a girl, or Billy is white and Susie is black or Billy is straight and Susie is gay or any other factor is looked at, you're suddenly getting reprimanded/fired/sued for discrimination. It sucks, but this is the world we live in.
 

coolerifyoudid

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Feb 8, 2013
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KC
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm taking a break from wearing any Cyclone gear. I don't want to hear the random "Hoiberg" comments if I should happen to encounter a Jayhawk that wants to be dooshy in the grocery store.

I need a few grieving days.

...well, that, and I don't want to bludgeon someone to death with a can of baked beans in front of my daughter
 

carvers4math

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Mar 15, 2012
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I never thought I'd say this, but I'm taking a break from wearing any Cyclone gear. I don't want to hear the random "Hoiberg" comments if I should happen to encounter a Jayhawk that wants to be dooshy in the grocery store.

I need a few grieving days.

I took crap from half a dozen Tavern Hawks at Hy Vee, can't blame you.
 

cyrocksmypants

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2008
91,284
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Washington DC
I hope you don't think that was a shot at you at all. I get tired of the employees in here that are always "sick" instead of just scheduling PTO. My workplace is not one where if someone misses, they can just catch up later. When someone is out, there is someone else covering for them, usually at a detriment to their own work.

Not having foresight to anticipate needing a half day after the previous night's concert, or being sick after every three day weekend gets really really old. It's also extremely unfair to the other co-workers if it goes unchecked. A little honestly goes a long ways with me. After 10 sick days in two months, I stop running when I hear "wolf".

This too. I work on a business where you have a three and a half month window to make money for the year. Missing one day is almost like missing a week in a regular business. And most of my employees are part time because it's seasonal work, so if one person calls off and I can't open a location for 8 hours because everyone else is working their regular job, all because Johnny didn't feel like coming in, I'm losing out on a good chunk of my revenue.
 
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