Article: Employees spend half a work week fretting about boss
I'm not sure how much of this to believe. Sure, I've had bosses I couldn't stand, but wasting 20 hours a week just thinking about how bad they were? Excuse me, but I had a job to do. If you have a boss so bad that you spend that much time "fretting" about them, maybe it's time to get outta Dodge.
Via WalletPop via Tame Your Tot.
Employees spent 19.2 hours a week -- nearly half a work week -- worrying about what their boss says or does, according to a new survey commissioned by workplace expert Lynn Taylor.
Taylor, author of book of
boss-managing tips called Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant -- TOT, found that 13 of those hours came during the week and 6.2 came when workers should be taking a break from workplace worries: the weekend."You have to set limits as you would with a child," Taylor told WalletPop. "Especially in 2010, you can't just manage up, but parent up without patronizing."
Though clearly many employees are worried about keeping their jobs (in another survey, she found workers spend three hours a day worrying about job security), Taylor points out that even if 10% of U.S. employees are unemployed, that means 90% are employed. She advocates for an approach she has given the acronym of CALM:
"Communicate with your boss bravely, openly, honestly and frequently. Take the initiative," she said. "Anticipate -- try to be aware of problems before they escalate and have solutions ready. Laugh -- I believe that levity diffuses tension and creates a better atmosphere. Manage up by using negative and positive enforcement for certain behaviors, much as you would with a child."
In yet another survey, Taylor asked workers to rank what they wished they could tell their bosses.
"The first thing they said they wished they could say was, 'Why don't we compromise?'" Taylor said. "That one is really valid. You can say it to both children and managers."
The others, ranked in descending order:
"I can't hear you when you shout."
"Stop whining."
"That's not allowed."
"I'm leaving." (Taylor notes you can't say unless you actually are prepared to)
"You're cranky, do you need a nap?"
"Go to your room, you're getting a time out."
"If you ask one more time, you'll never get that."
And, drum roll please: "Are you teething or do you just need a cookie?"
Video: How to Deal with a Stupid Boss
Headline: Temp hiring no longer seen as sign of recovery
It seems you can't count on those darn temps anymore.
Temp work is no longer seen as work done only by misfits who either can't get a job or refuse to conform to the "normal" workplace. In this economy, you have to find work any way you can. If that means a few hours a week here and there, doing whatever is needed, then you do it. Anything to bring in a paycheck.
It used to be that when temporary hiring picked up, then hiring for "real" jobs soon followed. But, as our friends at MSNBC note, that's not the case anymore.
Read it all: Temp hiring no longer seen as sign of recovery
University of California, Davis Sociology Professor: Temp jobs here to stay
A college job fair: Should you attend?
I am a member of a local group, several of whom are in various stages of career or job transition. I recently notified them of a career fair being held at the local state university.
A couple of them promptly contacted me and politely reminding me that this event was for alumni only and there would a "
I appreciate their concern. I certainly don't want to be putting anyone in an awkward position. But, I've been to many college job fairs and I've never, ever seen anyone confirm if attendees are alumni or not.
Think about it: The career fair is run by the career services office, whose employees are overworked and underpaid. Their job is to support the recruiters. In order to confirm every attendee's alumni status would require a list of graduates from every school from every campus in the state (4 campuses for this university). If the list to be anywhere comprehensive, it would have to go back 20 or 30 years. Who would have the time to compile and verify the accuracy of such a list, assuming it was complete in the first place. Everyone is scrambling to put on the job fair.
The companies are there to find good people. They don't really give a hoot if you're an alumnus or not. They just want to find qualified applicants.
So, those were my thoughts as I composed, and sent, the following email to my group:
Hi all,
I just wanted to clarify something about this post.
A couple of you have alerted me to the fact that this job fair is only for CU Alums. And that there will be a "check in" table at the entrance.
I know that.
So why did I post this knowing that many, if not most, of you are not CU alums? Because my take is, "So what? Go anyway."
I'm a former corporate recruiter who's been to many college job fairs. I've never, ever seen anyone try to confirm your status as an alumus.
The purpose of this event is for the represented companies to find qualified applicants. The university's job is to help them do that. The companies don't really give a hoot if you're an alumnus or not. They're looking for good people to hire.
I believe that, given the state of the economy, and the exceptional challenges job seekers face, you cannot leave any stone unturned. You do what you need to do to get the job. And that may mean going to a job fair at a university you haven't attended, much less graduated from. It may also mean they won't let you in.
But isn't it worth the risk, albeit a small risk, for the opportunity to get an interview and maybe even a job? So, I say go for it. I'd love to know how it goes. If you get a job out of this, then fantastic! As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this post. Good luck!
As you can see, my attitude is, the risk is worth the possible reward. What do you think?
InfoGraphic of Unemployment State-by-State
Interesting infographic on
The State of the 40-Hour Workweek
The State of the 40-Hour Workweek (via Visual Economics)
Since I am a visual person, this comes in very handy.
