7 employee behaviors bosses hate the most
May 23, 2008 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Behavior, Management, Special Report, Supervisors, policies
Picking on bosses is always fun, but let’s give them a fair shake and list their pet peeves about employees.
Here’s the list from a survey conducted by CNNMoney.com:
1. “I feel ill … on Fridays … at the end of the year.” Managers said, yes, they disliked sick-leave abuse, but what they hated more was the idea that employees think the boss doesn’t notice when sick days tie in with a weekend or come at the end of a year when employees get into a “use or lose” situation.
2. “Wristwatches are s-o-o-o-o 20th century.” More and more often, managers say, employees don’t seem to understand the concept of being on time – whether it’s about getting to work in the morning, lunch or deadlines. Although, the bosses add, most of those same employees don’t seem to have a problem with the concept of “quitting time.”
3. “Let me introduce you to your new workmates – soap and water.” What can you say about employees who smell bad? Well, managers said they (a) hated the idea and (b) hated worse the idea of having to inform someone of that fact.
4. “Hey, I like the ‘My Sharona’ ringtone as much as the next person, but …” Continually ringing cell phones, and employees who continually answer them, drive managers crazy. Truth is, they drive everyone crazy.
5. “I can never remember: Did Moses build the ark or take a bite out of the apple?” Employees who can’t keep facts and details straight, and who often mislead bosses because of it, are doomed to careers that sink faster than the Queen Mary. Or was it the Enola Gay? Whatever.
6. “The sun’s shining – I’ll probably get sunburned.” People who always see negative in any situation are toxic to managers. You know the type: They look at a full moon and wonder what the dark side is like.
7. “Who needs eBay? I have my job.” There are unsubstantiated reports of managers’ heads exploding after reading the 15th all-employees e-mail selling Girl Scout cookies, reduced-price tickets to pro wrestling and “hardly driven” used cars.
Tags: cnn, ebay, girl scout, Management
May 27th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I have to find the Kool Aid that my dentist and family doctor feed their staffs……I am greeted with a smile and a pleasent hello. I overhear the receptionist asking the right questions with a smile in her voice. If I could bottle this good behavior kool aid the world would be my oyster.
My question is ……how do you turn around a bad work enviroment into the “Disney World” enviroment and not get trampled on as being too wishy washy.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
How do you turn around a bad work environment? The Management, supervisors has to set the example (and stick to it!!) What will and will not be tolerated? Will employees do what they are ALLOWED to get away with, most of the time: YES! Alot of baggage could and SHOULD be left at home. Come to the office with a good attitude, even if you have to fake it, sooner or later you will
you will start to feel better leaving your personal problems AT HOME.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
We were stuck in a rut for a couple years. Morale was down, productivity was down, attitudes were bad. Employees didn’t care about the company, they “existed and occupied a desk” but were only here for a paycheck. We tried to do more team involved activities to improve the work environment but nothing helped….until….we made a decision last October to really evaluate our team. We needed to determine who was here just for payroll and who was here to help the company succeed and grow. Once we determined that we let 4 people go the same week. (and we’re still producing the same work) Then we had a team meeting and told the remaining employees that they were the “chosen” few to stay on board because they had earned their position. We have not replaced any of the terminated employees. I can honestly say we have had a 100% improvement in the office. Our team now is awesome and everyone feels valued and appreciated. We all get along, help each other, support each other, and most importantly care about the company. Once we got rid of the “dead weight” the work environment improved immediately. Now, we work hard but we also have a lot of fun! There are a lot of smiling faces in the office and the morale is great. Best advice…..don’t wait to let someone go if they are affecting the office morale. Their attitude will poison other team members and it spreads like wild fire!