What’s a family-friendly workplace? Married vs Single

Recently I criticized a book, Womenomics, which claimed to be about women-friendly workplaces. The authors seemed to define “family-friendly” as giving support to marred women with children.

While I acknowledge that being a working mom is probably a lot harder than I can imagine, I’d add that giving preference those working moms places a burden on single people. My review ignited a response. See http://budurl.com/czu7

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Is Facebook the new company spy?

You can read the original story here. The link was posted on Twitter by @socialtweedia.

It was a cover story with as many holes as Swiss cheese. A Swiss woman, working for a Swiss company, called in sick, claiming a migraine. I don’t know much about migraines, but I gather you want to lie in a dark room and do as little as possible.

But instead of taking cover, so to speak, the woman used the opportunity to post to her Facebook account. Apparently she used her iPhone to update Facebook from her bed in her darkened room.

“If you are well enough to use Facebook, you are well enough to come to work,” the company said. They fired the woman for lying.

The woman claimed the company was spying. Maybe they were.

What did this woman do wrong?

First, when you work for a company, don’t “friend” colleagues unless you have a special account for business purposes. This woman admits she accepted a Friend request from someone in her company. This mysterious X had an account without a picture.

Second, when you’re sick, stay hidden. Some companies understand that you will fake a dentist appointment to attend a job interview at a competing company. Mental health days are common. Just be sure you won’t run into someone you shouldn’t.

My hunch is that the company had a hidden agenda. We don’t know if this woman had a history of missing work. Maybe they were looking for an excuse to fire her.

Alternatively, perhaps they felt they couldn’t overlook a public transgression. Anyone could see when this woman updated her account.

What is your opinion? Click on “comment” below.

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Why Telling The World You Hate Your Job Is a Bad Idea

Just ran across a recent post called, “Don’t let Facebook cost you a job.” The author shared stories of real people who lost their jobs because they posted complaints on Facebook. Read the story here.

These people thought they were being careful. They didn’t name names. They didn’t even name companies. But their own names were posted and (big surprise!) their bosses were on Facebook.

The article could have gone on to show how the damage doesn’t stop with your current job. Your future boss googles your name, sees your complaint, and labels you as whiny (or worse). Not good.

By the way, if you really do hate your job, I’ve got a book for you! Check this out.

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Volunteer for a furlough? Think about it.

The Wall Street Journal carried an article about companies who ask employees to  volunteer for furloughs. They interviewed several advisors.

Bottom line: Check out the political implications before you volunteer. Will you gain an advantage? Will your colleagues resent you?

Frankly, I am opposed to asking workers to donate anything to a company. When you’re an employee, you are in an economic relationship. If you’re needed, they will pay you. If you’re not, they won’t.

When you volunteer for a furlough, you might be admitting you’re not needed, as some sources suggested. But I would add, “What does the company volunteer to do for you?” There should be some kind of a quid pro quo: those who agree to layoffs should get something in return,

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Career Advice: What happens at work…

Another piece of advice from Penelope Trunk’s blog: Work is more fun when you have friends.

True, a job is more fun when you have work friends: people to meet for lunch, people who add spice to meetings, and people who help you out when you’re overloaded.

I would say, just don’t assume  they’re friend-friends. Don’t tell them anything you wouldn’t broacast over the company email and PA system. OK, maybe after you’ve known them awhile, you can relax.

But stories get changed in re-telling. Your light-hearted encounter with your drunk brother-in-law will get twisted into a story of you getting a DUI or tap-dancing on the boss’s car.

True story: one 50-something woman landed on a psych ward with a mental illness diagnosis. The *real* story was that she was misdiagnosed. She actually had a thyroid deficiency, which can cause hallucinations and other symptoms that resemble psychosis.

Unfortunately, her colleagues heard only “mental ward.” They whispered that she was “psycho.”  Sadly, the whole episode happened before she started working there. She shared the story with a new work “friend” over drinks one evening, when they were talking about doctors. It seemed harmless. It wasn’t.

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Career change: the biggest myth

Traditional career change says, “Begin with your passion. Identify your strengths.”

I agree.

The next step, you hear, is, ‘Find a career where you can use your strengths.”

I disagree.

Usually you can find many ways to use your strength. You’re a good organizer? No need to start your own organizing firm. Chances are you will find a way to use these talents in most careers.

You’re an outgoing person and everyone tells you their problems? No need to be a shrink. You might be a great manager or salesperson. Jeff Herring, the Article Guy, is a former therapist. His talents serve him well during teleseminars.

Usually what kills people is the culture. Dress up or casual? Come and go as you please or tug on a tight leash? Early morning meetings or late nights for crunching deadlines?

Sure, if you each third grade it helps if you like kids. If you work in a finance office, it helps to like numbers. But I’ve seen people make vast leaps into careers that seemed totally unsuitable…and discover that once they’re tossed in the water, they really like learning to swim.

I bet many readers disagree. Click on the comment link below and say your piece.

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Mindless Job Activity Can Be Hazardous to Everything You Value

In the US News Blog On Careers, someone named “Andrew G.R.” wrote:

“…I can’t help but wonder if many jobs are designed to beat us all into idea submission. It just seems so much easier to show up, do what they want you to do, and go home. “

He’s got a point. Very few employers reward initiative or innovation. Schools tell us that creativity is a virtue but let’s face it: creativity is rarely rewarded in the marketplace.

It’s not that bosses are evil. It’s just that they want things their way. I have to admit I get irritated when my cleaning services gets creative and starts re-arranging my stuff. Sure I’m challenged in the decorating department, but hey…it’s my home, last time I checked.

But there’s another side to the question. Mindless activity can be hazardous to every aspect of your well-being.

When people get frustrated enough, they start to do really dumb things. They self-sabotage.

And when you get in the habit of just doing what you’re told, you’re at risk if ordered to do something dangerous or illegal. That’s what happened to some of the folks at Worldcomm, Abu-Ghraib and a host of other places.

“Doing what I was told” is not a defense. In courts of law and public opinion, you are expected to commit career suicide when faced with wrongful orders. At the very least, get those orders in writing and talk to someone who is licensed to advise you. I’m not.

Even if you’re not in legal jeopardy, you could still be embarrassed if you’re caught in a news story or have to explain to a future employer.

Fight the temptation to go on autopilot when you go to work. Imagine that Sixty Minutes showed up at your workplace and filmed what you were doing. Would you be tempted to hide? And stay marketable.

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