What have you learnt over the years about the workplace? (wherever that may be!)

jfh7gwa

Hi all,

I recently posted something on the Savings forum (this thread) which I thought would be useful to branch off into a distinct thread, in order to highlight the collective wisdom of some of the folks on the Employment forum.

I've been browsing a lot in this sub-forum lately due to various things (thinking of changing jobs as I'm not happy where I am, a few queries that my partner had where old threads proved useful for things) and have come to very much appreciate the massive variety of workplaces and employment careers we have knowledge of in here.

So if you feel like sharing any tips or expriences about the "workplace" (which can mean such a variety of different things depending on your career history, what sector you work in, whether you've had the boss from hell or a lovely boss, whatever), I'd love to gather them up here!

I'll post my own 4 points from the other thread to start us off:

jfh7gwa wrote: »

• If you have a job where Chief Widget Makers are paid £18k a year, if you have experience of Making Widgets but have never held the job title Chief Widget Maker, your experience can be highlighted in such a way that you'll still get interviews and offers coming in. I know it's been said before (on here, by family members advising), but until this happened to me directly I lacked confidence to believe it 100%.
• When HR accidently encloses a close colleague's payslip in your envelope, and that colleague is on 10k a year more than you for doing essentially the same job, the problem isn't with the colleague. The problem is with me (for negotiating a starting wage which was a couple of grand under most other advertised (industry standard) rates, and then lagging behind in bonus payments stemming from that base salary, as the bonus is worked on a percentage of the base salary. Massive mistake. After all, the company doesn't have a problem with it - in fact, its shareholders got a great deal - they got me doing the same work for significantly less cash. Great. But I DO have the power to do something about it. I need to recognise that fact - that I drive my career, and I should ask for (justifiable) rewards based on that, and I shouldn't fall into letting it go wherever my manager pushes me along to.
• Not valuing any additional things that come with an employer - e.g. my best friend's employer matches her pension contributions to 8%. Yes - 8. Mine does not. That's money that I need to consider when it comes to looking at the OVERALL package on offer.
• Little things tip off as to how good an employer is. In my first week at my current job, someone was in absolute agony with a dentist filling gone wrong, but he wasn't allowed time off to attend an emergency appointment (I think he was told to take time off unpaid, but the general gist of it was that he'd be letting the team down). THAT should have been a huge warning flag to me. I failed to heed it.

I can't think of any more just now, but:

• I wanted to add in something about the loyalty aspect... in the past I have seen the employee-employer relationship as something that is mututally beneficial, but that primarily I was valued by my immediate manager/peers/etc. Not friends exactly, but at least respected for the contribution I make. But... the sad fact is that it's always good to remember it is just a business relationship. If I'm performing badly, or take a few days off sick with a genuine issue, this is flagged and remembered - but my consistent overtime, going above and beyond.. very little of it is remembered beyond a few days later. Therefore, why go above and beyond unless it is going to benefit me in some way, directly? Offering to help a colleague out regularly when they are busy might make me liked more in the office, but when it comes to redundancy planning or performance appraisels, none of that crap matters. I suppose I've learnt to be a lot more cynical and more often ask "What's in this for me?" these days. It's not a good thing, but at least I'm more realistic than I was 10 years ago!

tomjonesrules

No one is indispensable.

NeverInDebt

MakeMoneyOnline123456 :spam: reported

jc808

The sociopaths and arselickers in the team will go far. Very far.

HR are NOT there for you.

You need to move a lot and MANAGE your career if youre going to rise in this world.

LadyMissA

jc808 wrote: »

The sociopaths and arselickers in the team will go far. Very far.

HR are NOT there for you.

You need to move a lot and MANAGE your career if youre going to rise in this world.

I too believe that arselickers, backstabbers alike go far and just because you have the word in job title like 'supervisor' or 'manager' doesn’t mean you are actually doing the job of one but your staff are!

dandelionclock30

Watch your back at all times,people at work are not friends they are work colleagues and will stab you in the back in order to reinforce their own position or to support the managers.
If you have the skills and talent to be self employed then do so. Its better than a lifetime in these sh**** offices.

SarEl

Things that will keep you out of my office (and one that makes sure you can afford to get in it if you need to):

• Don't write anything about work on Facebook no matter what your privacy settings are, and remember that work colleagues are not "friends"
• Work computers and other technology belong to the employer, not to you. No matter what the policy says, the safest personal use of employers technology is no personal use. And remember they may be watching, so don't say anything that you aren't prepared to walk straight up to the MD and say to their face - because that is what you may end up having to do!
• Read and clarify your "contract" before you sign it. Not after. Familiarise yourself with your employers polices early on - they form part of your contract.
• Never assume that because "everyone else does it" that you can too.
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• If you aren't guilty don't resign.
• Never resign in a pique of temper - they might accept it.
• You are a worker, nothing more. At the end of the day you are worth no more and possibly less than any other asset to the employer.
• Don't assume that you are "so right" that a tribunal is going to fall over itself to believe you or support you. There is a reason why the majority of tribunal claims fail, and even those who win don't get headline grabbing payouts. Tribunals are not replacements for an income.
• Join a union now - before you need to. It doesn't matter whether your employer recognises a union or not, and if they don't like employees joining unions that is one of the best reasons to join one. And if you aren't going to do that, take out legal insurance.

mishmogs

Let me tell you about my personal experience.... I worked for a large company and I excelled at my job (sorry if it sounds bigheaded, not intended) worked beyond the call of duty, mega mileage driving, staying away from home, developed the business so a lot of additional staff employed, given promotion but no training or back up, mediocre payrise, yawn yawn, then new overall manager brought in and one by one colleagues were picked on and bullied and they left. In staff meetings, when manager was, as usual late, it was openly discussed between us who would probably be next. Eventually it was my turn and I stood up to the bully but my life was hell after this so I started working less hours and doing 'my job role' and being less available to others. I felt less stressed and a lot happier and still achieved target in my role and in my staff. Noticed other managers unable to perform and motivate staff and watched as targets were not achieved.

From this I learnt that employers are not bothered about the person, only the end figure and if you work hard, the rewards are not always there. In this instance, decisions are to be made and from my experience, its time to jog on..

a previous poster said that HR are not there for you, too true, you are on your own in a job, you have to get along with your colleagues, laugh when they do, sympathise, empathise but keep your trap shut and let someone else do the voicing.

I was made redundant from that job and went to work abroad and when I came back they asked me back. I would only go back on a contract and left after 4 months. The company is now a small concern with a number of problems.

So, realise your worth and if you are not getting it.....move along!

frugaliciousnow

Try to have a bit of savings behind you. If the job goes pear-shaped, then you will need some savings behind you to avoid having cashflow problems whilst you swop to your next source of income. Particularly true if the "next source of income" is Dole money, as there is likely to be a delay in processing your claim and meanwhile you are expected to manage courtesy of your savings. If you don't HAVE any savings, then that would mean "living on thin air" for a few weeks in all likelihood.

It also gives you a feeling of security to know there is that little bit of money there and if you really really HAVE to literally walk out of a job because things are THAT bad - then you will manage. More to the point is that you will feel that bit more confident and managers are that little bit less likely to "pick on" someone who comes over as confident.

Another thing I have often noticed is that many people absolutely rely on their income being paid bang on time regularly by their employer and couldn't even pay the direct debits on time and buy their food for the next week if that salary is late. We have seen instances of employers paying people late and their panic because of this. Be aware of this as another good reason to have a bit of savings behind you. At least that way you only have to "chase up" your employer about the delayed salary and don't also have to wonder how you are going to live until you get it.

vax2002

One of the first signs of work stress is "thinking they could not manage without you".

System

This may sound trivial but to my mind it is very true.

In my working career I have been fortunate enough to have 2 very good bosses and 1 appauling one.

I was victimised (First time I have written that word without getting upset) by a my boss (who started out as an equal team leader) till the point I had no option but to leave. He even had people who would start nasty conversations against him, then run straight to them when they agreed. Yes I am bitter and scared but it is a lesson learned:

Recognise when you have a good boss. My current boss is great. She will ask a lot of us, but she will stand up and defend every single one of us to the powers that be. There are no "games or tricks" like in some places. Do what is asked of you and she will defend you to the hilt.

It may sound "soft" but we, her staff, recognise this and we will go totally above and beyond for her. I guess you could call us a real team not just in name.

Oh and just to add, my leaving my previous job was one of the best things that ever happened. It has opened so many new doors for me I have a hard time picking which one to open, so maybe I should thank them