I Have Nowhere Else To Go!

Due to the current economic climate, a number of employees are sticking it out, tolerating the horrible treatment of their employer and suffering at the workplace because it's better to be employed than looking for a job that doesn't exist. Are you miserable and trapped at work???

10 Best Reasons For Being Late To Work

My top 10 favorite excuses for being late to work from my clients:
1) I was chillin'.
2) I couldn't find a band-aid after cutting myself.
3) I thought there was a 1 hour grace period.
4) My wife wouldn't let me out of bed.
5) It was raining.
6) I accidentally locked myself IN my house.
7) I was waiting for the cable guy.
8) My interview for another job ran late.
9) My favorite episode of "Will and Grace" was on.
10)My toe nails weren't dry from my pedicure.
What are your excuses??

Should I Stay Or Should I Transfer?

Your spouse has been offered a great job in Atlanta and your company has a store located there as well. It seems the "stars are in alignment" and you put in for a transfer. You contact the Atlanta store and the supervisor says there is an opening, and the job is yours. You and your spouse pack your bags and you're off. When you arrive in Atlanta you learn the supervisor you spoke to has disappeared and his replacement tells you there is no opening available. You contact your former store and they know nothing, but you can't return to your former position because you resigned, and has since been filled. Your only option is to file for unemployment benefits. At least you think there is some financial relief as you look for a new job. Not so fast....The problem is you resigned for personal reasons from your former store so you can't collect unemployment benefits. Has this happened to you??

Insubordiate Subordinate!

In an ideal workplace setting, every employee would be enthusiastic, efficient, easy to get along with, and extremely self motivated. Of course that describes you," I'm the perfect employee", you say.

But one day your manager has accused you of being late to work, absent without authorization, a poor performer, using profanity, etc. Your supervisor brings you into his/her office where you are presented with a counseling notice. You read it and completely disagree with its contents. You are asked to sign it. It’s painted with lies and distortions of the truth so you refuse to sign and walk out. You have just become an “insubordinate subordinate”. This would be grounds for dismissal. “WAIT A MINUTE!! Insubordination? What did I do wrong? I’m not going to sign something that is fabricated.” This may be true, but what you should have done was “land your plane!” Just kidding, I love that line from the movie “Top Gun”. What you should have done was write on the document that you disagree with the document and then sign it. In that way you’re covered until your next write-up! Have you experienced a write-up???

Battle Speed, Attack Speed, Ramming Speed

I was reading Julie Jargon's article in The Wall Street Journal this morning that Starbucks has an idea how to make their employees more efficient. The notion is to make them work faster and as a result more customers will be served. This idea reminded me of the movie "Ben Hur". Do you remember when Charlton Heston was chained to his seat with the other slaves rowing in the bowels of the Roman ship? The captain ordered the slaves to change their rowing speed at the beat of the drum. What Starbucks is suggesting is not too far from what the Roman captain did in that 1959 movie. I can hear it now when I walk into Starbucks for that latte...Order Speed, Mixing Speed, Spilling Speed!!! My question is whether current employees agreed to these working conditions when hired? What do you think??

I Wasn't Put On The Schedule So I'm Fired, Right?

Not so fast. Maybe just wishful thinking by an employee who's fed up with their job. I regularly hear this reason for separation from employment. This is not to say it's not a valid point, but the question is whether it's enough to infer that you are no longer an employee? The simple answer is no, it's not enough. The mere act of taking an employee off the schedule doesn't necessarily mean you're fired. It could mean that you've been scheduled on another day, or you're merely suspended or you're to come in and talk to your supervisor. I know the "buts". For instance, "But, my entire name has been erased from the schedule and that always means you're fired, since I've been working there." Or, "But, they didn't call me." It could be a mistake by the schedule person. There are a whole host of reasons why your name is not listed or you are not scheduled. Don't assume it's because you've been fired. Always get confirmation from your supervisor of his/her intentions before you determine you've been let go. Has this happened to you?

Bank Teller Loses His Job After Chasing Down Bank Robber

Did you hear about the bank teller who chased down a bank robber and was fired? You can check out the video on the website. What do you think about this? Was Key Bank right in firing him? What's your opinion? ....Then I'll give you mine.