Happy New Year

And so here is my first post of 2009 - don't get used to it. The next month or two will be awfully busy for me, and I have nothing to say these days so I can't imagine I will be posting on here often.

But anyways, 2008 is now long gone. I can't remember much of it; just one of those years you look back and go 'Gosh, I really didn't do anything in the last 12 months' so here's hoping I actually do achieve a little more this year.

On to the point of today's blog:

In the mail today arrived some mail for the Human Resource Manager (we don't have one, so I decided that was me) and it was an ad for a seminar. A seminar on 'Dealing Effectively with Unacceptable Employee Behaviour'.

Now you may be saying "But that is a good idea!". You may also be saying "I have a bag of cashews" in which case I am saying to you "Give me some!"

But what makes this advertisement so fun is the following info:

If you supervise one or more of these employees, you need to take action NOW!

Antagonist:
Is rude and unpleasant to co-workers,
suppliers and
customers
Blameless Bob: Always has an excuse for
everything
Whiner: Complains no matter what he or she
is asked to do
Thumb-Twiddler: Lacks motivation and
initiative
Insubordinate Subordinate: Challenges you in
front of
other workers and managers
Tortoise: Shows up
late or not at all
Amy Attitude: Has negative attitude that
brings everybody
down
Hand-Holder: Needs constant
supervision
Early-Retiree: Has been around awhile and is
beginning to
practise at-work retirement
Worrywart: Has
personal problems that infringe on the
working
day
Clock-Watcher: Refuses to work weekends or even a minute
beyond "quitting time" - even during deadline crunches

While I would consider myself a strong candidate for Early-Retiree, the name Amy Attitude just cracked me up. And if you have an "Insubordinate Subordinate", then it probably means you make stupid decisions and someone is just smart/brave enough to call you on it. Also, if your contract states you work Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, I don't really see that refusing to work weekends makes you a difficult employee. I work extra hours when I need to (always is my own decision to do so, and they are completely unpaid) but I do it so I too do not have to work weekends. I also used to work with a girl who left 5 minutes early everyday no matter what, and my boss thought she was the greatest employee she had!

OK I need to stop being a Thumb-Twiddler and do some work...