How do you get to work everyday? Do you find your commute long, boring, relaxing?

We have all seen the ads or signs that are either spelled wrong or a bit out of context.  Do you have any stories of the typo that got by and got a laugh?

Sitting in your office having a not so great day, how do you take that mental break to re focus and get your day back on track?

I have a picture of my kids when I am just frustrated, I just look at thier picture and forget about everything for a bit.

Taking a walk and stretching seems to help as well.

What distracts you most in the office?

Last week's poll for both the US and the UK was:

Does your manager really know what you do every day?
yes    28%
no    72%

72% of the people that responded said they don't think their manager knows what they do every day.  I tend to agree from my past expereince.  Of course my manager knew major projects and what we worked on together but everything else?  He never had a clue.  I considered it running the office seemlessly.  I thought it would make a great Sound Off for the forum.  What do you do that your boss doesn't realize you do?
   

The standard colors are black or blue.  Which one of the two do you prefer or like an alternate color?

I love my purple pen, but only use it for notes and stuff for me.  If anyone besides me has to see the writing, I go for blue over black.

I have to agree with bob and the other posters who have pointed out that IF she has a documented disability, THEN it might be hard to fire her, (and that's relevant in both the US and UK where they both have similar laws in effect to protect employees from discrimination due to health issues.)

That being said, the company has a very thorny problem because IF the depressed employee has a statement on file, it will be difficult to dismiss her AND if either of the other two employees file a complaint they are literally between a rock and a hard place.  what should happen for instance if these older employees should become so frightened that they can't work? what if this depressed person having been successful once with this type of behaviour repeats it?

Sorry folks, being depressed may be covered under the disabilities act, but the employee has some obligations in that regards, one of which is to inform the employer of changes in his/her condition. Further, the employer only needs to make " reasonable accomodation" Placing other employees in real physical danger will not meet the test for reasonable. PArticularly in the US where people are prone to pick up an Uzi at the local Kmart during their lunch break and blow the rest of the team away upon their return to the office.

Further your HR person should be weighing the potential of TWO lawsuits from the elderly employees for failing to provide a safe workplace AND the potential for either of them having a nervous breakdown and then claiming compensation, since you're dealing with two employees who were threatened, there's double the lawsuit potential and even if these were NOT employees, but volunteers and the HR Team doesn't provide the same rights of protection to someone doing work for THEM on their premises, they are still looking at one hell of a lawsuit.  

What if news of the incident has spread throught the building, assume everyone knows about it, what if you have an employee who was subjected to abuse either from her spouse or a significant other, or in her childhood, what if THAT employee no longer feels safe as well, has a nervous breakdown because she's worried  the depressed woman will come in and target her....

As you can see the potential for lawsuit is HUGE here and HR in my opinion should have taken the following actions immediately:

1.  Immediate, escorted from the building suspension pending investigation with pay.
2.  Upon completion of the investigation assuming they didn't want to risk a suit by firing a disabled employee, then the employee who threatened the others should have been moved to a position of no public contact whatsoever,  if that meant she's in a file room for the rest of her career that's the breaks until she can prove that she's mentally able to control herself and you have physician verfication of the best case scenario.
3.  Immediate referral to anger management course in your local area, and follow up to be sure she attends, at employer expense.  Far better to pay for counseling than cascade lawsuits or funerals if she goes completely postal one day.
4.  A Physician's statement about her ability and fitness for employment.
When an employee asks for accomodation from the employer that employer is allowed to then say, sure, show us the proof, and allow us to make a decision based on what the facts are.  

Dont get me wrong, I support employment of the disabled. Always have always will, however placing other employees in positions where they do not feel safe, (and that's what has happened here whether HR wants to admit it or not) is a far worse crime, since if the worst should happen and this employee were to actually strike someone the employer had previous knowledge and had not taken in my opinion sufficient action to ensure that they have no liability.

Frankly, being upset about this situation won't help you a bean, however pointing out the potential liability for the employer might help you a great deal in getting some more affirmative action taken to protect your coworkers and yourself.

Good luck!

Andrea (who just realized she's on her Editor log in,, yeah it's me guys)

Draw a clear coorelantion between the time you'll save or earn back as a result of Flex time and the savings to the company.

Give specific examples of times when this has worked.

Reassure them that you can and would revert to a regular schedule easily should Flex time not work out.

Give alternatives to Flex time such as hiring an armed guard for your door when specific reports are due (kidding of course) but give some alternatives which might provide a way to avoid flex time.

Indicate what you'll do to make it work AND EXACTLY What you'll require from the team.  Will it be more work for them to have you not there? No? Point that out.  Will it be less work? Make SURE you point that out too.

And at last, let them know it's something you'd like to try and are willing to refine and that you genuinely have the best interests of the company at heart.  Getting the work done when no one is around, but make sure you address who is going to answer the phones, see to visitors etc when you're not.

Putting something like this forward requires creativity and seeing it from management's eyes, sometimes they will agree with you and sometimes they won't.

Also look at others in your workplace.  Will granting you Flex time cause a major ripple in the pond? Will EVERYONE want it or are you senior enough that they can justify it easily and not allow everyone to embark on the same schedule?

Put yourself in THEIR shoes and create a list of objections no matter how frivilous they might sound and then address them in your report.

and let us know would ya?!
Andrea

Dear Top cat,

Sorry to be delayed in getting back to you.  When we revamped the UK and US information sections last week, bank holidays were inadvertanly left off, thank you for letting us know, and you can access the list directly by clicking on the link below.

http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/information/ukbankholidays

ahh but in the UK when I presented myself at our bank where DeskDemon does business with my freshly minted Presidential business cards, AND a letter from the company owner, I was STILL questioned.  

I would suggest you send him to your bank, where your company does business and Lord help you if it's HSBC though it can be branch driven what the response is.

As far as wording, Try,,,

John smith is  recently employed as a cheif cook and bottle washer at our company, XYZ company.

As you know, XYZ comapny has held an account with UKBANK NAME since 1886, (Account number #xxxxxxx)  and  we would appreciate any assistance you can give John in establishing his financial affaires in the UK.

If you have questions please feel free to contact my Assistant, JW on Insert phone number here.....

Best Regards,

Signed by the company MD.