Toggle sidebar

Question: Should bosses follow the same rules they expect their employees to follow?

Bamabuzzard

Bamabuzzard

FB Moderator
Staff member
Aug 15, 2004
34,411
31,839
537
50
Where ever there's BBQ, Bourbon & Football
I was talking to my mom last night and asked how her day at work was and she said "Oh the same old crap." She works for a local company who's three owners work in the office as all the other employees. Yesterday the office manager sent out a memo that all cell phones would need to be placed at the front desk, put on silent when they arrived at work and could be checked at breaks, lunch breaks and picked up as they left the office. Also, they were "blocking" the internet on all the computers.

Mom said that they all were called in individually and office cell phone use (texting specifically) and internet usage was the topic of conversation. My mom doesn't even know how to text and her workstation doesn't have internet access for whatever reason so she wasn't even sure why she was called in. But anyways her "issue" was all three of the owners text, play on the internet, and do all these other things that they have made policies against for the rest of the office. She said she just doesn't think that is good leadership.

I told her that they are the owners of the company and they can do what they want. She said it's wasn't an issue of "right" and "wrong" but just what she thought was common courtesy of leadership. Don't hold your employees to a standard that you yourself aren't willing to hold yourself to. I disagreed with her because I believe that if I'm the owner of the company I get certain perks and rights that "regular" employees do not and should not. And if that "offends" others in the office then go out on your own and start your own business. I didn't put it exactly this way to my mom (because she's mom and cooks real good :biggrin2:) but this was the message I conveyed. Thoughts?
 
I have no idea how we can work exbama21's hawt neighbor into this thread.:)

But I am straddling the fence on this one. Yes bosses do get some perks but maybe they can avoid texting around employees?
 
I'm old school...

If you work for me and don't like it, go start your own business and then YOU can do what you want to do!
 
I try to lead by example. Corporate has implemented a managed print program, and told upper lvl mgrs that they have to get rid of their desktop printers and start using the mega/multi-function printers. In doing so, I got rid of the one on my desk. It was pretty hard to tell someone they couldn't have a personal printer while not following the rule myself.

Then again, you have the company I used to work for, that made us all sit through a day-long seminar from HR on sexual harassment. One of the big no-nos was obscene photos sent via company email. HR manager left for Mardi Gras the next week, and then subsequently sent us all nekkid 'pitchers from his corporate email acct. Way to lead by example. :/
 
Managers/Supervisors - yes
Owners - no. It's their business, so the rules (that THEY make) don't apply to them if they don't want them to. It may cause some resentment, but they still are the ones signing the paychecks you receive.
 
Somehow this doesn't seem as simple as that. First, if the owners are in the same room, it tells me it's a fairly new company or one that may be struggling. I can't see the owners not having cell phones to use for marketing, customers, etc. nor internet access. I am a firm believer in take care of your people and your people will take care of you but there are circumstances that happen that may seem to precluded that even though it doesn't.

Now if ExBama21's hawt neighbor was the secretary, then I'm sure she would have all the rights to cell phones and internet, especially if we could see a picture and confirm it. :biggrin2:

How's that RV?
 
As a business owner, you hire people to do a job. If that job requires the use of a cell phone or an internet connection so be it. If they do not then the owner has every right to limit their use during your work day and expect you to do what you are bring paid to do. At the same time, there is no reason to flaunt your right to do whatever you want in front of all of your employees. You can shut you office door if you have one or install one if you don't. It is a matter of respect.
 
If a leader wants respect, they will abide by the rules to the extent it is reasonable.
However, sometimes the leaders have different needs.
A somewhat extreme example might be in a school. A teacher probably should not be browsing Facebook during the day. But, an administrator might need to monitor some things on there - not for social reasons, but for school business. Maybe claims of cyber bullying, maybe to get a pulse on what students are saying about certain classes, teachers, or activities.
I think owners and managers have a right to do what they want, but it is probably not a good idea to do so. As a subordinate, I would not resent it, but I would not love it either.
 
If I take the job.... man say go I go, man say do I do.
I'm a two-dollar-a-day-cowboy. I ride for the brand.

I don't hire on without somebody's hawt neighbor involvement anymore.
 
It appears its too late for your Mom's boss, but her advice is sound (IMHO) and good to provide to her son or any other potential boss/owner. I have always thought that there is a difference btwn management and leadership though a nice blend is optimal from my perspective.
 
Islander said:
As a business owner, you hire people to do a job. If that job requires the use of a cell phone or an internet connection so be it. If they do not then the owner has every right to limit their use during your work day and expect you to do what you are bring paid to do. At the same time, there is no reason to flaunt your right to do whatever you want in front of all of your employees. You can shut you office door if you have one or install one if you don't. It is a matter of respect.
Click to expand...

The only thing I see with this is that most owners don't hire employees to do the job of the owner (what would be the point of the owner then?). Owners have different responsibilities and requirements to keep the business going smoothly, so he may have to keep his phone on him/her at all times to answer important calls and texts. Unless they are personal calls/texts, I don't see as flaunting, but I think it would be hard to know if they were. Like you said though, you are given a job description and are paid to do it. If internet/phone calls are not in this job description, then there is no reason for you to have access to it because it promotes slacking.
 
I think bosses should be of the guild that everyone thinks a good set of ears were wasted on. That way it gives all the digruntled slackers someone to beeatch about and vent their frustrations. Kinda like a "serenity now" program, in a sense. :biggrin2:
 
Owners are owners and they can do what they want. What do they do? Any chance they do something that falls under some sort of compliance statutes like GLBA, PCI, or HIPPA and that is why they removed the Internets?

My Dad does database consulting for an organization that holds a large amount of personal information; credit information in particular. The IT Director is constantly trying to manage their compliance issues by doing things like you mentioned; shutting down ports and internet access are chief among them. Of course they also do a huge number of court filings via the internet and his monkeying around is constantly interfering with their ability to do so. However, his way is the cheap way and the owners like that.

Regardless of what your Mom's company does they sound like idiots anyway.
 
willie52 said:
Somehow this doesn't seem as simple as that. First, if the owners are in the same room, it tells me it's a fairly new company or one that may be struggling. I can't see the owners not having cell phones to use for marketing, customers, etc. nor internet access. I am a firm believer in take care of your people and your people will take care of you but there are circumstances that happen that may seem to precluded that even though it doesn't.

Now if ExBama21's hawt neighbor was the secretary, then I'm sure she would have all the rights to cell phones and internet, especially if we could see a picture and confirm it. :biggrin2:

How's that RV?
Click to expand...

Actually the business is very successful. According to my mom the owner's are micro managers sticking to each and every letter of the policies. They are the type that get upset if they are not sitting at their desks actually working at 8:00 am. Those types. They've written several up for shutting down their computers before 5:00 pm.

But I still say that an OWNER (not supervisor,manager, etc.) should have the right to do what he or she wants to do. If they want to perpetually come in at 10 am and leave at 4 pm then they have that right and it shouldn't create any resentment from the employees. The employee and the owner should not be evaluated on the same level. What's the use of owning your own business if you can't have more freedom than what you would have by being an employee and working FOR someone else? Kind of takes away some of that incentive.
 
people get their cues from their bosses and leaders. if the leaders show a culture of slacking off then the employess will do that as well. long term success is typically achieved by leading through example. that being said, the owners can do whatever they want.
 
gmart74 said:
people get their cues from their bosses and leaders. if the leaders show a culture of slacking off then the employess will do that as well. long term success is typically achieved by leading through example. that being said, the owners can do whatever they want.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree. But I didn't harp too much on it because you don't bite the hand that feeds you and "Mama" can make a mean pan of dressin', homemade mash 'taters and sweet tater casserole. :smile:
 
Owner has the right to do what he sees fit. It is his business and he's hired people to run it for him.
Boss/supervisor needs to lead by example. I have a situation where I'm a supervisor and I tell people that "on time" means 5 minutes early, not 1 minute late. I'm always here close to 30 minutes before my scheduled shift and about 30 minutes after it's supposed to end. It's mainly because of carpooling with my wife but I'm here either way. My supervisor who has an office with a door in the same area, shows up after 9 and routinely leaves at 3 or 4. The people under me get upset about it. They complain when I get on to them about being late. They point out that my supervisor is never on time. My only come back is that I can control them, but I can't control my boss. The point is, like some have said already, lead by example. Unfortunately it appears it's a lot like raising kids. Live the life you wish your kids would.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads

Top Bottom
Back