What Does Your Invisible Footprint Look Like?

 

I googled my current employer — which I’ll call “ABC”— and was “surprised” to find a number of entries that gave the company negative reviews.

I already knew that turnover is 100% in many divisions within the company.  I already knew that employees in my division are not feeling appreciated or acknowledged. 

I didn’t know that these feelings were shared throughout the company.  I didn’t know that the Better Business Bureau gave the company a C-, due to the number of employee and customer complaints.

 

Let me share with you some of the reviews that are out there…

One person stated that:

“Intimidation and fear are the management styles for this company.  They have absolutely no consideration for their employees, and management takes lack of professionalism to a whole new level.

I quit a much better position for an opportunity with ABC, as I was hoping for something more challenging and rewarding.  The only challenge at ABC was learning to deal with the low level., unprofessional behavior from both staff and management.  Please do your due diligence and ask a lot of questions if considering a position with ABC.  There have been several others who experienced the same with ABC as I have, so please, take this as a warning.”

Another reports:  

“Dark, dingy work area. Communication is poor.  They do not encourage team work; they keep departments "at war" with each other, which is not conducive to helping a company grow.  Management does not appear to have any training and keeps more of a "high-school gossip" atmosphere.  They ask for the best in their field; however, they do not allow for people to demonstrate their skills.”

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I did find someone who said something positive:

“They provide a fridge and free coffee in the break room.”

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What’s interesting is that ABC is spending lots of money flooding the Internet — trying to brand themselves as a company of integrity and professionalism — while they are being blindsided by this “not-so-invisible” footprint that’s showing up on the Internet. 

And it’s their own doing. Their actions are sabotaging the success of their branding efforts. 

I mentioned these “reviews” to co-workers and supervisors, and asked if anyone in the company — perhaps Marketing, HR, or Top Management — ever google the company’s name to find out what negative press was out there.  If they wanted to grow a healthier company, they may want to find out — if not work on — some of the negative things that are being broadcasted to millions on the Internet.

Everyone seemed to just shrug it off — implying that it’s not surprising that ex-employees would say negative things about the company.  I mentioned the BBB rating, which includes customer complaints — but since the customer complaints weren’t about our specific division, the consensus was that there wasn't anything that "we" should do…

I just find it interesting that the company has this negative reputation imprinted on the Internet — which seems to be only invisible to the company.

So, why do I stay with a company that has such a negative footprint on the Internet?  

It’s because I’ve worked for worse companies in the past — and I’m not the only one.

For example, a new employee was just hired for our division.  I asked her how she liked working here.

She:    “I love it.”

Me:     “Oh, my gosh!  You used the “L” word!”

She:    “Yes, I did.  Compared to the last place I worked, this is great!”

Me:     “So, what you’re saying is, compared to Hell, this ain’t so bad?”

She:    “Yep.”

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Why Can't We Just All Get Along?

From Johnny Hart's classic strip, B.C.



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Calling in the Cavalry

Sunday night, I was sitting on the couch, staring into space… trying to hold back the tears…while wondering how to get myself out of the downward spiral I found myself slipping into.

I knew I couldn’t keep up the pretense of successful managing everything with Mom, her house’s flooding issues, the insurance claim due to the flooding, the remodeling of the damaged rooms because of the water damage (which should be done before Mom leaves rehab), the increasing number of doctors’ appointments for Mom, Mom’s financial concerns — oh, yeah… and my full-time job, my own house’s maintenance/financial issues, and my personal commitments that have nothing to do with what’s going on with Mom.

In a trance, I reached for the phone and dialed my sister’s number.  I had no idea what I was about to say to her, but I dialed her number, anyway.

It was a very short conversation.  I was too close to tears to say much.

I asked her if it was possible for her to come down this weekend. 

She didn’t ask anything of me.  She simply said that she’d make the plane reservations…

And we hung up from each other.

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College Expectations

I was at a network gathering the other day and overheard a conversation.  Someone had asked a young lady what her major was and that launched her into an epic tale of why—after five years—she wasn’t close to graduating. 

She started her story with, “Well, I started out studying to be an architect, but I really didn’t want to be an architect.  I was really interested in interior design, but the college didn’t have a program in interior design, so I decided to become a teacher.  When I got into that field, I had to decide what type of teacher—elementary or middle-school...”

She shrugged a bit and continued, “I couldn’t decide, so I changed my major to business and, then, accounting, but then decided that I rather go into behavior sciences and study physical therapy to help people — but the college didn’t have the program I wanted.” 

She shrugged again, “With all the time and money I spent taking all these courses, you would think I could graduate, but the college won’t let me.  I don’t care anymore; I just want to get out!”

A friend of hers suggested that she should just major in History.  She only needs 15 credits to get a History degree and then she could graduate.

She shook her head at that idea.  “No, I don’t like to read, write, or do research, so I don’t want to study History.”    

She admitted that the college did, finally, offer a field in the Behavior Science area that she thought could be interesting, but, by this time, her GPA was too low to enter that program.

She concluded her story by blaming the college for her inability to graduate, and the group sympathized with her situation.

I do hope that she finds what she’s searching for… but I don’t think what she's searching for is in the college curriculum and course catalog. 

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Throw in the Kitchen Sink!

 

Well, I’m still juggling a lot of precious figurines — one being my mother, who is still at rehab.

This week, the plumbing under her kitchen sink busted and water started flooded her house.  Because Mom’s not at the house, we didn’t know of the problem until Mom’s caregiver went by to pick up the mail and check on the pool.

Now, we’re dealing with the insurance company, the cleaning/drying crew, the insurance adjuster, and Mom’s anxiety over all of this…

And what’s getting me through this is the fact that I’m not dealing with all of this on my own.

Mom’s sister-in-law and her family have stepped in and are helping us get through all of this.  Mom’s caregiver is also making herself available to let people in and out of the house as necessary.  My supervisor at work is allowing me to leave when I need to, to deal with this situation as well as all of Mom’s various doctors’ appointments.

People at work are giving me emotional support as well.  They let me vent.  They acknowledge that they can’t change anything for me, but they are on my side and they’ve been there.  They reassure me that I’ll get through this… one day at a time…

I know they’re right — but I really didn’t need the kitchen sink to be thrown in, on top of everything else…

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When You’re In Over Your Head

Guess what!  I’ve just been thrown another fragile porcelain figurine to juggle—adding to an already dangerous collection….

And you know what I told the person who was trying to push it into my hands?

I said I can’t handle another thing.  Could that person deal with it?

 

And you know what?

Although this person got irritated with me, she took hold of the problem and dealt with it!!

In the process, she learned that she was as competent as I was and didn’t really need me to handle the situation for her.

Halleluiah!!!

In Over My Head

 Have you ever felt like you’re in over your head? 

That’s where I am…

It’s like I’m expected to juggle all these fragile porcelain figurines — and no one has taught me how to juggle.

I have to keep reminding myself to take one day at a time and focus on the things I have control over…

And let the rest…

                         :

                         : ... fall.

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Your Mission in Life

Mom has moved to the rehab facility to get her on her feet again.
 

She is not happy at rehab.  They are making her get up and do therapy that she doesn’t like doing.  They are making her follow a routine that is not her own.  They want her to get out of her darkened room and socialize with other patients. 

The facility is providing nutritional meals.  Friendly CNAs are coming by to check on her.  Whenever she rings for help, they come.

Extended family members are constantly calling and coming by to keep her spirits up.

In response to all of this, she keeps saying she wants to simply go to sleep and not wake up.

As I said before, we know how this story will end, but we’re not near the end…

There’s something more that Mom has to accomplish.  Exactly what that “thing” is, I’m not sure… but I know every life has a purpose… and has a mission to fulfill. 

Once our mission is completed, then we will move on from this life to the next.  To give up on a life before it has fulfilled its mission will affect and alter others left in this life.

That’s because everything on this planet is connected in some way.  Every action — every “thing” — has significance to someone.  Even if we don’t see the connection or significance, it doesn’t mean that the connection doesn’t exist.

What’s does Mom have left to do?  I have no idea.  I don’t know if this time is given to her to accomplish something for herself or for another.   For instance, her presence and interactions with others during this time may help them fulfill their own personal missions. 

I don’t know… and I don’t need to know for any of this to happen as it should.

I just believe that every life, every action, every word affects another; therefore, your whole life — from beginning to end — has purpose.  

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