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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Lessons in Distrust

My place of employment has dropped another notch or two on the integrity meter — if that’s possible.

Someone came into my office and stole all my cash out of my wallet.

This is the second time it’s happened. 

The last time they stole my credit card along with all my cash.  They went on a shopping spree with the card, until the credit card company cut them off.

After the first time, nothing much was done, except they gave me a drawer that would lock.

Because I had to get in and out of that drawer all day for pencils, pens, stapler, tape, scissors, etc., I only locked the drawer when I left my office for an extended length of time—e.g., a meeting, a break, etc.  I didn’t stop and lock the drawer every time I left my chair — when someone called me to help them, or when I went to the bathroom, or when my supervisor called me to her office, etc. 

But I’ve learned my lesson.  I guess the saying holds true:  First time, shame on them; second time, shame on me. 

Now, I’ve taken out all the supplies I use during the day, cluttering up my already cluttered desktop, so I can keep that drawer locked at all times.  I’m keeping the door of the office closed, when I’m in my chair and when I’m not in my chair, so people won’t have a clue as to where I am or am not.

It’s sad to say that I’m forced to alter my trusting nature to accommodate my negative and disrespectful work environment — but that’s how it is.  

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