Food For Thought

I've been thinking. (Yes. I am aware how dangerous that is.) What do we really know about ourselves? What I mean is, we know some of human history and we can speculate on time before that, but have we changed much over the millenia? Are our emotional responses and thought processes consistent over time?

There may be no way to know but here is why I ask:

We control or attempt to control so much of our environment today. I don't mean our tree hugging, Al Gore loving environment, although that is part of it. I mean our means of travel, our intake of food, our health, our births, and even our deaths. We live in a media frenzy, 24 hour a day world of celebrities and bling bling. I wonder if the Western world has lost touch with....well, life. Are we really better off now that we all can expect to live to 75+? Are we happier than we were 200 years ago? 2000 Years ago? Does anything we do and experience have any real meaning and substance behind it?

Were we happier when life was about living day-to-day?

Management 101

I do not profess to be a management expert. And, no, I am not a HR professional. However I know common sense and I am amazed at how many companies do not use any when handling their employees.

A company's employees are its greatest asset yet so many organizations view their employees as disposable, something that is to be used up and thrown away when "no longer useful". Have these company's stopped to think that maybe the "usefulness" of the individual employees is linked to the way their employers treat them? That maybe, the employee would be a better producer if they just were given some slack and less stress?

I have worked for some very large companies and at least a couple of small, family owned businesses. I have worked for slave driving contractors, and for sales divisions I would only hear from once per quarter. Regardless of pay, the best companies have been those with a family like atmosphere where the employer understood the pressures of work and family and did not add to the stress.

So, for what it is worth, here are some suggestions:

1) Don't mess with paychecks. If an employee deserves a raise in pay then give it to them. If the employee just doesn't measure up, then let them go. People need stability in life and far too many of us live paycheck-to-paycheck. A cut in pay can be like a knife through the heart. This is unfair and unethical.

1A) Don't mess with benefits. (See item 1) If you hire an employee and are giving them a certain level of benefits DO NOT later shift the burden to the employee. If benefit costs increase then absorb them or pass them on to the customer. DO NOT make your employees make up the difference. This too is unfair and borderline unethical.

2) If an employee is sick then leave them alone! I am not suggesting that you look away when you have someone who is constantly taking sick leave. I am saying give the employee the peace of mind that they can relax and get well without fearing you. And, whatever you do, NEVER dock pay. Again, it would be better to just let them go.

3) Inclement weather happens. Don't blame your employees if they are not comfortable driving in snow or ice. I have always felt that if an employee doesn't want to drive then the world is better off if they don't. It is not necessary to make the individual feel any stress over the situation. They will get enough of that when they come in the next day and face those who did make it in.

4) Employees actually do have lives. The best thing an employer can do for an employee is be understanding. Many of us have kids. We have spouses. We have homes. We have cars. We need time away from work. Life is stressful enough. If their water heater springs a leak or if their car breaks down, WORK WITH THEM. Charging them a vacation day or docking their pay is just wrong!

I could go on and on and maybe I have rambled a bit. I suppose what I want to say is that I value those who work for me and I respect them as individuals. I want my employees to know that I understand that work is just a part of their lives and I appreciate the time they give me.

Thank you!

Major Dick Winters

His name often comes up in conversations about leadership and ethics, especially within military circles. Many of you recognize the name as that of a "character" from the book and HBO series "Band Of Brothers", but Dick Winters is a real live person. Although now an old man (he is 89) the central Pennsylvania resident is a living icon.

I have a new found respect for Major Winters and his "Band Of Brothers, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division. What Major Winters and the rest of "Easy" company accomplished, not to mention millions of other men at the time, still affects our daily lives. It can even be said that I can write this blog because of the efforts of people like Dick Winters.

We, as Americans, should be thankful for the sacrifices of men and women in the U.S. military. Sacrifices of yesterday and of today. One way we could express that thanks is to visit the official Dick Winters website http://www.majordickwinters.com/ and sign the petition to have this great man recognized for his efforts that fateful day back in June 1944.

For more information about Major Winters and "Easy" company, there are several books that are must reads; "Band Of Brothers" by Steven Ambrose, "Biggest Brother" by Larry Alexander, and "Beyond Band Of Brothers" written by Dick Winters himself along with Cole Kingseed.

Thank you Major Winters.

April 17th Tax Day 2007!

For those of you who procrastinate when filing your federal income tax forms, you are in luck! Due to the 15th falling on a Sunday and Monday the 16th is Emancipation Day (a legal holiday in DC), you need not file until the 17th. You now have two additional days to panic.....

For more information and downloadable forms, visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov .

Internet Security. The tortoise and my lack of hair!

I wonder if the purpose of new enhanced security online isn't really to get us offline!

I am one who fears not the hackers and evil doers of the World Wide Web. Maybe I am just naive but I surf with reckless abandon, trusting in my firewalls and cautiously chosen passwords. I live online. I educate myself online. I schedule my vacations online. From banking, to buying, to selling, I use the Internet to manage my life. I often surf myself to sleep.

Recently I have begun to notice an increase in security measures being implemented. First it was one of my credit card companies. I used to be able to log on to their site with a username and password to access my accounts. They now require that I answer a different specific fact about my account in addition to the username and password each time I log on. Another similar situation is with my mobile phone account. A username and password is no longer enough. I now have to enter a four digit PIN as well.

Those are just two of at least a half dozen examples I could name. I find it hard to believe that all of the additional security is necessary and, if it is, I doubt it will be enough. The additional security is having the opposite effect of the original intent. If the purpose of providing online access is to make our lives easier to manage, then the new security measures make me long for the old way of just picking up the phone.

Just this past Saturday, I attempted to access my checking account and was told that I needed to change my password due to a password time limit. I had never seen that before but was not surprised. After doing so, I was asked a "secret" question, which I answered correctly. I am then asked to identify a picture that I had chosen before. I do so. Then I enter my new password, and I get a warning. "This account is locked". No reason. No direction in what to do next. I call the toll free help line and they are closed until Monday! I now have to call in to handle my transaction. Wow. Isn't that how I used to do it?

Is this better? Is this faster? Why bother?

In the past month and a half I have seen this type of event unfold at least four times. The more secure the site, the more likely you won't get in. I know that it is supposed to be that way for the hackers of the world but not for me when it's my account!

And, assuming all of this added security is necessary, why can't all of these companies standardize on things like password length and configuration. Just for my employer, I need to remember six different usernames and passwords. That is six different usernames and passwords that I have to enter on a daily basis and change on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis depending on the access level.

I guess what I am saying is that if we need to jump through all of these hoops, then maybe we shouldn't be passing any sensitive information online. And maybe that is the whole point after all.

Children's Birthday Parties

Please tell me. Is it me or has the whole children's birthday party thing gotten way out of hand? For those of you with children, you have likely experienced the trek to the local bowling alley, skating rink, indoor pool, or some other happy venue that a parent has gleefully booked for their child's birthday party. You may have even booked one for your child, or maybe you hired Chuckles the clown or Magnifico the magician for entertainment. What is it with the need to pluck down $200 to $500 for such events, and that often does not include plates, napkins, cake and the all so deserving gift, for the little prince or princess?

Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy a party as much as the next eight year old. But, what happened to the get together at the house? We would invite four or five of our best friends. We would play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and musical chairs. Mom would break out the white paper plates and napkins. She would put the requisite number of candles on the Betty Crocker cake she baked this morning and we would all sing Happy Birthday, open the presents, and then go home. We were able to enjoy ourselves by just being together and celebrating. I for one miss those days.

Due to this new national status symbol, we can now buy party supplies online from companies like www.favorbuckets.com or www.birthdayboutiqueonline.com . Or we can visit any of the multitude of party supply stores that exist coast-to-coast. (And don't forget Walmart)! The hope being that these outlets can make the torture of birthday party planning just that much simpler.

Hey! Where's the ice cream?