Develop a 300-word blog post about the movie. What did you think of his unique skill? Name as least three skills that he used to benefit the employee. How would you have handled yourself in the same position as the lead character? How would you have responded as the employee being let go?
I think is unique skill is just that a unique skill. He used the ability to twist words and tell the recently unemployed person exactly what they wanted to hear. He was capable of thinking and speaking to the person without a script. Given he had been doing this for many years, he was still able to answer with a very good response and not have too much of a situation on his hands.
If I was in the same position as George Clooney, I don’t think I would have been able to handle every situation in such a calm and composed way. He was very inspiring as a professional and yet did it in such a reasonable and professional manner.
If I was the employee being let go I think I would have been very calm, until I got out of course. It is a very traumatic experience and you run through the how’s? How am I going to pay my bills, how am I going to provide for my family and myself. But the movie does make a point, this is just the beginning, now you need to go out and do what makes you happy. Follow your dreams. Make something of yourself. Now would be the beginning of the rest of your life, being happy. That I would take into consideration, I would make this an educational experience and go do what I had always wanted to.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Week 10: BOC - Getting Fired
Develop a 300 word blog post about a time you were fired or had to fire someone. How did it happen, why and how did it make you feel. This should be in the first person. If you have not had this experience, you may write about someone you know personally who did experience this.
In 2006, I worked for a corporate drug store in Canada. I was in high school and had two other jobs. I asked to be put on call and possibly have one day a week. My boss didn’t really like me, but all the employees and supervisors did. After a 2 weeks of being scheduled one day and being on call. The boss had removed my name from the schedule, without being notified. I was fired without just cause or even given a reason. If fact she avoided me when I came into the store, and ignored my phone calls.
When my supervisor confronted her about it, she had threatened her job. I feel, as I my boss was unprofessional in the whole situation. She felt her authority should just be enough to do whatever she wanted. Which shouldn’t have been allowed. I had poke to the owner on many occasions and she told me “Brenda is the best and longest employee, she must have had a reasonable reason to fire you.” Not once did she ever talk to Brenda nor did she get back to me on why I was fired.
A few months after I was fired, I was asked why I hadn’t gone to the labor board. As I could have, since I was fired without cause. I hadn’t even thought about it. At that point, it was too far after the incident to do anything about it. Looking back on the situation, it sucks that I worked there for so long and cannot use it as a reference, but I have been able to use most of my previous supervisors from there. It was a situation I can use as a learning resource. I now know what I can do if it ever wee to happen again.
In 2006, I worked for a corporate drug store in Canada. I was in high school and had two other jobs. I asked to be put on call and possibly have one day a week. My boss didn’t really like me, but all the employees and supervisors did. After a 2 weeks of being scheduled one day and being on call. The boss had removed my name from the schedule, without being notified. I was fired without just cause or even given a reason. If fact she avoided me when I came into the store, and ignored my phone calls.
When my supervisor confronted her about it, she had threatened her job. I feel, as I my boss was unprofessional in the whole situation. She felt her authority should just be enough to do whatever she wanted. Which shouldn’t have been allowed. I had poke to the owner on many occasions and she told me “Brenda is the best and longest employee, she must have had a reasonable reason to fire you.” Not once did she ever talk to Brenda nor did she get back to me on why I was fired.
A few months after I was fired, I was asked why I hadn’t gone to the labor board. As I could have, since I was fired without cause. I hadn’t even thought about it. At that point, it was too far after the incident to do anything about it. Looking back on the situation, it sucks that I worked there for so long and cannot use it as a reference, but I have been able to use most of my previous supervisors from there. It was a situation I can use as a learning resource. I now know what I can do if it ever wee to happen again.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Week 9: EOC – Personal Freedom vs. Union Membership
Week 9 – EOC – Personal Freedom vs. Union Membership
1. What would you do if you wanted to work for a company and you had to join the union to get the job?
If I had to join the union in order to get a job with a specific company, I would go through all of the pros and cons. If I was really ok with working for this company then I would have to come up with many more pros then cons.
2. What if they called a strike over an issue you did not agree with?
If the company called a strike over an issue I did not agree with I wouldn’t have much of a choice other than to get out of the union, or walk the picketing line, because if you didn’t walk the line then you would lose your job, and your position in the union.
3. What other issue might concern you if you HAD to belong to get a paycheck?
The fact that you can lose your job at any given time, while in a union, for any given reason, puts me on edge. I want a job that has to fire within reason, not be part of a union, that can at anytime revoke your status.
1. What would you do if you wanted to work for a company and you had to join the union to get the job?
If I had to join the union in order to get a job with a specific company, I would go through all of the pros and cons. If I was really ok with working for this company then I would have to come up with many more pros then cons.
2. What if they called a strike over an issue you did not agree with?
If the company called a strike over an issue I did not agree with I wouldn’t have much of a choice other than to get out of the union, or walk the picketing line, because if you didn’t walk the line then you would lose your job, and your position in the union.
3. What other issue might concern you if you HAD to belong to get a paycheck?
The fact that you can lose your job at any given time, while in a union, for any given reason, puts me on edge. I want a job that has to fire within reason, not be part of a union, that can at anytime revoke your status.
Week 9: BOC – Histories of Labor Unions in the United States
Labor unions have a long and colorful history in the United States. To some people, they conjure up thoughts of organized crime and gangsters like Jimmy Hoffa. To others, labor unions represent solidarity among the working classes, bringing people together across many professions to lobby for better rights, wages and benefits. As of 2006, 15.4 million people were union members, and although union membership peaked in 1945 when 35 percent of the nonagricultural workforce were union members, unions are still a powerful influence in the United States (and even more powerful in many other countries). They are also an important and fundamental part of the history of United States commerce and the country’s growth into an economic powerhouse.
“The employed fought to raise their wages and improve their working conditions”
In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution produced a rapid expansion in factories and manufacturing capabilities. As workers moved away from agricultural work to factories, mines and other hard labor, many faced terrible working conditions: long hours, low pay and health risks. Many children worked in factories, and women and children generally received lower pay than men. The government did little to limit these injustices, and in the United States, along with much of the industrialized world, labor movements developed that lobbied for better rights and safer conditions.
“In the 1800's, the lives of this class started to improve. It eventually became no longer illegal to form trade unions.”
A common method of protest used by workers in the 19th century was the strike. A strike is when a group of workers stops working in protest to labor conditions or as a bargaining tool during negotiations between labor and management. While strikes today are generally peaceful events, back then they were quite the opposite. A list of the 19th century’s notable strikes shows numerous strikes that were “broken” by hired militias, police or U.S. government troops, frequently resulting in the deaths of workers. Employers often hired private companies like the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency to intimidate striking workers or to escort strike breakers -- workers replacing striking employees -- across picket lines.
“The employed fought to raise their wages and improve their working conditions”
In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution produced a rapid expansion in factories and manufacturing capabilities. As workers moved away from agricultural work to factories, mines and other hard labor, many faced terrible working conditions: long hours, low pay and health risks. Many children worked in factories, and women and children generally received lower pay than men. The government did little to limit these injustices, and in the United States, along with much of the industrialized world, labor movements developed that lobbied for better rights and safer conditions.
“In the 1800's, the lives of this class started to improve. It eventually became no longer illegal to form trade unions.”
A common method of protest used by workers in the 19th century was the strike. A strike is when a group of workers stops working in protest to labor conditions or as a bargaining tool during negotiations between labor and management. While strikes today are generally peaceful events, back then they were quite the opposite. A list of the 19th century’s notable strikes shows numerous strikes that were “broken” by hired militias, police or U.S. government troops, frequently resulting in the deaths of workers. Employers often hired private companies like the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency to intimidate striking workers or to escort strike breakers -- workers replacing striking employees -- across picket lines.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Week 8: EOC - Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment is not something to be tolerated. I feel that no matter what your gender, you are liable to be sexually harassed. Some people don’t understand that men can be harassed. By women higher up or even superior men. I feel that it should not be tolerated under any circumstance. Companies should discipline people under the highest form if they harass anyone in the company. It is disrespectful and demeaning towards the person. I also feel that people are cowards if they need to sexually harass anyone in the work place. “It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature”
If I were in the position, where I was sexually harassed, I would not stand for it. I would go to my boss and report it. If my boss did nothing to stop the harassment, then I would have to go to Human Resources and get the person written up. There is no reason for anyone to be sexually harassed or harassed in any form. If my human resources personnel also did nothing to stop the harassment I would go to the police as “It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”
In the movie The Apartment a young gentle men was sexually harassed by his superiors in order to be given the key to his apartment for them to use with their “flings”. He later then sexually harasses a young lady in which he is attracted to, by trying to use his superiority to get her a better job within the company. “The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.”
If I were in the position, where I was sexually harassed, I would not stand for it. I would go to my boss and report it. If my boss did nothing to stop the harassment, then I would have to go to Human Resources and get the person written up. There is no reason for anyone to be sexually harassed or harassed in any form. If my human resources personnel also did nothing to stop the harassment I would go to the police as “It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.”
In the movie The Apartment a young gentle men was sexually harassed by his superiors in order to be given the key to his apartment for them to use with their “flings”. He later then sexually harasses a young lady in which he is attracted to, by trying to use his superiority to get her a better job within the company. “The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.”
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Week 7 EOC: How to Evaluate Employee Performance in 15 Easy Steps
- What did you learn?
I learnt that everyone is very different when in comes to student etiquette. Some feel that they are exceptional students, and others have learned to “beat the system”.
- What caught you by surprise?
I was caught by surprise when a few girls mentioned that they just don’t care about their classes or what they are learning. However they are exceptional students that do great in their classes.
- How prepared were you?
I was not as prepared as I would have liked to be. I wish I had a better understanding of the assignment at hand and knew my group members a little bit better. It would have probably been a little easier, and more comfortable to talk to them about their jobs, as a student.
- Evaluate the individual members of your group.
Hannah Brietzke – Is a very outgoing individual, she had a lot of participation throughout the conversations and asked some very viable questions.
Gloria Castillo – Gloria is a great person to work with, she participated a lot and asked more questions that necessary. Seemed very eager to learn .
Crisitin Wacaser – Crisitin was a great addition to the team, outspoken and kind. She allowed for questions to be asked and didn’t seem to be any bit shy in talking to someone new.
- By name, how did they participate?
Hannah Brietzke – Hannah participated well beyond the requirements of the project.
Gloria Castillo – Gloria participated beyond requirements but she seems to be a very shy and quite person, she just needs to warm up around new faces.
Crisitin Wacaser – Cristin is a very outgoing person, some could even say loud. She participated well beyond requirements and needed no time to warm up to a new face.
- Do you think they (by name) could be viable candidates for a real job? Explain.
Hannah Brietzke – She would be an excellent candidate for a real job, not only is she outgoing, but she is also very outspoken on thing that need to be changed for the better of a company.
Gloria Castillo – Would also be an excellent candidate for a real job, outgoing, outspoken and very smart, she would bring a world of knowledge to a company.
Crisitin Wacaser – Crisitin is also a very outgoing/spoken individual. She has found a way to understand the system and people, which would make her a viable candidate for a real job.
- Would you want them to represent your school in a job interview situation as a graduate of The Art Institute?
I would want these three individuals to represent the school as a graduate. I think they will be wonderful additions to any company and a great representative of the school.
- How could this experience be improved for you? For the class?
I think adding more questions and putting them in a professional atmosphere, like a mock interview, could improve the experience. By doing so, you would allow for individual interviewing skills to be improved and strengthened.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Week 6 EOC: Steps in Job Instruction Training
In the Movie, Nine to Five, We were introduced to Consolidated firm. They had just hired a new employee and were going through Job instruction training. Where they failed to follow the steps in Job instruction Training. Which ultimately lead to a bit of failure on Judy’s first day. The steps that should have been followed to ensure optimal training are:
Step 1: Prepare the employee.Managing Hospitality Human Resource, 4th Edition Page 203.
Step 2: Present the Task or Skill
Step 3: Try out the Performance
Step 4: Follow Up
A more in depth view of these steps are:
Step 1: Prepare the employees. By preparing the employees you put them at ease and arouse the interest in training. In the movie, Violet takes Judy around and introduces her to everyone, allowing for her to get comfortable with her surroundings and puts her at ease with the thought of a job.
Step 2: Present the task or skill. By doing this you tell, show, explain and demonstrate the task or skill at hand. You also allow for questions and a possibility to repeat the steps so your new employee fully understands their duties. Violet des not take the time to train Judy. She shows her once and leaves her alone to do the task, which she eventually does wrong and gets in trouble from her boss.
Step 3: Try out the performance. By trying out the performance you allow for the employee to try the task on his or her own. Have them explain the key points of the task, correct any errors that you have seen them do and re-instruct if necessary. Violet did none of these steps. She instructed them left. Which was a mistake on her behalf, had Judy been fired, she could have found a means of getting Violet into a lot of trouble and possibly her job back.
Step 4: Follow Up. By following up with the new employee you allow for the employee to perform o their own, you are capable of checking on them frequently and then open the option of reducing assistance. This could have prevented a lot f frustration on everyone’s behalf Judy’s first day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)