5 Signs That You Work For A Bad Employer
By Joe Issid
Monster Contributing Writer
Over the years, I have been fortunate to have worked for some truly outstanding organisations that provided inspiring and enjoyable work environments for their employees. On the other hand, I have also been somewhat unfortunate to have worked for companies who, for one reason or another, were not capable of providing adequate (and, at times, legal) structures for their staff. The grim reality is that there are many organisations out there that do not place an emphasis on providing a nourishing, safe or equitable work environment. For anyone who has been caught working for such an employer, it can be a difficult and frustrating experience. To try and identify potentially bad employers, here are a few signs that you may want to look out for:
- Lack of leadership
While some of us may suffer at the hands of a bad boss at one point or other during our careers, having a bad manager is not nearly as damaging to a company as a lack of overall leadership. Without proper and effective corporate governance, a company lacks the direction, accountability and an overall steward to guide the enterprise. If you interview for a company that does not have a stable executive branch, it could be a clear indication that the company is not in a good position to provide a steady, motivating and enjoyable work experience. Also, if you work for a company that has high executive turnover, signs point to an unstable future. - Lack of Process
During the dotcom explosion at the turn of the century, I accepted a lucrative offer to work for an established company in the technology sector. When I showed up on my first day, my boss was absent and no one had been informed that I was starting work that day. It took more than a week for my PC to arrive and even longer to establish my roles and responsibilities. Without any defined processes on hand to manage, say, new employee arrivals, my initial impressions of the company were entirely negative. If you work for a company that does not have well-defined processes or procedures, you are likely going to endure a great deal of frustration. - Poor Communication
Later in my career, I worked for a company that routinely shared the minutes of their executive meetings with their staff. Such transparency was extremely refreshing and appreciated. While not all companies need to go to this length to keep their employees informed about the direction and stability of the company, employers need to have open and active lines of communication with their employees. A lack of corporate communication can lead to feelings of alienation and distrust among the workers and can create an unnecessary barrier in the workplace. Establishing a clear and well-defined communication policy can be extremely beneficial to all members of a company. - Irregular paycheques
For most of us, our full-time jobs provide the bulk of our annual revenues. Without this revenue, we would be in serious dire straits. As such, if your employer frequently delays or mishandles your paycheques, alarm bells should be ringing. Your employer is either experiencing financial difficulties or is not organised enough to handle payroll efficiently. Even worse, your employer may be deliberately withholding your salary. No matter the case, any delays or errors in salary processing should be addressed immediately. A good employer ensures that the staff is paid first and foremost. - Broken promises
The problem with promises is that they are very easy to make but can be very hard to keep. A good employer never makes verbal promises to its staff or clients. If a company is in a position to make an offer or promise, it is always best to accept the terms in writing. For example, when interviewing for a new job, do your best to go by what has been provided to you in writing. It is easy for an employer to verbally promise to provide, say, a reserved parking spot but if there is no written proof, you may be left wanting. I am not suggesting that all employers are deliberately duplicitous, but it is a sign of a poor employer if they are willing to make offers that can’t be immediately backed up.
Thankfully, many companies work extremely hard to provide their employees with an optimal employment experience and these companies are often well known in their industries. Working for such a company can be an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. However, there are also companies that invest less in their employee experience and, fortunately, they are also well known within their industries. With the advent of social media and the anonymous blogosphere, it has become harder and harder for bad employers to remain bad.
If you are looking for a new career opportunity, take the time to research and evaluate any prospective employer and keep an eye out for some of these signs, you will save yourself a lot of headaches and disappointments.
If you want to make a comment regarding the content of this article, feel free to email Joe Issid at: joe@thescrib.com