TYT Takes On Conservative Author Of "Help, There's A Liberal In The Corner Office" (& My Thoughts)

[ihavenobias]

http://youngturks.wmod.llnwd.net/a591/o1/2-22-08KathleenKelly.wmv

This author, Kathleen Kelly, exemplifies the 'bottom line is the only line' problem with corporate America. I don't think anyone at DU would argue that 5 voice-mails a day is reasonable (it's ridiculous, obviously), and more importantly, that such over the top praise is somehow common.

I was in management for almost 2 years (I know, it's not *that* much experience but it's something) and I agree it can be very frustrating to jump through so many hoops when dealing with chronically under-performing employees if you know they don't take the job seriously and make no attempt to improve or respond to coaching.

I also had a situation where someone was on FMLA for months and I wasn't allowed to get a temp to help with her workload. Instead my staff had to pick up the pace and inevitably became frustrated and fell behind. And yes, I was told I had to "manage to the situation" (i.e. tough luck for me, if we couldn't get the work done in time it was *my* fault). The thing is, my issue wasn't with the FMLA, it was with an organization that didn't budget properly. They should account for the fact that someone on each team might use FMLA (or other options) and that extra money has to be saved just in case to hire a temp. And hey, worst case that money would be a surplus that would reflect positively at the end of the year, right?

Instead far too many companies and organizations budget for the bare minimum assuming everyone stays 100% healthy and sane (which almost never happens). Then when one thing doesn't go according to plan, it ultimately costs MORE money than if they'd spent/saved a little extra money up front. This also goes with staffing. So many places staff at the *bare minimum* level, so that if one person is out for a week, everything gets backed up. They'd rather staff a half person short than a half person extra (for obvious reasons), but again, it almost ALWAYS costs more in the long run to slightly understaff.

PS---You can always watch the Show Live 3-5 pm ET, with a Rolling Post Game 5-7 pm daily Monday-Friday at www.theyoungturks.com The RPG often contains political talk but also many non-political topics to lighten things up (and yes, that audio may not necessarily be work-safe).

Also, if you can't watch live, the 3-5pm portion of the show (politics) streams the rest of the day, all day right after the Post Game Show ends leading up to the initial show at 3pm.

[zbdent]

1. Liberals in the corner office?

I thought we were under the bed ...

[ihavenobias]

3. Ha! You were thinking

of republicans actually, *they* are often under the bed: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2918376

But seriously, does anyone really think the issue is that workers have TOO MANY protections? I find that idea laughable.

Are there people that take advantage of protections sometimes? Yes. Can that be frustrating, especially if you're in management or a fellow employee who is asked to take on a higher volume of work and or correct someone else's mistakes? Yes.

But that's a small price to pay IMO.

[zbdent]

4. a previous insane RW ranting "childrens' book" was titled

"Mommy, there's a liberal under my bed" (something to that effect) ... which explains why Repukes have to dry their pants so often ...

that book is what I was referring to ... and now, there's liberals in the corner office? I thought that the "corner office" was desirable, given only to the better employees ...

[ihavenobias]

5. I'll have to look up that book for a good laugh

What an absurd title.

[BlueIris]

10. Yeah, and Hollywood's In My Hamper.

[supernova]

2. This is the #1 crazymaking thing

for me about working in corp America.

The total obliviousness to long-term planning and the idea that people are not perfect. What a shock. :sarcasm:.

It's always about how can we make ourselves look good this quarter and next quarter. That's it, really. If you do that, you'll make upper mgmt in six months, tops.

*Sigh* No wonder American companies are going down the drain. And upper mgmt, as usual doesn't have a clue.

[CherylK]

6. I think everyone can relate to what you're saying! n/t

[ihavenobias]

7. Well, at least anyone who's worked in corporate America, or anything close to it

The amazing thing is, the chronic under-staffing (and other issues) ultimately reduce profit *in the long run*. For people who only think about the bottom line, you'd think they wouldn't be so myopic.

[supernova]

8. And then they sit around

wringing their hands that product quality has gone down.

They don't see the connection between chronic understaffing and poor quality output.

So, the division slowly painfully goes down hill, eventually ripe for sell off and take over.

New management comes in and lays off everybody.

They hire new employees at sufficient levels and quality improvies. (Big schocker there.) New mmgt gets kudos, raises and their names in the paper for being such "turnaround" geniuses.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

It would be laughable if it weren't so horribly sad.

[kineneb]

11. oh, yeah...WorldCom...

Hubby worked there... I have a BA in Music and could have done a better job in money management than the dipwad MBA types... aaaarrrrrgh.:banghead:

[navarth]

9. k & r for Cenk

I heard this interview. I was ready to pull out my hair.

What kind of home do these people grow up in?