Do you expect a word of appreciation from your boss for working PAID overtime?

[Jeff7]

If I get it, fine. If not, oh well, I'm being paid time and a half, that's thanks enough.

Something about hearing "Thanks" from a manager, well, it doesn't do much, because it's just a tactic to try to boost morale without spending anything - it makes the gratitude disingenuous. I'm in a Project Management course right now, and that's one thing that they say to do: thank your employees. If it is genuine, good. If you have to be taught when you're this old that you have to say "thank you" all the time, it will sound forced when it's said, and will probably not have the intended effect.

I work to get paid, and I also hope to be able to work with some level of mutual respect. I don't need constant pats on the back to tell me how darned wonderful of a job I'm doing. I can do that myself.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I'm being paid time and a half, that's thanks enough.

I always have to laugh when I hear that...


suckers!!!

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I'm being paid time and a half, that's thanks enough.

I always have to laugh when I hear that...


suckers!!!

esplain

 

[Kelemvor]

I work an hour of overtime almost every day when we are busy. My thanks in is the form of a larger paycheck. I don't expect anyone to tell me thank you ever day.

 

[AlienCraft]

The cheapest motivational aid to productivity is the compliment or word of gratitude.
More employees will tell you that is more important than money in the grand scheme of things.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
The cheapest motivational aid to productivity is the compliment or word of gratitude.
More employees will tell you that is more important than money in the grand scheme of things.

Yeah, but ask 'em which they would prefer if they had to choose between compliments and money.

People are just never satisfied. That's the sum of it. If they only get the money then they want appreciation on top of that. If they only get the appreciation then they REALLY complain about the money and you get to hear all sorts of imaginative ways to to say "Give me that and and a dollar and I could wipe my ass in comfort".

 

[ChaoZ]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I'm being paid time and a half, that's thanks enough.

I always have to laugh when I hear that...


suckers!!!

esplain

The company could hire another full time worker.

 

[sonambulo]

Negative.

Bosses can take their complimentary words and shove them. I can half ass a compliment to myself if I really need some positive encouragement. Gimme a free lunch or straight up mo'bucks on top of the time and a half if you're going to give me something.

 

[Xavier434]

Whether or not one should expect it doesn't matter. Here is what you will find on average:

If I work overtime and you want me to produce the best work for you then you would be wise to both pay me and motivate me through words. Motivation plus the incentive of money will earn a lot of respect from your employees. Employees who respect you in addition to respecting their pay checks will work harder and produce better quality work. Convincing people that you are a top class leader cannot be achieved through money alone. It cannot be achieved without money either though in the case of business.

 

[BoomerD]

Nah, I never expected it, but it was always nice to have management recoginze that you came in on your off days or worked overtime...even if you did get paid OT, double time or more for being there.

 

[sdifox]

They better be thanking me, but I don't expect it.

 

[pontifex]

i don't expect my boss to apprciate anything i do. he's a f-ing prick.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Whether or not one should expect it doesn't matter. Here is what you will find on average:

If I work overtime and you want me to produce the best work for you then you would be wise to both pay me and motivate me through words. Motivation plus the incentive of money will earn a lot of respect from your employees. Employees who respect you in addition to respecting their pay checks will work harder and produce better quality work. Convincing people that you are a top class leader cannot be achieved through money alone. It cannot be achieved without money either though in the case of business.

YES! So many believe the only thing a company owes it's employees is a paycheck and good people skills are something thats nice to do if you have time. This attitude is bullshit. I believe this is a combined result of either, never having experienced a better work atmosphere or, not caring about long term growth of the company because managers don't plan on being there 10 years from now.

 

[FoBoT]

i was never an hourly/wage worker for long enough to know what that is like, so i'll refrain from judging them

a kind word is always a good idea though

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I don't think good management has anything to do with being hourly or salaried. Good management of people in all businesses hinge on mutual respect. You have to deal with the person not the position. This doesn't mean holding hands and singing 'kum-by-ya' nor, does it mean me talk you listen. Good management skills should extend from the idea that the success of a company is tied to the skills, attitudes and brains of its employees.

Unfortunately, more companies than not subscribe to, the "employees are assets" approach. This like "open door" policies insulates management and ownership from understanding their greatest resource is their employees.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: fisher
knowing you're appreciated is always nice and doesn't cost anything.

Word.

Any halfway decent manager knows how to thank their employees. I have people who work for me who get paid hourly, and they almost always get some OT each week. I tell them thanks for their help just about every day even though when you get down to it they are just doing their job.

Keeping employees happy means more than just paying them.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
"Voluntary" overtime is sometimes bullshit. Either you do it or get fired.

Yeah, or everyone else looks at you like you're an ass. Or management mentions you're not a 'team player' in your next review.

I work lots of overtime, and I get paid for it. I don't expect any verbal thanks. The kicker is, when I'm getting paid OT, it's because there's a client willing to pay a premium for the work I'm doing, and that ends up positively impacting my boss' bonus with no extra work on his part. So I's say yeah... a simple 'thanks' would be nice.

Luckily for me, most people appreciate the fact that when I'm working, I'm not with my family - not my ideal situation. Most of the people I work with have families too, so they understand. I'll sometimes get food bribes when I work over.