5 ms·
The definition surprised me. I mean the actual definition, as it is used later, not the one presented in the beginning. First they say someone who does more bad
by erikb 11y ago
The definition surprised me. I mean the actual definition, as it is used later, not the one presented in the beginning. First they say someone who does more bad than good is a toxic worker, but then they have some quite strange attributes to that, like someone being fired for toxicity (which often means he's annoying to the boss, not that he's toxic), or someone who steals office supplies (I don't know anybody who would even complain about that, as long as it's not in exceptional ammounts).
And finally they conclude you should always try to cut losers instead of fighting for winners. There is no game (in the sense of game theory, not child's play) in which "always" really makes you better than average. Sometimes everybody knows that someone is toxic but you can't cut him lose, because he is in a very specific position (e.g., the brother of your most important customer). Another time having that one super-star will put you forward by a dimension, not just a few bucks. "Instead of always do A better always do B"? No, both is wrong. Don't "always".
- logicallee 11y agoHBS's audience isn't people building huge accretive value, this publication doesn't gain anything by giving advice that let's people "put you forward by a dimension" (meaning go from x^2 to x^3 in sales or reach, let's say.) Its audience is middle managers who want to CYA. (cover your ass.) That's why a superstar programmer who brings home ('steals') a reams of printing paper after staying for three hours of crucial unpaid overtime is a "toxic worker" - since those kinds of shenanigans could well end up reflecting poorly on the manager. even if the guy will just use it to scribble all over his kitchen table, since even after 3 hours he hasn't been able to wrap his head around the logic bug. and people wonder why it's so easy for three programmers to compete with these huge lumbering organizations.
- erikb 11y agoI was really surprised how that CYA stuff is applied in the real world literally. And in their world it really makes sense, because they will not just cover their own ass, they will gut you the moment you leave yours blank. So the first thing a manager may tell you is to cover your ass as quickly as possible and as good as you can, and he thinks he's doing you a live saving favour.
- biot 11y agoIn terms of stealing office supplies, it boils down to intent. There's a big difference between taking pens home as part of work and not bothering to bring them back -vs- thinking "my kids need more pens for school" and then going out of your way to take them home. The former is mostly absentmindedness and isn't really stealing; the latter is an ethical failure and is stealing.
- everyone 11y ago1. The loss of a certain % of pens is trivial to any non-tiny business. 2. Most people dont like work. They do it because they have to in order to pay rent, bills and buy food and whatnot, and deep down they resent their jobs to some degree. 3. 'Stealing' s few pens can relieve some of this resentment as even though it is completely trivial you at least feel as though you are breaking the rules and getting one over to some degree, or at least just getting some free pens. 4. I would posit that the benefits of this pressure release greatly outweigh the cost of the pens.
- angersock 11y agoI suppose it's totally okay to not compensate workers for home power user, printer paper, toner, and phone time when asked to work from home though?
- biot 11y agoI don't think that's okay. Any reasonable expenses you incur when asked to work from home should be submitted as a paid expense. Others have mentioned overtime, which you are entitled to if you are paid hourly. If paid as a salary, then in my experience the general arrangement is time off for extra hours worked, whether that's a formal process or simply cutting out a couple hours early on a Friday if you put in a couple hours extra during the week.
- pbreit 11y agoAuren Hoffman has a theory on desirable employees: people who "steal" things from home and bring them to the office!