4 ms·

Giving a one-time gift is not "rectifying" a fundamentally inequitable situation. Employees should feel like their work is appreciated and correctly valued all

by rue 16y ago

Giving a one-time gift is not "rectifying" a fundamentally inequitable situation. Employees should feel like their work is appreciated and correctly valued all the time, not just in a burst of mania every few years.

lionhearted 16y ago
> Giving a one-time gift is not "rectifying" a fundamentally inequitable situation. I was a little lost for a second when you put "rectifying" in quotes and assumed an inequitable situation - I looked if the original poster used it; nope, he didn't. Did I? Nope, I didn't. I was responding to "aforementioned execs take all that for granted and the secretary remains a secretary in terms of pay and appreciation" - which I noted many people have thought before, and sometimes acted a little too hastily after thinking. So, I shared a story as a word of caution to people who think, "Yeah, my secretary does a lot! I should show more appreciation!" Well, yes you probably should, but you should probably think through the best way to do so before doing so. Also, I should note she was paid quite well. I forget the figures, but it was over market - this guy paid everyone well, my friend did like half his business just being one of his brokers. He paid way over market - which, stereotypes be damned, seems to actually be common among high performing people. They tend to compensate well from my firsthand experience. But I digress, she was paid quite well, so I was referring more to the "appreciation" than the compensation. The gift really was meant to be a gift and to show his appreciation, not as a rectification or a makeup or anything like that. > Employees should feel like their work is appreciated and correctly valued all the time, not just in a burst of mania every few years. Fully agreed, that's a good point.
- rue 16y ago
  From the grandparent: > Long story short - many people have thought the same way as you and tried to rectify it, often with undesired results. I am obviously not familiar with the particular situation, so I was speaking in generalities: secretaries and assistants are I daresay as a rule vastly undercompensated in comparison with their bosses (and many other professions). In those circumstances, giving some lavish one-time gift or bonus is probably the worst kind of an incentive. Overall, I think we are in agreement...as you say: > Well, yes you probably should, but you should probably think through the best way to do so before doing [showing your appreciation].

by rue 16y ago

lionhearted 16y ago

> Giving a one-time gift is not "rectifying" a fundamentally inequitable situation. I was a little lost for a second when you put "rectifying" in quotes and assumed an inequitable situation - I looked if the original poster used it; nope, he didn't. Did I? Nope, I didn't. I was responding to "aforementioned execs take all that for granted and the secretary remains a secretary in terms of pay and appreciation" - which I noted many people have thought before, and sometimes acted a little too hastily after thinking. So, I shared a story as a word of caution to people who think, "Yeah, my secretary does a lot! I should show more appreciation!" Well, yes you probably should, but you should probably think through the best way to do so before doing so. Also, I should note she was paid quite well. I forget the figures, but it was over market - this guy paid everyone well, my friend did like half his business just being one of his brokers. He paid way over market - which, stereotypes be damned, seems to actually be common among high performing people. They tend to compensate well from my firsthand experience. But I digress, she was paid quite well, so I was referring more to the "appreciation" than the compensation. The gift really was meant to be a gift and to show his appreciation, not as a rectification or a makeup or anything like that. > Employees should feel like their work is appreciated and correctly valued all the time, not just in a burst of mania every few years. Fully agreed, that's a good point.

rue 16y ago
From the grandparent: > Long story short - many people have thought the same way as you and tried to rectify it, often with undesired results. I am obviously not familiar with the particular situation, so I was speaking in generalities: secretaries and assistants are I daresay as a rule vastly undercompensated in comparison with their bosses (and many other professions). In those circumstances, giving some lavish one-time gift or bonus is probably the worst kind of an incentive. Overall, I think we are in agreement...as you say: > Well, yes you probably should, but you should probably think through the best way to do so before doing [showing your appreciation].