Proficiency exams at work.

I hate tests. I know that tests are an everyday part of life, but they do not always accurately reflect the knowledge of the test taker. Anything can influence how we feel on any given day, and I don't agree with the way that some of the tests are designed.

After saying all of this, I had to take a proficiency exam for my job recently. I don't have a problem with this in the general sense because I know that it is required as part of evaluating my position. What I don't like, is that the test is clearly not designed for my department or position.

I work in the billing department at a hospital. I don't interact with patients, doctors or nurses. The proficiency exam was geared toward people who deal with patients, or are doctors or nurses. The questions on this exam were totally irrelevant to my position. I wish the exam had questions that applied to me. Maybe then I wouldn't hate these exams so much.

When your boss makes stupid decisions

One of my bosses has recently decided to stop all phone calls for her department. She has decided that if any phone calls need to go to an individual, that these calls need to go through her first. This is an example of micro-managing at its best.

The thought process behind this change is crazy. We don't work in a factory or a place where there is no access to telephones. These phones are available for everyone's use when necessary. This is a way for her to control her people. It makes me angry because when there are so many more important issues to be handled, she has time to filter phone calls, but not solve problems.

Telemarkerters

Before the national do not call registry, I remember getting phone call after phone call from telemarketers. I always remember I ended up hanging up on them because when I would tell them I wasn't interested they would continue to harass me and try to keep me on the phone. When I have told them again and again NO, I mean NO and by your harassing me doesn't make it easier. It really pisses me off that people don't have the respect to accept that you have said no, and I believe they should be hung up on when they are harassing you. They can be very demanding and pushy and it just makes me get that much meaner. I'm so thankful for the do not call registry the government put in to place!

Pregnant People at Work

I know that it is a natural part of a woman's life to have a child. I don't know a woman that doesn't want to have a child, and I am happy to see someone bringing another life into the world when they are ready to. The only problem I have with this is when it affects your work at work. I know there are the typical sicknesses with being pregnant, and I can be understanding. I currently have a co-worker is is 8 weeks pregnant and does nothing but complain how bad she feels. She continuously sits in the chair or floor while I'm getting my ass stomped and doesn't have a care in the world. I have talked to my direct supervisor and we ended up calling employee relations because he wasn't sure how to handle the situation. He wanted to say something to her, but at the same time you have to be careful of what you say because you never know when you might have a law suit on your hands. Employee relations told us to remove any chairs from the pharmacy and make sure we were not doing all the work, but to make sure our customers got served. My pharmacy manager is going to speak with her this week and I hope that things will get better, otherwise the next 7 months is going to be true hell.

I want to suggest that when attempting to correct a bad situation, proceed with caution. No one person or company needs a lawsuit over their heads because of the matter a situation was handled. I learned that it is always adviseable to ask for others input before proceeding an issue.

Stress at Work

I've recently realized that being stressed at work is something that needs to be avoided by all cause. I understand that there are going to be times that are more stressful then one another, but when you show you are stressed you tend to show it to your co-workers as well as customers. I have an employee who is consistently using curse words and storming out of the pharmacy because she is so stressed. I'm not sure why she acts like this, but it's something that she has always done. I have tried to talk to her and get her to calm down, but I'm not getting anywhere with it. I usually can when she's getting ready to blow and send her outside for a few minutes to calm down, but there are times when I can't stop her. I have learned that the best way is to remove yourself from the situation for a minute and try and get yourself together. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Verizon Wireless

Of the companies that I have to call the most for customer service (Comcast, Dominion, Capital One, Wachovia & Verizon Wireless) I would have to say that Verizon Wireless has some of the best people working for them. I called the other day and I spoke with a guy who was VERY helpful. I just called to ask him one specific question and I ended up talking to him for over 30 minutes because he was so helpful that I figured I could just take care of everything that I needed to at that time. I even ended up getting 250 free minutes! This wasn’t an isolated incident. I can’t recall calling Verizon Wireless and having a problem with anyone at all. Everyone there has great customer service in my opinion. On the other hand, I have found out that when you go into a Verizon Wireless store it is a totally different case. Some of those people are the most annoying ever. The people at the call centers are great though!

Good Job!

I think that it is important for workers to receive positive feedback from their employers. If they are doing what they are supposed to be doing or going out of their way to do something extra I think they should receive recognition for what they do. In my opinion there are a lot of people who don’t do what they are supposed to do because they feel like no one shows them any appreciation for what they do. There is such a large focus on correcting people who aren’t doing the right thing that the people who are doing what they are supposed to do often go under the radar.

In my position I keep a daily log of the errors that cashiers make. I also make sure that I note the cashiers who are doing everything right because I feel like it serves as a form of encouragement for them to do what they are supposed to do.