hiring/firing/discipline

Evaluations
What is the process of evaluating employees?
I sit down with my employees monthly for reviews.  At this point I state anything I have noticed, both good and bad, and then open up the floor for the employee to express their feelings, problems or concerns.

What rating system do you use to rate employees?
I rate them on their skill for their particular job, their ability work well with others, efficiency, openness to change, and their overall contributions to the company.

How often do you rate employees?

I do not formally rate my employees but it is part of their overall review.

What are the challenges involved with evaluations?
the toughest part if telling an employee what areas they need improvement in. 

Do you believe in rating your employees low in order to give them areas to improve on?
I think that it is important to give employees areas that they can improve on so they can grow, but it is equally important to acknowledge what they are doing right.

Hiring/Firing/Discipline 
What qualities do you look for in potential employees?

-work ethic, personable, intelligent, job skill
What are red flags in an interview?

- lack of punctuality, no confidence, lack of personality, lack of professionalism
What are the three most common interview questions you ask?

- give me and example of a problem situation and your solution, what are your strongest qualities and why? What makes you stand out from everyone else that applied?
What is your interview process?

Review resume, group interview, single interview, then 2 week working interview.
What is your plan of action for discipline?

Warning, write up, probation, termination
What kind of problems have you encountered that have led to disciplinary action?

Tardiness, insubordination, no shows
How do you deal with morale and gossip around disciplinary action?

I make an effort to have an open door policy,  If the employees have a problem with my decision I am more then welcome to sit down and discuss it with them, and am open to suggestions with how we can make it better

Frequency of hiring/firing/discipline?

As needed.
How do you protect yourselves legally when you have to fire someone?

Everything is documented throughout the disciplinary action, both I an the employee sign it.

How do you make your decision to fire someone?

I meet with the other supervisors and we discuss the employees actions and weather they warrant termination.

How do you deal with threats from disgruntled/former employees?

I have not experienced any threats…yet.

I interviewed brother who is a general manager of a Hampton Inn.  I was surprised to find out that if I was in his position as GM I would likely do things in the same manner as he does.  His evaluations and disciples are very fair, and open.  He does not beat around the bush with with employees, they have a mutual respect for each other, and they feel like he is very approachable. 

budget interview

I interviewed my mom, a wife, mother and grandma :) .  She has set and managed the budget in my parents house for 30 years.

Q:What is the hardest part of managing a budget?
 A: Actually staying on budget, and being prepared for unexpected events.

Q: How do you anticipate unexpected events?
A: You always have to have enough saved for 3-6 months worth of living.  Once you have that saving established, you continue adding to it, or saving for other things.

Q:  How do you decide how much money should be allocated for each expense, especially when doing something new?
A: I shop around a lot to try and find the most efficient way to do things, or the best deal.  It is kind of fun, like a treasure hunt to find how much money you can save.

Q: What do you do if you go over budget?
A: Thats why it is important to have extra money in a reserve.  Sometimes no matter how hard you try the numbers just don't add up and you spend more then you anticipated.  If you have extra money set aside for that purpose you wont be in a bind when that happens.

Q: Has the change in economy changed how you manage the budget?
A: Yes, we make the same amount of money as we have for awhile, but the cost of living keeps increasing, yet the economy has caused compensation and salaries to not increase to match those cost of living increases.  It has forced me to be more strict with how and what we spend our money on.

I think that this was a very beneficial conversation for me.  Although it dealt with a family budget, all of the answers can be applied to a work environment.  It is especially important to be sensitive to the fact that many companies and people are struggling right now doe the the economy.  More people are getting laid off, and less people are getting hired.  Making a budget and sticking to it can significantly impact the success of a company and make the difference between closing down and staying open through these hard times.

Career development and staffing

I found this weeks lesson to be very enlightening and informative.  I never realized how many elements are involved in job motivation, satisfaction, and staffing.  I guess thats why we have behavior psychologist to figure this stuff out. 

The lesson this week in my management class covered a lot of the same elements as this class.  Things like task variety, task identification and task significance play large roles in motivation and satisfaction.  Thinking about my current job I realized how all of the principles discussed are completely true. The days I love my job the most are the days that we have all different types of patients.  I love when we have a rare disorder and have to come up with a new treatment regimen just for them. Whereas  the days filled with eczema and acne tend to me long, uneventful, and I find myself looking at the clock a whole lot more. 

I also really like the idea of participant managing to motivate emplyees.  I am a big fan of bureaucratic management style.  As a manager I love getting input about new policies and new ideas that my employees have come up with.  Listening to feedback helps improve morale in our office, and helps everyone feel like they are a part of the bigger picture.