effects on employees going unnoticed for their efforts in the workplace?
95461
Efforts and positive work ethic don't go unnoticed.  Managers come from two different schools of thought though.  It's either positive-reinforcement or negative-reinforcement.  Working for the latter tends to suck but they drive results just the same.  At the end of the day if you're doing a good job for either one they'll take care of you.
304832
It depends on a few things:\n1. ALL information and workstations bleong to the company. So deleting files and roaming the web are the same thing as creating a word document and working on a presentation for your boss. The laws are very clear on this.\n2. Viewing questionable sites (as defined by your HR department) will get you demoted/suspended/fired.\n3. Your employers can use keyloggers and also can (and most do) read all outbound content (email webmail and the like).\n\nSo - if you think they might be doing it - then they ARE doing it.\nIf your working in a small company then there is not really too much to worry about as the IT department may have a smal budget and just looks at teh workstation level.\nIf your working in a large company - then your open to all sorts of things like:\nrandom access audits\nemail screening\nweb usage history audits
1077665
Part of working is getting along with others.  If the coworker's failure to work impacts you, you should report it directly to the boss because this coworker obviously either doesn't take criticism well or you didn't express it in a way it could be heard.  If your work is not impacted by the coworker's failure to work, you need to ignore it.  The coworker's laziness or failure to do his/her job is not your concern unless it impacts YOUR work.  If it's too much for you to ignore, you could seek another work environment, being aware that you may end up with a similar coworker elsewhere.
12563
More money (cash, stock, options, benefits) is the obvious answer. Other than that, anything to show appreciation. Put the employee in charge of choice projects. Give the employee a chance to leave a legacy by giving him training/guidance responsibility, or make him/her a mentor of younger employees, so s/he can pass on their knowledge. \n\nIn some companies there are "soft" but effective ways to show appreciation: feater the employee on a headline article on the corporate Intranet; arrange a lunch with the CEO, etc.\n\nMore importantly, however: I would try to establish why the employee doesn't want the promotion. Maybe the next management layer is seen as too "cutthroat"? Maybe the employee is afraid that he might be loosing his technical edge if he gets into management? Maybe there's considerable animosity vs. the "higher-ups"? If it's a reason like that, you'd better get started on an organizational improvement.
757275
Gone unchallenged, this problem will not fix itself.\nIf your friends are content with this...do nothing, but if it unacceptable behaviour by someone at work, then talking to your boss without being confrontational is absolutely appropriate. Sometimes a boss is unaware of all that goes on so give them the opportunity to hear your concerns. \nAlways document incidents/dates/times/who is involved just in case you require future reference though.
259141
There were studies on letting office workers "dress down" and it made people more productive because they did not feel so restricted by their clothing. They also did the same on music where it relaxed people, gave background noise which made office work bearable :) I heard this about 2.5 years ago when I worked in my office but I can not remember where it came from, just remember a little about what it said.
808879
Anything you do while in the building or on equipment provided by an employer is their business.  It is not considered spying.\n\nYou can ask the IT person if your personal computer usage has ever set off an kind of alarm...tell him you are conscientious and want to make sure you fly under the radar...\n\nMost IT guys will appreciate that you are trying to do work at work and understand emails get checked there too.  If you ask up front to make sure you are not doing unauthorized stuff, no worry...\n\nMy company tracks usage but I listen to music all day so I generally show up as a heavy user.  When the tracking software shows him what I have been doing, he ignores it.\n\nTry switching to Yahoo Beta - then your email can always be open and the window in the task bar will tell you if you have anything to check!  \n\nAlso, my IT guy said my stuff is measured by "clicks" not time any window is open so opening and closing email measures more than leaving it open all the time in a minimized window.\n\nJust ask.
241787
Many, many years ago, I once had a boss tell me that he expected more from his better employees than his slackers.  Not fair, but I can understand the reasoning behind it and I also think kinda the same way because some people have more talent or abilities than others and more should be expected of them. Boy, I'm going to get into trouble for this!! What I liked about him  was that he was honest about it.  \n\nNowadays, it seems we have to be careful about everything we say. Where is this screwy country headed? Things like the above could be grounds for a lawsuit I suppose.
1053152
I work in Human Resources and we had this problem about a month ago. I always say - We can't see everything that goes on at work so our employees are our eyes and ears.\n\nI say report this information to the boss because if your co-worker is not being reasonable across the board and she is showing favoritism towards this other person. Your boss needs to know. \nAlso, I would read up on your employee handbook, make sure your employer has something stating they have anti-retaliation guidelines, that way if you do report anybody it can't hurt your job.
430759
Above all be honest with potential employers. Tell them about it. Don't hide it. Because if you do then you will probably be fired. If you are upfront with them and honest it may  make a difference.
531357
They can see what you're browsing, before you even see it.\n\nDon't use a computer at work to access anything you don't want "them" to know about.\n\nOnly exception:\n\nIf you have wireless Internet service, so you have a handheld device that you can use to surf the web without going thru your company's network, then they cannot see what you're doing.   (For now.)
287475
Anxiety - could I lose my job. What are they saying about me etc... If the process is open and the employee can see/read everything that is being observed AND the observation is so that they can be shown better ways of doing there job AND they see this as a positive thing that could lead to promotions then it should help. Observation at my work was improved when we introduced co-signed documents where the employee and the supervisor had a meeting, discussed the findings from the observation and then co-signed the document to say they both agreed. Its even better if you allow the employee to be involved in observing others...it takes the US/THEM mentality out of it. Hope that helps.
149365
It is the height of folly to imagine that employees will do what their employers believe case the responsible thing, and report their dissatisfaction to their supervisors.  Generally speaking, people expect their employers to recognize problems and correct them without input from the employees, and become disgruntled when those corrections are not automatically made.  Their dissatisfaction will be revealed through less-efficient approaches to their work, lower productivity overall, a tendency to hold management to employee-benevolent rules (even when ad hoc suspension of such rules is clearly called for), absenteeism, and eventually attrition.  Wise managers discern morale problems without being told, address issues which might be contributing to dissatisfaction, and make overtures to demonstrate that they value their employees.  Without knowing your specific business, it is difficult to say which such overtures are likely to succeed.  Best of luck with a difficult situation.
728509
Can individuals make an impact? Absolutely. What is the alternative? Ignoring the problem? Wishing it would all just go away?\n\nI have ICE on my speed dial. Employers who blatantly say "eff you" to the law need to be held accountable. Who else is going to bring these people to justice? The government? (That's a rhetorical question, no answer necessary).\n\nYES, individuals can - and do - make a difference. The biggest hurdle faced - at least in my community - is that local law enforcement has their hands tied behind their backs when it comes to enforcement. Although several towns across the country have enacted laws to change this, nationwide, we are failing - and those who wish to break the law to their own advantage are laughing all the way to the bank.
781400
If you have an anonymous system for employee complaints, then use it to bring this to their attention. This kind of stuff isn't conducive to a healthy workplace, I would think someone in upper management would want to know. However, if you are working in a smaller company, you will have to decide if you feel its safe to speak up or not. \n\nNo, its not normal.
713203
By the time you see your own symptoms, you have already infected the entire workplace.\n\nPink eye is pretty minor, unless you are working with the public, so I don't see why you couldn't work.\n\nWould I "force" my employees to work?  No. \n\nWould I be mad if a person who chronically misses works called in for this reason?  Yes.   We need our employees at work, that is why we hired them.
131298
You need to make sure that it actually encourages the targeted employees, without belittling them (i.e., encourages them to work harder without suggesting that they hadn't been working hard enough).