Andy Rutledge’s latest article seems like it will come in handy when I eventually start my own business. Some great tips here; especially numbers 6 & 8.
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10 Comments
Chris
05.06.2009Nice article. Nice to know what I need to focus on as an employee.
Trevor
05.06.2009I agree, definitely interesting to look at it from that point of view as well. Although I’m not sure how many employers have the same kind of wonderful thinking that Andy has.
Stacy
05.07.2009Most of this article I agree with, but I have problems with:
6. Hire only healthy, active people.
This was extremely vague in description. I’m not sure what it means. The person is irresponsible if they have sinus problems, a lazy eye, greasy hair, a fast food eater, or a BMI of 25? Some of the most brilliant developers I know are overweight, play video games, yet still find the time to keep up with the news in their field AND have healthy relationships with friends and family.
7. Hire only family-focused people (if they’re married).
So, if they’re not married, it’s OK for them to play video games? If they are married (w/o kids) and play these games with their spouse, then both are sick, immoral, and unworthy of even being considered?
I would fall under the scope of “Casual Gamer.” I’ll be sure to not mention any LAN parties that I attend over the weekend to my current or future employers. I wouldn’t want to get lumped in with the “immoral” or “sick” crowd.
Trevor
05.07.2009@Stacy-
I can’t speak for Andy, but the way that I interpreted #6 was that you want someone who is motivated to be healthy. That motivation will carry over into their work. Honestly, I wouldn’t want someone to work for me that ate fast-food everyday and smoked cigarettes, and I think Andy would feel the same way. Plus, a “healthier” person would be less of a liability for missing work, insurance, etc.
As for #7, I think he is referring to people who would play video games for hours, not the casual gamers. I think he is just saying that there should be more important things in life than just sitting on the couch all night playing games.
Stacy
05.07.2009I’ll leave #6 at this: you can’t see someone trying to be healthier in an interview. You can prejudge them by the way they look, and you could end up picking the wrong candidate.
As for #7, he IS referring to hard-core gamers. But most people can’t tell the difference between a casual gamer and a hard-core gamer (especially non-gamers).
I’m all for dropping dead-weight in the work place. If you have an employee that has obsession with anything (games, sports, rock concerts, etc.), and it starts bleeding over into their work, then the problem should be addressed. If the person doesn’t correct it, then you’ll have to fire them. But booting them at the first sign of the obsession (without addressing the problem) is ridiculous.
And what happens when your obsessed employee is outperforming your family person? Would you fire both? What if your family person has missed 3 weeks of work because of family issues, and your obsessor has perfect attendance and produces excellent work every day? It would not be “family friendly” to fire someone having “family issues,” and by the standards of the article, the obsessor is immoral, untrustworthy, and sick.
Trevor
05.07.2009@Stacy-
Regarding #6: Why couldn’t you ask the person about their eating and exercising habits? What kind of activities they enjoy doing? Half of being successful at a job is having the right personality to fit in with the rest of the company.
Regarding #7: He isn’t saying that he would fire them for having an obsession. He was saying that he wouldn’t be inclined to hire them. That’s why the interview process is so important.
I think you are slightly misinterpreting his remarks. Obviously if being “family-focused” affects job performance, it will have to be taken care of.
Stacy
05.07.2009You could open yourself to a discrimination suit; especially in places like California. The employer going to gym every day, and the employee not going to the gym every day personality differences.
I think you missed the part in the article where he said,
Stacy
05.07.2009It took out my <code></code>.
I meant to say “The employer going to gym every day, and the employee not going to the gym every day does not equal personality differences. “
Stacy
05.07.2009Huh, that’s weird.. i even wrapped it in pre code. Let’s try it this way:
< >
Trevor
05.07.2009@Stacy-
I guess all I can say is: to each his own. I guess it’s just a difference in opinion.
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