#340: Suicides at work
Have you seen any good suicides at work lately? I guess not. It’s just another difference between the French business model and the American model.
While Americans tend to kill their bosses and co-workers, the French kill themselves. For example, since 2008, 24 workers at France Telecom have committed suicide, blamed on trouble at work.
Something is obviously wrong in the work place and it is no laughing matter. At this time of year these problems become even more noticeable at home.
Thanksgiving can be joyful if you are surrounded by family and friends happily sharing in much to be thankful for. It can also be a very depressing time if you have little left to be thankful for and no one around to help share that pain.
Please spare a thought for those in pain. Even a mere thought can be enough to stop them adopting the American or French model of dealing with pain at work.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Suicides at work'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#339: Mr Retailer, break down that door
Here’s one for all you retailers out there busy preparing for Black Friday. Mr Retailer, break down that door.
I have always wondered why I don’t like the open-air shopping malls so prevalent here in the USA. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that it took a banker to point out the obvious reason. The doors to the shops are always closed! How uninviting.
On the other hand, when a shop forms part of an indoor shopping complex, its door is always open to any one strolling by. How welcoming.
It’s seems such a small thing, I know, but think about it. Would you make the effort to push open a heavy door unless you were really set on going inside? Of course not. Closed doors make us hesitate. It comes from being taught to always knock before entering.
Is that what you want, customers who hesitate at your closed door? I thought not. Listen to your customers and break down that barrier.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Mr Retailer, break down that door'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#338: When is it chill to chill?
It’s almost that formal time to give thanks and you know what I’m thinking? How many of us were taught to give thanks before we received.
This is a good thing. What is not a good thing, though, is how many younger people today believe that it’s cool to relax before they’ve actual done anything.
One of the pleasure-pain games we played as kids went like this. First eat your vegetables and then your meat. That philosophy applied to other areas - schoolwork before play; chores before pocket money; work before vacation.
In those days, we had to earn the right to goof off. We knew that chilling is not a human right; it is a reward.
Don’t get me wrong. We knew how to chill alright, but we did it only once everything else had been done.
So, please teach your children that Thanksgiving is a time to chill, but only after they’ve eaten their broccoli.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'When is it chill to chill?'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#337: Boost their energy to keep your job
Do you still have a job? If so, let me guess. You are working harder and doing more, because a few of your colleagues have been fired. Now that more work is trickling in as business improves, no new hires are happening.
Welcome to the era of doing more with less for longer.
Let me make two nonsense sounding predictions. Whenever two or more applicants have roughly the same qualifications, skills and experience, the one with more energy will get the job. Managers have finally realized that without energy, your experience, skill, and knowledge are pretty much useless.
Second prediction. Being able to work for longer was important yesterday. Being able to work smart as well is valued today. What will be crucial tomorrow is how you go about working harder and smarter. Your attitude.
You see, your attitude affects other people’s energy, not just your own. If your attitude boosts their energy, you will be valued.I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Boost their energy to keep your job'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#336: Trust in paint for protection from stupid texters
Let me tell you about one of the most amazingly powerful things found in our modern society. No, no, it’s not technology or weaponry. It’s something that has been around for a long, long time. It’s actually pretty low-tech.
It’s the strip of paint in the middle of the road that keeps that car speeding in your direction from colliding head-on with yours. A strip of paint. Every time I drive a car I marvel at its power.
And then there’s that red light that some how manages to get numerous moving vehicles to stop without them all ending up in a pile of scrap metal.
Now for something even more amazing. It is the social experiment being conducted to see whether that paint and that light are powerful enough to counteract the stupidity of texting while driving. A dangerous experiment, but perfectly legal.
To which I say, like Charles Dickens, the law is an ass. It is beyond nonsense.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Trust in paint'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#335: Legally spreading sickness
Here’s a fun question for you. What is the quickest way to legally spread swine flu in the USA? You don’t know? Here’s a clue. It has to do with people you interact with every day.
The answer? Make it difficult, if not impossible, for people who already have swine flu to stay home.
Do you realize that people who interact with the public, people in the services sector, are among those millions of Americans who don’t get paid if they don’t go to work?
Hey, it’s all legal. It’s part of capitalism and a free society. No work no pay.
The problem, of course, is this terrible law, the law of unintended consequences. Force sick people to work to maintain the holy grail of productivity and we end up with a sick society in more ways than one.
Nothing shows clearer how sick our culture is when sick people come to work.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Don’t waste a nonsense moment'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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#334: Don’t waste a nonsense moment
Have you heard the one about the 6 year old Cub Scout who was so proud of his scout eating utensil that he took it to use at school? He got 45 days in a disciplinary school all because the practical tool included a little knife.And then there’s the third grader who was expelled for a year because she brought her birthday cake to school. The problem? Her sensible grandmother had packed a knife to make it easier for the teacher. What did the teacher do? She first cut the cake and then called the principal.Both were wasted nonsense moments. You see, nonsense moments are opportunities for teaching and learning. Sadly for the little kids, the people in charge don’t understand that. That’s why they turned the teaching moments into punishment moments.Nonsense is born when places of learning frown upon common sense. And nonsense is perpetuated when you don’t encourage the opposite at work.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.comListen to the radio version of 'Don’t waste a nonsense moment'(10 most recent radio files)James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VACopyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
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