Comments on: Yahoo column: Manager's guide to growing happy employees http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:20:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Susan Lynch http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-221993 Susan Lynch Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:09:47 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-221993 Hey Penelope, Don't know how I found this post... too much time in Google I guess :) Anyway, just wanted to add one quick point... I once was an unpaid intern - and it was one of my best jobs! The person I worked for was such a great teacher and maybe because she felt guilty she could not pay me, she taught me more than any other boss I have had. So, I have no problem with unpaid interns - because payment comes in forms other than money. Thanks, Susan Hey Penelope,

Don't know how I found this post… too much time in Google I guess :) Anyway, just wanted to add one quick point…

I once was an unpaid intern – and it was one of my best jobs! The person I worked for was such a great teacher and maybe because she felt guilty she could not pay me, she taught me more than any other boss I have had.

So, I have no problem with unpaid interns – because payment comes in forms other than money.

Thanks,
Susan

]]> By: Modite - Engagement for the next generation http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-105099 Modite - Engagement for the next generation Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:08:24 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-105099 [...] A Generation Y leader inspires by enabling others to be leaders. They know the strengths of those they lead, and exploit those for the success of that person. A Gen Y leader delegates to help the worker achieve their goals. They are motivated by relationships and have an obsession with seeing others succeed. [...] [...] A Generation Y leader inspires by enabling others to be leaders. They know the strengths of those they lead, and exploit those for the success of that person. A Gen Y leader delegates to help the worker achieve their goals. They are motivated by relationships and have an obsession with seeing others succeed. [...]

]]> By: Employee Evolution - What it means to be a Gen-Y leader http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-105097 Employee Evolution - What it means to be a Gen-Y leader Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:33:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-105097 [...] A Generation Y leader inspires by enabling others to be leaders. They know the strengths of those they lead, and exploit those for the success of that person. A Gen Y leader delegates to help the worker achieve their goals. They are motivated by relationships and have an obsession with seeing others succeed. [...] [...] A Generation Y leader inspires by enabling others to be leaders. They know the strengths of those they lead, and exploit those for the success of that person. A Gen Y leader delegates to help the worker achieve their goals. They are motivated by relationships and have an obsession with seeing others succeed. [...]

]]> By: ICE http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-70081 ICE Sat, 12 May 2007 07:45:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-70081 Hey Penelope If only there were more such positions; how great to get experience and exposure without being made to feel you "owe" the company. In this way you can move around getting the necessary skills - so what, this is training and development without having to pay for it. So what if you don't get paid: does the university or college pay you for the development they give you? Think about it that way. In this way we could, as new entrants into the business world, meet the job ads "Experience required"! ICE Hey Penelope
If only there were more such positions; how great to get experience and exposure without being made to feel you "owe" the company. In this way you can move around getting the necessary skills – so what, this is training and development without having to pay for it. So what if you don't get paid: does the university or college pay you for the development they give you? Think about it that way.
In this way we could, as new entrants into the business world, meet the job ads "Experience required"!

ICE

]]> By: finance girl http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-30035 finance girl Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:37:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-30035 Hi Miss P! Hey I just went to Y Finance and lo and behold there you are on the front "page"! Very cool! Hi Miss P! Hey I just went to Y Finance and lo and behold there you are on the front "page"! Very cool!

]]> By: Denzel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-29952 Denzel Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:08:51 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-29952 Hmm. This is interesting. Experience is currency yes, but folding money makes living possible. The intrinsic value and inherent value of employment are subjects of a debate. The younger gen. seems to want experience, both of work and of a fun or good job. Money is really secondary for a certain class. With higher than high turnover rates, how or why would a manager want to retain an employee unless they were making the manager's job easier. <strong>* * * * *</strong> <I>Denzel. Thanks for laying out the current situation so clearly. The answer to the last question is that just because someone leaves after 18 months doesn't mean that person doesn't add value. Value is not longevity dependent. And in fact, there is data to show that people who have been at the same job for a really long time start to become less effective within the organization - they become so complacent and set in their ways that their ability to collaborate and innovate goes down. Penelope</i> Hmm. This is interesting. Experience is currency yes, but folding money makes living possible. The intrinsic value and inherent value of employment are subjects of a debate. The younger gen. seems to want experience, both of work and of a fun or good job. Money is really secondary for a certain class. With higher than high turnover rates, how or why would a manager want to retain an employee unless they were making the manager's job easier.

* * * * *

Denzel. Thanks for laying out the current situation so clearly. The answer to the last question is that just because someone leaves after 18 months doesn't mean that person doesn't add value. Value is not longevity dependent. And in fact, there is data to show that people who have been at the same job for a really long time start to become less effective within the organization – they become so complacent and set in their ways that their ability to collaborate and innovate goes down.

Penelope

]]> By: RM http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-29944 RM Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:45:11 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-29944 Awesome article. Your writing is always more attuned to the younger generation Awesome article. Your writing is always more attuned to the younger generation

]]> By: InChurnMyBelly http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/comment-page-1/#comment-29939 InChurnMyBelly Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:08:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/15/yahoo-column-managers-guide-to-growing-happy-employees/#comment-29939 Unpaid intern. EVil Evil Evil. I was saddened to hear that you would do that to someone. Of course they're going to take the job. You had an article of your own on this generation, and getting stuck in the loop of too many years of Interning and Temping. The reason I have a comment at all is that I am a PAID Intern myself, for a Forestry firm up in Canada. And okay, maybe there's more money to kick around - but pay something! argggg. Free work is the bottoms of despiration for "experience". I'm glad to hear you learned something about management though. I have a great manager, he's keeping me for a year, and for more than a fair wage too. <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <I>This is a good comment. You're right -- I have gone on tirades about unpaid interns. For those who have not read the tirades, I think there are two problems with unpaid internships: 1. Internships are necessary for young people to succeed. If all the good ones are unpaid, then only rich kids can succeed. 2. It is morally questionable to ask someone to work for free. The kind of internship that I think does work is, essentially, a trade. I spend as many hours teaching someone as they spend working. To be honest, that sort of trade ends up being more costly (in my time) as it would be to hire someone who is not an intern. I am not actually sure if this is a good answer to your question. But it's an honest answer. -Penelope</i> Unpaid intern. EVil Evil Evil. I was saddened to hear that you would do that to someone. Of course they're going to take the job. You had an article of your own on this generation, and getting stuck in the loop of too many years of Interning and Temping.

The reason I have a comment at all is that I am a PAID Intern myself, for a Forestry firm up in Canada. And okay, maybe there's more money to kick around – but pay something! argggg. Free work is the bottoms of despiration for "experience".

I'm glad to hear you learned something about management though. I have a great manager, he's keeping me for a year, and for more than a fair wage too.

* * * * * *

This is a good comment. You're right — I have gone on tirades about unpaid interns. For those who have not read the tirades, I think there are two problems with unpaid internships:

1. Internships are necessary for young people to succeed. If all the good ones are unpaid, then only rich kids can succeed.

2. It is morally questionable to ask someone to work for free.

The kind of internship that I think does work is, essentially, a trade. I spend as many hours teaching someone as they spend working. To be honest, that sort of trade ends up being more costly (in my time) as it would be to hire someone who is not an intern.

I am not actually sure if this is a good answer to your question. But it's an honest answer.

-Penelope

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