Good employer stories.

strobe

So I've noticed a prevailing attitude that "employers don't give a sh1t about their employees and will screw them at the first opportunity" on here. Maybe it's true, I dunno. I'm self employed and I screw myself regularly, so it'd seem to add up. But seems to me that employers are also human beings, and so perhaps they can't all be heartless psychopaths?

So I was wondering if (well firstly if I say "so" too much?) anyone has any good employer stories? Times they went above and beyond for you or someone else as an employee? Or perhaps you're an employer and have done a nice thing? That kind of thing?

Donkey Oaty

Ah have good massa.

bleg

Gore are legendary for stuff like this. I heard the story of a sales rep that was living in England but was in Scotland for a surgical procedure (to provide advice to the surgeon) on a Friday. The procedure got postponed until the Monday and when he rang the office to get a flight home for the weekend they sent his family to him for the weekend and put them up in a savage hotel.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Employers don't "screw" you at every opportunity, not all of them anyway. It's just business, A to B transaction, good times are extra as the man says.

In my experience people don't seem to realise how expendable they really are. The graveyard is full of fellas who thought they were irreplaceable.

Oryx

The guy I worked for over 10 years ago still remembers my birthday.

fleet_admiral

Worked in a pub years ago that despite tge fact that it was doing well had to close as the owner lost his bollix in the property crash. The gaffer was amazing though. We were all told it woukd be closing in a matter of weeks but on the final few days he went around everyone teary eyed and gave us all a bonus. He was a legend who had the utmost respect and loyalty from his staff. Only one member of staff was changed in 2 years - no quick turnover of staff which is always a good sign. I still meet up with him the odd time for a pint and still call him boss. He works as a humble barman now

Chance The Fapper

Our boss won some money in a competition and gave us all €50 for nothing.

He also had us all over to his house for dinner when one of the staff was leaving

The One Doctor

One of my bosses was good.

from little acorns

I work for a small company. We are absolutely spoilt with excellent health insurance and pensions, regular pay rises, bonuses and generous presents for Christmas and birthdays etc. Paid sick leave and maternity leave. Whatever training and education we want is paid for. And the little things, like icecreams for everyone on sunny days. Most of us work in basic admin jobs. We're just lucky to work for an amazing company.

Such jobs do exist!

Donkey Oaty

from little acorns wrote: »

I work for a small company. We are absolutely spoilt with excellent health insurance and pensions, regular pay rises, bonuses and generous presents for Christmas and birthdays etc. Paid sick leave and maternity leave. Whatever training and education we want is paid for. And the little things, like icecreams for everyone on sunny days. Most of us work in basic admin jobs. We're just lucky to work for an amazing company.

Such jobs do exist!

How marvellous for you all, especially the paid maternity leave thing.

Stick around, acorns - we look forward to hearing more about this!

Are you recruiting soon, possibly?

from little acorns

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

How marvellous for you all, especially the paid maternity leave thing.

Stick around, acorns - we look forward to hearing more about this!

Are you recruiting soon, possibly?

Not at the moment, no! Staff turnover tends to be quite low.

anncoates

My manager is really cool about letting me leave at any time if something comes up with the kids or any other even trivial stuff you need to get away for. He also doesn't really check up if you make up the time either. Also once when my son was in hospital for the day/night, he basically waved me away for the day.

When you're managed like that, I would always assiduously make up the time and any time I'm needed to put in extra work for projects, I'm more than happy to.

Donkey Oaty

from little acorns wrote: »

Not at the moment, no! Staff turnover tends to be quite low.

Well, it all sounds most excellent.

Now. What is your product?

from little acorns

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Well, it all sounds most excellent.

Now. What is your product?

Well it would make me quite identifiable if I said what our company provides. So, no, I won't.

The Backwards Man

Employers should be judged on one thing and one thing only;

How prepared they are to do themselves what they would ask others to do.

strobe

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Well, it all sounds most excellent.

Now. What is your product?

Man, dude, just... you know, like? You're shooting the fvcker before they've committed the crime. Cool your jets. Maybe it's not as it seems you think it seems. Be cool.

TheSheriff

Worked for a large pharma company a few years back and I was treated exceptionally well.

Two day long xmas retreat with accommodation, food, drink etc all paid for.

Tickets to numerous events as part of their social club.

Annual leave at a moments notice when needed (once it wasnt abused)

The list goes on.

Donkey Oaty

from little acorns wrote: »

Well it would make me quite identifiable if I said what our company provides. So, no, I won't.

So, it's a small company, mostly employs menial admin workers with amazing fringe benefits including regular pay rises, readily identifiable by its product.

You're making it sound like some sort of internet shill company, but I'm sure that it can't be that.

But anyway, enjoy the ice-creams!

ElizaT33

I've worked for one person for the last 17 years!:eek:

Guess I must like my job!:)

It can be a little lonely sometimes as my boss is on the road a lot and I work alone mostly, but it has it's advantages too!

Donkey Oaty

strobe wrote: »

Man, dude, just... you know, like? You're shooting the fvcker before they've committed the crime. Cool your jets. Maybe it's not as it seems you think it seems. Be cool.

Strobe, I will be cool.

Like the Fonz.

No more comment from me on this one.

LenaClaire

anncoates wrote: »

My manager is really cool about letting me leave at any time if something comes up with the kids or any other even trivial stuff you need to get away for. He also doesn't really check up if you make up the time either. Also once when my son was in hospital for the day/night, he basically waved me away for the day.

When you're managed like that, I would always assiduously make up the time and any time I'm needed to put in extra work for projects, I'm more than happy to.

When I was a kid, I ended up in Intensive Care about a month after my mom started a new job. Her boss told her to stay with me and not worry about sick leave forms or anything, just to focus on her family until I was better. I always thought that was really sound.

lazybones32

strobe wrote: »

... I screw myself regularly,

Are you a hermaphrodite?

strobe

lazybones32 wrote: »

Are you a hermaphrodite?

Nah, just bendy.

pragmatic1

Had some very sound managers through the years. The common theme was they let me get on with my work without trying to micromanage every little thing.

Lapin

My employer used to have great sex with me numerous times a week !

In fact she still does. :pac:




She just isn't my boss anymore.

corsav6

Worked in Penneys for 6 years when I was younger. Manager had no problem swapping days if needed, or didn't mind a few hours off to get home early on cold winter evenings. I lived a few miles away.
I had a pension and heavily discounted health insurance for myself and the family. Got 2 weeks wages bonus for Xmas too.
Genuine decent place to work.

TheBeardedLady

I've been very lucky with bosses all my life.

Best boss experience was one I had in London. I worked in a company as a trainee librarian and broke up with an ex a month or so after I started and the boss told me to take the day off the day after your man ended it. I lost a stone in weight and was all broken-hearted but hid it well but he'd regularly ask how I was anyway.

I left London 6 months later and he and the small crew bought me a heap of pressies and champagne as a goodbye and I had my first ever experience of being pissed in a library! He was the most hilarious man I met while living there - 5 librarians squeezed into a tiny office/library in tears laughing for most of the day. We'd go for pints after work once a week and he always treated us as equals. He was brilliant. Very fond memories of that place.

You want to do your best for bosses like that and I don't understand how some bosses don't get that.

Lia_lia

We had candy floss in the office last week! And then found out we are all being signed up to free dental insurance...

dreamers75

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Employers should be judged on one thing and one thing only;

How prepared they are to do themselves what they would ask others to do.

Rule No 1 of Management (im one of them):

Never ask anyone to do anything you would not do yourself.


Seen so many people fail at that and lose any respect they had with staff in an instant.

Rule 2 is respect, treat all your staff with respect (even the ****ty ones).

Rule 3 dont waste your time on the ****ty ones, your always gonna have them and spending time trying to change them is pointless.

Littlekittylou

I have only ever worked for small businesses.

I have never had health insurance from an employer.

I have no stories of grand gestures but rather I worked for one man who was simply a good honest fair employer. We had no perks or anything he never stocked the staffroom with goodies or brought in stuff. But he made sure that all disputes were resolved quickly and kept back biting to a minimum. People got along half the time because of him. He was good at his job and enthusiastic about life. He could motivate without bonus. He once called me at home simply to tell me what a good job I had done the day before. He always respectful and polite to everyone. He would notice in an instance if someone was rushed off their feet and make sure they had support.

He would not have let you off at a moment's notice. We didn't have very flexible hours. But once when one girl was in hospital for a while. He didn't send flowers but he went into visit her personally twice.

He gave me opportunities to learn new things and he seemed genuine about people who worked there getting more from it than the pay check. Apart from that all we got was the pay check though. But that's all we were promised. He could motivate you without bonus by telling you he was impressed because you knew he really did mean it and admired you. You felt good at your job.

Never bought things for people or anything but there you go. I can't think of one instance when we were mistreated or mismanaged. He listened and was prepared to accept new ideas and try them out. He had zero tolerance for bullying or assholes. And he could spot it a mile off.

Good employers are good at their jobs. He praised us never underestimate what that can do.


The other was not an employer but the manager immediately above me. The employer was nuts and going through a messy divorce she managed to diffuse most of his misplaced aggression and divert his mental head case of a missus.

Littlekittylou

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Had some very sound managers through the years. The common theme was they let me get on with my work without trying to micromanage every little thing.

This!

GerB40

Lia_lia wrote: »

We had candy floss in the office last week! And then found out we are all being signed up to free dental insurance...

Lisa needs braces...

Sh1tbag OToole

I know someone who is bringing all his staff to Vegas for a Christmas party, and the company isnt exactly rolling in money, and he doesnt like Vegas at all himself

smurfjed

Company just gave me two months off fully paid in order for me to be in Ireland with my mom as she was diagnosed with cancer and rapidly died from it. When she passed away, a condolence email was sent around the whole company, which was about 15,000 people, which resulted in numerous colleagues but total strangers offering their condolences.
Really made me feel part of a family rather than a employee.

ROCKMAN

Remember a few years ago in Holland ,New guy had just arrived from Ireland to start working for company , Had come over on 6 month contract as Girlfriend was expecting their first kid and he just wanted to make a bit of cash before the arrival. Anyway on his third or four day with us he got news from home that the girlfriend had lost the baby ,,The boss at the time send a car ,got him to the airport ,paid for his flight and give him 3 weeks wages and told him the job would be there if he decided to return in the future.

Sound bloke

chrissb8

One of my managers was an absolute delight to work with. Understood college was the priority for me and gave me days off and even asked when do I want time off for study etc. Organised poker nights for us and the staff. Get all the drink in for us not extra charge. Most importantly of all he gave me alot of autonomy and responsibility. Combination of all that stuff made me work twice as hard for him.

mountai

As a former Employer , I did my best to always look after my" Employees". I always mentioned them as "People I worked with" rather than "Employees" . Should I ever meet any of them , I never need to look down and avoid eye contact. Its nice to see the responses on this thread , we were not all Monsters after all!!!

ianobrien

My employer had doughnuts and fresh popcorn for everybody on site (500 people plus on site) on Monday. Its not as extravagant as some here but its a small thing that is appreciated.