Keeping in touch with employee - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

feelgood · 10-20-2004, 01:56 PM

I've been working at Federal Express for the past month and me and my coworker actually got a video from the corporation headquarter in memphis called "In the Ex".

Basically, what it was about is a report on how FedEx has been doing for the past few months in terms of finiancially as well talking about what it's been doing to promote itself on the market among other minor things.

This was actually the first time I've ever watched such video from the corporation and I thought it was a cheesey mixture of propagenda as well moral booster for its employee including part of the video where VP of FedEx canada visiting one of the centre that wasn't doing well.

I thought a simple newsletter or emails would suffice but a video? Isn't that a tad over doing it?

Has anybody watched a similar video from your management or something?

maleficent · 10-20-2004, 02:00 PM

I'm a cynic -- Rah rah company cheerleading bullshit...

When I worked for an ad agency, we got crap like that all the time... One of my current clients is another ad agency, they do that stuff regularly, some people like them - -and find them informative -- I'd rather just get a memo that I can read when I want. Just give me the facts and hold the song and dance.

amonkie · 10-20-2004, 02:07 PM

I get an email in my company email inbox every single weekday from the head of the corporation on what's happening globally with the company. Most days they just get glanced over and put aside.

ShaniFaye · 10-20-2004, 02:16 PM

we have quarterly employee meetings for just this purpose.....as well as a question and answer session with the CEO where we get "no answer" answer to questions about our concerns.

one upside...we get pretty cool "company" gifts at them...like back packs, compass watches...really nice tape measures....those fold out "camping" chairs" so thats kinda cool

PulpMind · 10-20-2004, 02:55 PM

do you ever do anything but complain?

Dingo2879 · 10-20-2004, 03:04 PM

Although it may be cheesy, I think it's cool that Fed Express is educating it's employees about the current happenings of the company. I can see your point that the video is tad over doing it, but atleast they are making an effort to keep their employees informed.

DDDDave · 10-20-2004, 03:41 PM

For big companies I think it is OK. Small companies don't have the resources (employees and/or money).

When I worked for Bank of America (a slightly big company

) we used to get those videos once a year or so. It was interesting to see the Board of Directors and the really high up guys in person (sort of). Otherwise, they are just names in the paper.

The videos were done in-house by the group that does training videos and such.

We did video conferencing to deal with current business situations and decisions. The videos were really just PR for the employees. But hey, your employees are your best representatives so while I would not disagree with Mal that they are "Rah rah company cheerleading bullshit..." I don't think they are a bad idea.

Echodork · 10-20-2004, 04:18 PM

When I worked for Dish Network, the CEO (Charlie Ergan, for those who don't know) would hold weekly or bi-weekly Charlie Chats, which any subscriber could watch. His VP at the time, Soraya Cartwright (nasty evil woman) would also do weekly Soraya Chats, aimed primarily at employees. Every week we were pulled off our desks to watch these things. Mostly, they made us sick, because we got to see just how far behind the company brass really were. Things that happened on the floor of the call center took one, two, three months to reach the desks of the higher-ups. We were constantly being advised about how to handle issues which were so outdated that half the people didn't remember them in the first place.

Psycho Dad · 10-20-2004, 04:25 PM

I get the proverbial mushroom treatment. But I also get a fair wage, fair benefits, job security and recognition from my higher ups so I can't complain much.

Rodney · 10-20-2004, 05:17 PM

Mostly, in high tech, this is done poorly. And it's often overdone.

At my last company, Seagate, they'd gather us for quarterly meetings and show us videos, sometimes even skits, about the latest weird management idea they wanted to push on the company. They'd have the meeting down at the local civic auditorium, 700-800 people there and everybody else at remote locations watching via TV hookups. The CEO and SVPs would come on with a light show and music effects usually reserved for rock stars. Unfortunately, most of the news they gave us was massaged and self-serving. They never mentioned layoffs, even when actual layoffs were going on. Somebody dared ask about the layoffs in Q&A, and was told, "Well, it's a tough business these days. What do you expect?" End of subject. Arrogant bastards.

I can't say that it was _overdone_ at Hewlett Packard, but it sure was weird. Every quarter the CEO would get on _the public address system_ and lecture employees while they were sitting at their desks. Usually to tell them that they had to do more, more, more, with less, less, less. Everybody took it stoically, mainly because what they were really waiting for was the profit numbers for the quarter -- half the staff were old-timers who were hooked into profit-sharing. I was only a contractor, not even an employee, but it was so demeaning -- Big Brother shouting down at you -- that I wanted to find the guy and kill him. It's probably different now that Carly Fiorina's in charge -- but not better.

In the old days at Tandem Computers, CEO Jimmy Treybig would use the company's elaborate video studio (they didn't need it, but Treybig liked video) to put on weekly video broadcasts to the troops, some very elaborate. I didn't see it, but the one in which he and his execs dressed up in Star Fleet uniforms is legendary.

I could go on, but why? The key concept in all these misadventures is arrogance -- although at least Treybig believed in treating people well.

feelgood · 10-20-2004, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PulpMind

do you ever do anything but complain?

If you have anything useful to post, post it, other than that, dont

denim · 10-27-2004, 01:36 PM

We get quarterly meetings of the whole company with the CEO and other senior management. They answer even the nastiest of questions completely. If they don't, you can ask for detail in the area they skimped on, and they'll answer. Really. It feels very strange, but actually kinda good. They expect us to want to know what's going on, and to ask questions, even if they're inconvienient.

They sometimes generate fancy documents which are apparently offset printed and expensive, which are distributed to the employees before they're made public, as far as I can tell. They want us to know what's what. We get press releases too, so we know what's been made public, again. Very consistant.

We've also been known to get serious bonuses for the successful ends of major projects, as well as yearly bonuses, though those last aren't guaranteed by any means. This is honestly the best place I've ever worked, though I'm not saying it's perfect.

Cynthetiq · 10-27-2004, 01:58 PM

I'm with denim... they give us lots of information...

I could walk up to the president in the hallways and he's happy to speak with me. Not that I'm special, but anyone can approach him.

When I was at Saatchi and Saatchi they made a Lessons from Geese video...

Quote:

Lessons from Geese

Fact 1:
As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson:
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2:
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson:
If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3:
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies the point position.

Lesson:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing in leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson:
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5:
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Lesson:
If we have as much sense as these geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

sure it was hokey but still, when I thought about the fact that they went through the trouble to do it...and then present it as part of orientation it means that they have some sort of care since usually orientation can sometimes just be "here's where you'll work, and you start tomorrow at 9am."

here at MTV we got one that was with Andrew Shue and a number of Melrose Place actors that went over our benefits plans.

10-20-2004, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	Keeping in touch with employee I've been working at Federal Express for the past month and me and my coworker actually got a video from the corporation headquarter in memphis called "In the Ex". Basically, what it was about is a report on how FedEx has been doing for the past few months in terms of finiancially as well talking about what it's been doing to promote itself on the market among other minor things. This was actually the first time I've ever watched such video from the corporation and I thought it was a cheesey mixture of propagenda as well moral booster for its employee including part of the video where VP of FedEx canada visiting one of the centre that wasn't doing well. I thought a simple newsletter or emails would suffice but a video? Isn't that a tad over doing it? Has anybody watched a similar video from your management or something? __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war Last edited by feelgood; 10-20-2004 at 02:01 PM..

10-20-2004, 02:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	I'm a cynic -- Rah rah company cheerleading bullshit... When I worked for an ad agency, we got crap like that all the time... One of my current clients is another ad agency, they do that stuff regularly, some people like them - -and find them informative -- I'd rather just get a memo that I can read when I want. Just give me the facts and hold the song and dance. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-20-2004, 02:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	I get an email in my company email inbox every single weekday from the head of the corporation on what's happening globally with the company. Most days they just get glanced over and put aside. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

10-20-2004, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	we have quarterly employee meetings for just this purpose.....as well as a question and answer session with the CEO where we get "no answer" answer to questions about our concerns. one upside...we get pretty cool "company" gifts at them...like back packs, compass watches...really nice tape measures....those fold out "camping" chairs" so thats kinda cool __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

10-20-2004, 03:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	For big companies I think it is OK. Small companies don't have the resources (employees and/or money). When I worked for Bank of America (a slightly big company ) we used to get those videos once a year or so. It was interesting to see the Board of Directors and the really high up guys in person (sort of). Otherwise, they are just names in the paper. The videos were done in-house by the group that does training videos and such. We did video conferencing to deal with current business situations and decisions. The videos were really just PR for the employees. But hey, your employees are your best representatives so while I would not disagree with Mal that they are "Rah rah company cheerleading bullshit..." I don't think they are a bad idea. __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson

10-20-2004, 02:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
PulpMind Addict Location: Portland	do you ever do anything but complain?

10-20-2004, 03:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dingo2879 Crazy Location: Lisle, IL	Although it may be cheesy, I think it's cool that Fed Express is educating it's employees about the current happenings of the company. I can see your point that the video is tad over doing it, but atleast they are making an effort to keep their employees informed.

10-20-2004, 04:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Echodork Tilted	When I worked for Dish Network, the CEO (Charlie Ergan, for those who don't know) would hold weekly or bi-weekly Charlie Chats, which any subscriber could watch. His VP at the time, Soraya Cartwright (nasty evil woman) would also do weekly Soraya Chats, aimed primarily at employees. Every week we were pulled off our desks to watch these things. Mostly, they made us sick, because we got to see just how far behind the company brass really were. Things that happened on the floor of the call center took one, two, three months to reach the desks of the higher-ups. We were constantly being advised about how to handle issues which were so outdated that half the people didn't remember them in the first place.

10-20-2004, 04:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	I get the proverbial mushroom treatment. But I also get a fair wage, fair benefits, job security and recognition from my higher ups so I can't complain much.

10-20-2004, 05:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Mostly, in high tech, this is done poorly. And it's often overdone. At my last company, Seagate, they'd gather us for quarterly meetings and show us videos, sometimes even skits, about the latest weird management idea they wanted to push on the company. They'd have the meeting down at the local civic auditorium, 700-800 people there and everybody else at remote locations watching via TV hookups. The CEO and SVPs would come on with a light show and music effects usually reserved for rock stars. Unfortunately, most of the news they gave us was massaged and self-serving. They never mentioned layoffs, even when actual layoffs were going on. Somebody dared ask about the layoffs in Q&A, and was told, "Well, it's a tough business these days. What do you expect?" End of subject. Arrogant bastards. I can't say that it was _overdone_ at Hewlett Packard, but it sure was weird. Every quarter the CEO would get on _the public address system_ and lecture employees while they were sitting at their desks. Usually to tell them that they had to do more, more, more, with less, less, less. Everybody took it stoically, mainly because what they were really waiting for was the profit numbers for the quarter -- half the staff were old-timers who were hooked into profit-sharing. I was only a contractor, not even an employee, but it was so demeaning -- Big Brother shouting down at you -- that I wanted to find the guy and kill him. It's probably different now that Carly Fiorina's in charge -- but not better. In the old days at Tandem Computers, CEO Jimmy Treybig would use the company's elaborate video studio (they didn't need it, but Treybig liked video) to put on weekly video broadcasts to the troops, some very elaborate. I didn't see it, but the one in which he and his execs dressed up in Star Fleet uniforms is legendary. I could go on, but why? The key concept in all these misadventures is arrogance -- although at least Treybig believed in treating people well.

10-27-2004, 01:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	We get quarterly meetings of the whole company with the CEO and other senior management. They answer even the nastiest of questions completely. If they don't, you can ask for detail in the area they skimped on, and they'll answer. Really. It feels very strange, but actually kinda good. They expect us to want to know what's going on, and to ask questions, even if they're inconvienient. They sometimes generate fancy documents which are apparently offset printed and expensive, which are distributed to the employees before they're made public, as far as I can tell. They want us to know what's what. We get press releases too, so we know what's been made public, again. Very consistant. We've also been known to get serious bonuses for the successful ends of major projects, as well as yearly bonuses, though those last aren't guaranteed by any means. This is honestly the best place I've ever worked, though I'm not saying it's perfect.