Small company, no formal policies
I've been at my current company for a year now. I am the Marketing Manager/Promotions Director/ Event Planner. (I don't have an official title but thats probably for another post) When I started this job I was trained on the technology I need to do my job but not about any company policies or procedures. To me, my boss (the owner of the company) seems disorganized and sometimes overwhelmed. After about 8 months, I asked my boss to give me more information about how my performance will be evaluated, and about some other benefits such as paid time off and employee discount. His reply was that he would need to think about this since there is no policy set for management level employees. I have asked him several times about the progress on this situation and so far there is none. He has made sure in the meantime that I get the paid time off I need. Now he is asking me to take on a task that involves managing other staff members. I have never worked for a company that does not have set policies on evaluation, paid time off etc. and have never had to ask for a raise or evaluation. I don't want to seem ungrateful for my job and the pay that I do get, but I also think its reasonable for me to have some idea of how I will be evaluated, when I could get a raise, how many vacation days I am supposed to get and other basics. Since I already asked my boss to clarify all of these things for me and he has put it off for months, what is my next step? I am afraid that I'm being foolish for staying here not knowing what I'm getting or what my future in this company could look like, but I don't want to be too pushy either. Sorry this turned out so long and thanks for reading! Not to sound harsh, but you look foolish taking the job without knowing what the benefits/policies were, never mind continuing there. Why not go to him and ask whether, as part of your new job managing other employees, and understanding that he doesn't have the time, you can put down in writing the policies and benefits of the company. You can actually do this on your own (probably on your own time if not sanctioned by him and then present it to him. If you can do this, you accomplish two goals: You finally know the policies and benefits and you have proven yourself once again. I, too, am surprised that you took the job in the first place not knowing what was in the company benefit package - things like paid time off, performance evaluations, and other fundamental stuff. Usually, all that' s discussed before the prospective employee accepts the job offer. Anyway, I agree with Chet. I think this might be an ideal opportunity for you to help come up with a policy manual for management level employees. It shouldn' t be that difficult to come up with some sample policy manuals that you could adapt to fit your company' s needs. In very small companies it' s not all that unusual, frankly, for them to not have formalized policies about things like vacations. As small companies grow, however, it becomes essential to have all that in writing to insure that everyone is treated fairly. Otherwise an employer really runs the risk of potential problems of perceived unfairness which can really damage morale. So, if I were you, I' d volunteer to come up with a management policy manual. If you get paid time off when you want, I don' t think I' d question it further. For a small business, if they pay your salary and you get the job done, what do they care how much time you take off? Why not try work from home one day a week, see if he goes for that. See what he' s sensitive to. Start taking four or five weeks a year off, see if that' s good for him. Try a lot of three day weekends too. Thanks. Yes I know that I should have found these things out before I took the job. I was/am young and was in a job that I desperately wanted to leave and this job paid much more. As I said before I never worked for a company that didn' t have set policies, so being young and naive, I assumed it would all be explained at some later date. I figured my best move from this point was to be proactive and I have already downloaded several example Employee Manuals to give me a jumping off point for developing some policies. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, and I will certainly learn from this mistake! I just left a small family owned company just like your describing. Are they also stuck in the past overwhelmed unable to answer my questions or address my concerns. No policy or procedure for anything. I wonder how they have managed to stay in business for as long as they have. My company was stuck in the 1960 era which they feel is updated... I would move on....you deserve better...you have put a lot of time and effort not to mention the cost into educating yourself this company sounds like they do not deserve your abilities. | |
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