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Inc.com columnist Alison Green answers questions about workplace and management issueseverything from how to deal with a micromanaging boss to how to talk to someone on your team about body odor. Here’s a roundup of answers to four questions from readers. 1. Am I old-fashioned about employee lateness? I feel it is non-negotiable thatexcept for cases of emergency, sick kids, or traffic jamsemployees should be at work on time the vast majority of days. This means getting to work about 10 minutes early in time to hang up a coat, use the bathroom, etc., and be at ones desk when the hour begins. I feel like most employees and many managers do not so much care about this or, if they do, they dont say anything to late employees. I have worked with colleagues who regularly show up 10-20 minutes late and no one seems to care. Im not talking about flex-time jobs. Are my standards old-fashioned? Green responds: Not just old-fashioned, but genuinely out-of-date! In lots of jobs, it just doesnt matter if youre at your desk at 9:00 or 9:10 because it has zero impact on the results you get. There are other jobs where it does matterfor example, if an employee covers the phones or has client appointments starting right at 9 a.m.but increasingly jobs that can move away from that (which, again, isnt all of them) are doing so. The only relevant question is: Does it affect the persons work or someone elses work? If yes, then it’s a reasonable expectation of the job and you need to address the lateness and the specific impact its having. But if the answer is no, then youre adhering to an outdated idea of what excellent work should look like. And hassling an excellent performer over 10 minutesor for using the bathroom or chatting with a colleague before they sit downis a good way for managers to demonstrate that they dont value the right things and send them in search of a manager who does. 2. Should I offer my employees resume advice? We will be promoting someone on my team to a low-level management position to free up some of my time. Three current employees applied, submitting resumes (which we require even for internal applications). All three resumes have some very obvious problemsirrelevant jobs given a ton of space, high school coursework given a lot of space six years after finishing college, a highlights section that redundantly lists information from further down the page, and other problems like these. In this case, it doesnt matter much; we know all the candidates well and are aware of their accomplishments and qualifications, but I hate to see someone using a resume that makes them look like a weaker candidate than they are. Would I be out of line to make a one-time offer to help improve their resumes? My thought was to wait until the hiring process is finished, then phrase it as, Would you be interested in getting feedback on your resume? It wasnt a factor in this case since we already knew you so well, but if you would like me to I will go through it as though youd been an outside candidate and help you polish it up. I dont want to be presumptuous or make them think theyre being encouraged to leave. But I want to be supportive and give them advice while Im in a position to give it. Ive got a close working relationship with all of them, and feedback on writing and presentations are already a major part of how we work together. Green responds: Yes, do it! Your wording is good. Id just add, I want to be clear that I hope you wont go anywhere anytime soon, but realistically we all move on at some point, and I since Ive got your resume in front of me now, I wanted to offer that kind of support. 3. Are cotton clothes less professional? Im a mid-40s woman in the biotech industry. Many years ago, I made the decision to avoid buying synthetic fabrics due to the large environmental impact of synthetics and fast-fashion. I find myself buying a lot of items made from cotton since its a natural fiber. One day I was talking with a European colleague about where we shop and she looked at me and said, I have never worn a t-shirt in my life, I think implying that my tops look like t-shirts because they are made of cotton. I noticed that she was wearing head-to-toe polyester. I feel like the clothing I choose looks cute and classic, not very trendy, but still flattering. Have my personal ethical choices forced me to wear clothing that looks too casual? Green responds: Its true that some cotton tops can read as less professional and more t-shirt-ish. Not all of them. There are lots of professional-looking cotton tops (hello, cotton button-downs!). But our norms around professional dress do include an odd convention where the same top can look less professional in cotton than in synthetic fabrics. It depends on the top, and it depends on the specifics of the fabriclike whether its t-shirt fabric or something more structured or with a different drape. It also depends on the office; in many offices this would be a complete non-issue, while in others it might matter more. And as for why this is even a thing, its one of those inexplicable conventions that has its roots in something other than logic. My guess is its probably very old and rooted in the fact that cotton used to cost less. In any case, if your shirts arent cut like t-shirts and dont drape like t-shirts, I think youre fine. 4. How to check on collaborators during a natural disaster Whats the best phrasing to check in with someone who may be dealing with fires, floods, or other increasingly frequent natural disasters? In my case, I hadnt heard from a collaborator in over a week. Her city had been recently hit by a hurricane, and I didnt know if her organization or home had been affected, but she is in a leadership position on my project, so I needed her feedback before I could move forward. I sent a brief message checking if shed seen my previous email, but I feel like this is going to keep happening. Can you give us some scripts for checking in with collaborators whose worlds may literally be on fire? Green responds: A good basic formula is to acknowledge the situation, express empathy, explain what you need, and make it clear that you understand if events are getting in the way. For example: Hi Jane, I hope youre doing okay! Ive been following the hurricane that hit your area and I hope you and your family are safe. I wanted to check with you about (project details). If you have your hands full with whats happening in your area right now and need to push this back, I of course understand! If you actually cant push back the thing very easily, adapt that wording at the endyou need to acknowledge that they might not be able to do it right now regardless, but you can tweak the wording to whatever fits. For example: Id been planning on finalizing this by Friday since we want to distribute it at the board meeting the following week, but if that just cant happen right now, let me know and wel figure it out. Depending on circumstances, you might need to add, If I dont hear from you in the next few days, Ill figure youve got your hands full and will work on alternate plans. Want to submit a question of your own? Send it to alison@askamanager. By Alison Green This article originally appeared on Fast Company‘s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy.
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Timed with back-to-school season, Instagram has launched a new feature just for students. The social media platform announced “Schools” on Tuesday, August 26. Students should now see an option to Add your school directly on their profile if they so wish. After verifying their enrollment through the student verification platform UniDays, they will then have the option to add their school or college name as a badge on their profile. Students can choose whether the badge is visible to their fellow schoolmates or all followers, or opt out of the feature altogether. Once confirmed, they can browse a directory of their fellow students, filtered by year, or browse the entire student body. [Image: Instagram] As Instagram noted, the verification process is necessary to maintain a safe environment for active students to connect with other active students. At UniDays, we’re committed to creating safer, more rewarding digital experiences for the next generation. We do this by making verification and digital identity a foundation, not a barrier, for young people, UniDays CEO Jon Hawley said in a statement. We’re proud to partner with Instagram to champion digital trust and online safety. This new feature, underpinned by our world-leading verification technology, enables students to build more authentic, meaningful, and secure connections online. [Image: Instagram] The launch comes a week after TikTok rolled out a feature, also with UniDays, called Campus Verification. This lets users add their school to their profile and connect with other students on campus. Sound familiar? It also comes over a decade after Facebook launched as an online directory for Harvard students to connect with one another. As journalist Taylor Lorenz wrote on X: Get in, folks; were doing 2005 Facebook again. Instagram was spotted developing the college-based feature last year. It comes at a time when young people are prioritizing IRL experiences amid app fatigue and reports of loneliness. Social media platforms have taken note and are rolling out a wave of new features to attempt to facilitate connection. Through Schools, Instagram aims to make it easier for students to connect and build community at this formative time in their liveswhether thats seeking out a study buddy, linking up with new friends, or stalking a crush you crossed paths with in the hall.
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E-Commerce
Charlotte-based pet food brand Viva Raw has voluntarily recalled two lots of raw pet food due to a risk of contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Animals that eat the contaminated products can become ill, and pet owners who handle contaminated pet products are also at risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a notice of voluntary recall on Monday. According to the notice, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture identified the potential contamination during routine testing. Samples tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. To date, no illnesses in dogs, cats, or humans have been reported. Which products are affected? Viva Raw recalled the following products: Viva Ground Beef for Dogs (Lot 21495) Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies (Lot 21495) Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs (Lot 21975) Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs (Lot 21975) Viva Chicken for Cats (Lot 21975) Viva Pure Chicken (Lot 21975) Only products from these lots are at risk of contamination, according to the company. You can find full product images on the FDA website. Per the FDA, the products were distributed between July 2 and August 21, directly to consumers nationwide and also to a “small number of select retailers” in the following states: Arizona California Florida Illinois Kansas New York South Carolina The products come as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging. Each product has a lot number printed on the packaging. According to an FAQ page published by Viva Raw, customers who received affected products were emailed direct notices. Although the brand is largely direct to consumer (DTC), its products are also available at a number of retail outlets around the country, according to Viva’s store locator. Fast Company reached out to Viva Raw for more details about which retailers might have carried the impacted product. What should I do if I have this pet food? If you have these products, dispose of them. You should also wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers, as well as wash your hands after handling the recalled products. For refunds, or if you have additional questions about the recall, you can contact Viva Raw by email at info@vivarawpets.com or by phone at 919-371-8882 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. People and pets can become sick Dogs and cats can become infected after eating products contaminated with salmonella and listeria. Pet owners can also become infected by an animal that shows no symptoms. People who havent washed their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with surfaces that have been exposed to these pet food products are especially at risk. Young people, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, people infected with salmonella or listeria may experience the following symptoms: nausea vomiting diarrhea abdominal cramping fever If you have symptoms lasting more than a few days or have a high fever, bloody stools, or other complications after coming into contact with the affected products, consult a medical provider. While rare, salmonella and listeria can cause more serious health ailments, including: arterial infections endocarditis arthritis muscle pain eye irritation urinary tract symptoms The FDA notice notes that pets infected with salmonella or listeria may become lethargic and exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may experience only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. However, healthy pets can be carriers and infect humans and other animals. If your pet has consumed the recalled products and has symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
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E-Commerce
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