Blog Entries for Aunty B

My only employee abandoned me at my time of need! Why?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:07:08 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I run my own clothes shop with only one employee. He’s hard-working and generally reliable, but will never prioritise his job over anything else.

For example, I recently fell down some stairs and broke my arm. My employee had organised to leave early to pick up his son from childcare. I rang him fro [...]

Should I fire an employee who is late on their first day?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:05:43 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I just hired a new worker to a front-line role.

He basically has to manage the shopfront in the mornings. He didn’t have a lot of work experience, being fairly young, but it’s a pretty easy role and he interviewed well enough.

He was meant to be here three hours ago for his first shift. He called m [...]

I complained about bullying but management seem to think I’m the one at fault! Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:32:56 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I was trying to help someone with the photocopier at work when I was pushed out of the way by a senior colleague.

He snapped at me and I was upset enough to write the following email to my managers:

“I wish to make you aware that a senior staff member was extremely rude to me this morning for [...]

How do I book holidays without looking slack?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:27:35 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I’ve got heaps of holidays owing but there never seems to be a good time to take them.

My boss is a workaholic and never takes holidays either. How do I book in some holidays without looking like a slacker and leaving my boss in the lurch?

Justin

Ringwood

Dear Just [...]

What should I be looking for when hiring a new employee?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:52:49 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I’ve advertised to hire a new employee on a jobs website and have been flooded with applications. There’s over a hundred applicants, although a lot are not relevant to the role.

I’ve managed to narrow the applications down to three who look good. I’m going to call them in for interviews but am worried ab [...]

My manager has scuttled my hopes of a new job with a terrible reference. What do I do?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:36:44 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I don’t know what to do or even if there’s anything I can do about this problem. But it’s got to a desperate point.

I was recently told by my current employer that my contract wasn’t being renewed due to budget reasons – all good and well, so I started the job hunt.

Finally, after three weeks of searc [...]

My staff are downloading torrents at work, what do I do?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:33:56 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I have a big problem. I run a business with about 15 employees, and they’re mostly young, in their 20s and 30s.

I don’t ascribe to the whole Generation Y worker mentality, but I’m getting close. I recently found out they are downloading pirated versions of TV shows while at work, so they don’t have to wait u [...]

I already know my manager will pull a sickie before the long weekend. What do I do?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:57:11 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

With the long weekend coming up I just know my manager is going to chuck a sickie. Consistently before a public holiday or break like Easter or Christmas she will call in “sick”.

I know she’s not sick but have to go along with the charade after the holiday asking how she is feeling, etc. I can’t [...]

Is my wife’s boss putting the moves on her?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:48:53 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

My wife has a new manager at work. He invited her out to lunch, and while he’s married and it all seems above board, it is a little bit of an awkward situation because she’s female and he’s male.

My wife is worried about what the lunch actually means – is he trying to come onto her? What will her collea [...]

I can’t come up with an elevator speech! Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 01:01:41 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

As the owner of a small business, I’ve heard one thing I must do is come up with an elevator speech.

The problem is I have no idea how to sum up my business and what we do in the time equivalent of an elevator ride. Also, to be honest, I feel like an idiot having a rehearsed spiel to trot out every time [...]

My boss just liked my updated profile on LinkedIn. Does he know I’m job-hunting?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:21:40 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I work in a company that’s not doing too well. There’ve been a few layoffs recently. I’m one of the ones they kept on.

But just in case they decide to lay me off too, I’ve started updating my resume and quietly putting feelers out for another role (basically, I’ve told people at other companies I’m looking t [...]

How should I handle an employee who hasn’t returned after a death in the family?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Fri, 31 May 2013 02:10:18 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

One of my salespeople has had a horrific few months. His wife died suddenly, and so of course he hasn’t been back at work.

I don’t want to come across as being too harsh – he obviously can’t be back at work. He’s quite young, only in his 30s, so this has been a huge blow to him. I’ve spent a lot of time worry [...]

How do I handle a boss who says my girlfriend is no good?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:13:20 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I'm currently working in a small business with the owner/managing director wanting me to complete a management course so I can take over and run the business for him when he retires.

I'm a young (23) male who has been working in the business for almost six years now and I consider myself very lucky to have th [...]

How do I tell my employee she’s annoying the hell out of everyone?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Wed, 29 May 2013 02:01:23 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I have an employee who is a little annoying. She likes to work with others to workshop her ideas but it’s a big time imposition on her colleagues.

I can tell they are getting pretty annoyed at how she keeps on going on about minor details and endlessly talking through any problems.

She’s certa [...]

Help! My boss has canned my bonus!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Tue, 28 May 2013 00:42:23 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I had received a letter from my employer saying that I was getting my bonus for the first half of the year and that the remainder of the bonus would be paid at the end of the financial year.

Then the employer said that they were not paying the second half of the bonus because they thought the followi [...]

The mothers in my workplace keep dumping work on me. Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Sun, 26 May 2013 23:00:20 +0100

Dear Aunty B,

I’ve recently joined a business where I am the only young women in a predominantly female office.

This means that most of the women there have families, a fact they constantly use as an excuse to leave work early and dump their work on me.

I’m often at the office for at least an hour after they’ve all [...]

My workaholic employee has 10 weeks’ leave and won’t take a holiday! Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:42:13 +0100

Aunty B,

Help! I have a staff member who I just love to pieces but they are addicted to work!

He comes in at least an hour early every day and stays late, which is fantastic, but he never goes on a holiday. He’s accrued 10 weeks’ leave and considering his salary, that’s a pretty big liability on our business.

Normal [...]

How can I leave the family farm and start my own life – without offending my parents?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:04:28 +0100

Hello Aunty B,

I am part of a family farm business.

I am 32 and work with my wife and my parents who are both in their mid-70s. Currently, I have a lot of doubt about how we will proceed in the future since my parents are both still very involved in day-to-day operations, and the main issue is that I am tired of working [...]

Help! My stalker ex-boyfriend has applied for a job where I work!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:37:02 +0100

Dear Aunty B

I broke up with my boyfriend about a year ago and he has just told me he is applying for a job at the company I work for.

We’re a reasonably sized company with over 100 employees, but I feel pretty uncomfortable about him working at the same place. We broke up on the basis that we would still be friends and we h [...]

Should I give our useless intern a reference?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:07:44 +0100

Dear Aunty B

I run a small PR agency and we regularly have interns from universities work with us for a two-week period.

It’s usually a good experience as we get an extra pair of hands and they get some experience in the industry.

But the most recent intern didn’t turn up half the time! Admittedly, internships [...]