How to be a Good Employee

1
How to be a Good Employee

• Candice Bauer
• University of Nevada, Reno
• College of Engineering

2
Overview

• Human Resources
• Transition Period
• Attendance
• Timecards
• Appearance
• Boss
• Co-Workers
• Soft Skills
• Employee Rights

3
Human Resources

• First Stop
• Complete employment paperwork
• Tax forms (W4, state tax)
• Nondisclosure agreements
• Learn about benefits
• Complete payroll process
• Learn company policies

4
Human Resources

• Work Schedule and Lunch Period (Your supervisor
  might also provide this information)
• Payroll Period and Direct Deposit Information
• Paid Holidays, Sick Days, or Personal Days (How
  many and when are you eligible?)
• Vacation Days (How many and when are you
  eligible?)

5
Human Resources

• Company Employment Policies such as use of
  electronic communications systems, conflict of
  interest, business travel, drug use and smoking,
  personal use of company resources, dress code,
  etc.
• Benefits (Life Insurance, Health, Disability,
  Accident, Savings Plan, Retirement Plan, and
  Tuition Reimbursement)

6
Transition Period (Learning Curve)

• If it was not provided, ask for a copy of your
  job description, so you can see in writing your
  duties and responsibilities.
• Learn the names and duties of everyone in your
  group.
• Ask to see an organizational chart of the
  department, so you can see how your group fits
  into the company structure.

7
Transition Period (Learning Curve)

• Learn the culture of the company - the mission
  and vision.
• Observe your co-workers, how they behave and act
  in a professional setting.
• Focus on the product you will be working on.
  Most companies have technical descriptions and
  product brochures. Ask to review these.
• Ask about anything you are not sure of or was not
  made clear to you.

8
Attendance

• Woody Allen 80 of success is just about
  showing up
• Attendance is necessary
• No call, no show termination
• Finals / Midterms notify employer ASAP
• Always be punctual (lateness is not acceptable)
• A schedule from 800 to 500 means sitting at
  your desk ready to work at 800 not coming in
  at 803, getting coffee, and start working at
  830.

9
Timecards

• Accurate timekeeping is important
• Multi-project time sheets
• Must be accurate
• Altering or misrepresenting your time on a
  timecard is illegal
• Not recording overtime is illegal

10
Appearance

• Adhere to the dress code
• Dress to accommodate safety procedures (i.e. if
  working in a lab, closed toe shoes)
• Even if the code is casual, follow conservative
  dress rules
• Workstation organized, neat, and check with
  supervisor to learn company policy before
  bringing personal items (i.e. photos)
• Watch your language (a foul sounding mouth looks
  bad)

11
Supervisor

• Initial training
• Decides on your job assignments
• Determines if you are meeting expectations
• Assesses your performance
• Decides on your salary increase
• Learn how to work with their management style

12
Your boss is always right

• Respect and appreciate your boss
• Do as you are asked
• Question if unclear, but do not argue
• Unless, your boss is asking you to perform a task
  that is unethical or illegal (i.e. record that
  you worked 20 hours even though you worked 23
  hours)

13
Make your boss look good

• Completing your work assignments on time.
• Producing a high quality and accurate product.
• Acting professionally and responsibly at all
  times.
• Being positive and a team player.
• Keeping your boss informed as to the status of
  your tasks and alert him or her to any problems.
  (The worst thing to do is to let your boss get
  caught off guard.)

14
What is the boss looking for in you?

• Take the initiative. Don't wait for work. Seek it
  out. Fill a need when you see a void or an
  opportunity (and make sure your supervisor knows
  you have offered to help).
• Show that you can think. Be creative and
  innovative. Develop a new way to perform a task
  or a new solution to a problem.
• Show a willingness to take on projects that have
  high visibility. That is how you get noticed.

15
Conflicts with your boss

• Personality clash
• Management style
• Technical differences
• Performance and work habits

16
Relating to Co-Workers

• Get to know the people in your group
• Be someone that can be counted on
• Ask pertinent questions
• Do not be a know it all
• Learn to work with different types of people

17
Resolving Conflicts with Coworkers

• Misunderstandings
• Personality Clashes
• Lack of Cooperation
• Frustration and Irritability
• Substandard Performance

18
Resolving Conflicts with Coworkers

• Differences Over Work Method
• Responsibility Issues
• Authority Issues
• Value and Goal Differences
• Non-Compliance with Rules and Policies
• Competition for Limited Resources

19
Resolving Conflicts Dos

• Be Positive and Patient
• Focus on the Problem, not the other Person
• Keep an Open Mind Be Flexible
• Seek the Other Person's Ideas and Point of View

20
Resolving Conflicts Dos

• Explore All Alternatives for Resolving the
  Conflict
• Try to Understand the Other Person's Perceptions
• End on a Positive Note

21
Resolving Conflicts Don'ts

• Prejudge People
• Assume You Have All the Facts
• Focus on the Person's Attitude, Personality, or
  Motives
• Ignore Others' Ideas and Viewpoints

22
Resolving Conflicts Don'ts

• Overlook the Possibility of Differing Perceptions
  
• Be Defensive
• Go Into the Discussion Unprepared
• Focus on Meeting Practical Needs at the Expense
  of Personal Needs

23
Lack of Guidance

• Take matters into your own hands.
• Speak with the supervisor.
• Emphasize your eagerness to learn the job and
  contribute to your group and the company.

24
Lack of Guidance

• Ask your supervisor's advice on the steps you can
  take to speed up your development and to be
  assigned some projects to work on.
• Seek other mentors in the company.

25
Assignments beyond your knowledge base

• Dont panic.
• Clarify the assignment.
• Develop a plan of attack.
• Submit drafts and get feedback.
• Dont be afraid to make a mistake, but learn from
  that, and NEVER MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.

26
Communication Skills

• Prepare written status or progress reports to
  management
• Write specifications and technical descriptions
• Write engineering change orders
• Provide instructions to others

27
Communication Skills

• Present your design concepts to senior
  engineering management at design reviews
• Communicate technical information to staff
  members that have no technical training
• Prepare product brochures and marketing materials
  

28
Teamwork Skills

• You all work for the same company and the main
  goal is to produce the best product possible.
• Remain flexible and keep an open mind.
• Producing the optimum design requires every-one
  to make certain compromises, including you.

29
Teamwork Skills

• Help other people whenever you can.
• Avoid being a know-it-all.
• Don't take opposition or critique of your
  concepts personally.
• In stating your position, rely on the facts and
  what you know, not opinion.

30
Performance Reviews

• Technical Ability
• Knowledge of Job Functions
• Character
• Responsibility
• Initiative
• Cooperation

31
Performance Reviews

• Ability to Inspire and Influence Others
• Emotional Stability
• Vision
• Decisiveness
• Coordination
• Resourcefulness

32
Employee Rights

• Safe working environment
• Free from discrimination and harassment
• Breaks (in Nevada)
• 10 minutes every 4 hours
• 30 minute break if shift is 6 or more hours

33
Employee Rights

• Must sign release form to work more than 8 hours
  (i.e. 10 hour shifts) otherwise, considered
  overtime
• More than 40 hours per week is considered
  overtime for hourly employees (must pay time and
  a half)

34
Employee Rights

• Department of Labor
• http//www.dol.gov/index.htm
• Workplace Fairness
• http//www.workplacefairness.org

35
Acknowledgments

• ASME, International Professional Practice
  Curriculum http//www.professionalpractice.asme.o
  rg/index.htm

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How to be a Good Employee

• Candice Bauer
• University of Nevada, Reno
• College of Engineering