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 8:00 to 5:00 means sitting at your desk ready to work at 8:00 – not coming in at 8:03, getting coffee, and start working at 8:30.

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 • Don’t panic. • Clarify the assignment. • Develop a plan of attack. • Submit drafts and get feedback. • Don’t 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.org/index.htm

36. How to be a Good Employee Candice Bauer University of Nevada, Reno College of Engineering