I actually have two management problems: one in the office, the other in school.
First, my office problem: I am working in a small accounting office as a part time intern. After my manager quit, the president of the office tried to replace her position with me. To me, it seemed to be impossible, since I did not have enough experiences and time. However, he just said, “It’s not difficult. You can do it even though you are only part time.” I barely convinced him to hire at least one more person, and he hired another intern who had less experience than me and was my friend.
He literally said that inters are stupid four or five times a day – meaning us of course.
When we ask questions, he often answers like “That is too stupid to answer.” When we try to suggest new methods, he says “Do not complain. Just work hard. Your level is too low to complain.” However, he has us file taxes and make financial statements. Moreover, he prohibits us to tell our clients that we are inters. So the clients think we are accountants and expect professional service.
Since it is very hard for international students to get an internship, and also I still am learning a lot, I don’t want to quit this office. Can anybody give me some advice on how to deal with this boss?
My second problem relates to school. I and my friend have problems with Baruch’s administration. In the International Student Center, I was told different things at each visit from the receptionists. Each time I needed to bring different documents, many of which were unnecessary. In the Academic Advising Center, one counselor yelled at me asking why I came back to her even though I had a different question than at my previous visit. My friend was sent to get a document from a department and was told to go back to the previous department, that had sent him there on the first place. I transferred to Baruch from LaGuardia, but I had never experienced this bad service in LaGuardia. Do these things only happen to me?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Business Ethics
As we are learning Business Ethics in the class, I would like to share a stroy.
Yukijirushi is one of the best known milk and dairy companies in Japan. I love their products, and so do my friends.
However, in the 90’s, one employee of a company which did a lot of business with Yukijirushi informed the Health Department that Yukijirushi was recycling milk that had not been sold in stores. Investigating this claim, the Health Department found that Yukijirushi was reselling leftover milk after heat-treating it once again. Moreover, the Health Department discovered that Yukijirushi’s hygienic procedures were so sloppy that bacteria clumps the size of ping-pong balls had built up in the milk tubes in its processing plants. In the eyes of costumers, these findings shed a very bad light on Yukijirushi, and its sales numbers dropped significantly.
5 or 6 months after these problems had been made public, many people were still refusing to buy Yukijirushi products. I saw a TV documentary about the man who initially had informed the Health Department about Yukijirushi practices. His own company had not been able to pay salaries since the affair because Yukijirushi was its biggest business partner, and Youkijisushi's problems were about to push his own company into bankruptcy. He had also received many letters and phone calls that were blaming him for his report since many people, not even Yukijirushi employee but also Yykijirushi's business partner, had lost their jobs, especially older and weaker employees.
He said, “I do not regret what I did, but it is hard not to regret it. I know it was not my fault that so many people lost their jobs, but it is hard not to think that way.”
From this story, one can see how difficult ethical behavior can become for regular workers. I am sure that many workers had noticed that what they were doing was unethical and potentially illegal. However nobody took action for a long time. Who knows, maybe Yukijirushi would have stopped its practices long before they were made public, if only its own employees would have spoken up? But this would have been a difficult thing to do for people working in a business culture that demands that employees stick with their company – or are forced to leave.
I believe that in order to establish an ethical work environment in a company, it is very important that already top management acts ethically and treats its employees, collaborators and customers with respect.
Yukijirushi is one of the best known milk and dairy companies in Japan. I love their products, and so do my friends.
However, in the 90’s, one employee of a company which did a lot of business with Yukijirushi informed the Health Department that Yukijirushi was recycling milk that had not been sold in stores. Investigating this claim, the Health Department found that Yukijirushi was reselling leftover milk after heat-treating it once again. Moreover, the Health Department discovered that Yukijirushi’s hygienic procedures were so sloppy that bacteria clumps the size of ping-pong balls had built up in the milk tubes in its processing plants. In the eyes of costumers, these findings shed a very bad light on Yukijirushi, and its sales numbers dropped significantly.
5 or 6 months after these problems had been made public, many people were still refusing to buy Yukijirushi products. I saw a TV documentary about the man who initially had informed the Health Department about Yukijirushi practices. His own company had not been able to pay salaries since the affair because Yukijirushi was its biggest business partner, and Youkijisushi's problems were about to push his own company into bankruptcy. He had also received many letters and phone calls that were blaming him for his report since many people, not even Yukijirushi employee but also Yykijirushi's business partner, had lost their jobs, especially older and weaker employees.
He said, “I do not regret what I did, but it is hard not to regret it. I know it was not my fault that so many people lost their jobs, but it is hard not to think that way.”
From this story, one can see how difficult ethical behavior can become for regular workers. I am sure that many workers had noticed that what they were doing was unethical and potentially illegal. However nobody took action for a long time. Who knows, maybe Yukijirushi would have stopped its practices long before they were made public, if only its own employees would have spoken up? But this would have been a difficult thing to do for people working in a business culture that demands that employees stick with their company – or are forced to leave.
I believe that in order to establish an ethical work environment in a company, it is very important that already top management acts ethically and treats its employees, collaborators and customers with respect.
HI EVERYONE!!
My name is Miho. I'm from Japan and have lived in New York for almost 5 years.In Japan, I worked at a radio station as a radio hostess and had 8 radio shows a week. That was a hard job; working 18 hours per day, no day off for 2 months, and very low salary. You would be surprised to know my salary. But I loved the job a lot.Then, why did I quit my job? I have a bunch of official reasons for job interviews. But, to be honest, I could not stand my managers. As I gather more experiences, I can see what went wrong on my side and what on their side.
However, if I did not have the conflicts, I would not leave Japan or come to NY. Coming NY by myself with poor English skills, no family, friends nor money was the bravest challenge in my life!!
Right now, I am preparing to be a CPA at Baruch College. I am planning to be a good accountant in 3 years!
However, if I did not have the conflicts, I would not leave Japan or come to NY. Coming NY by myself with poor English skills, no family, friends nor money was the bravest challenge in my life!!
Right now, I am preparing to be a CPA at Baruch College. I am planning to be a good accountant in 3 years!
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