What a novel idea

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2004 7:33 pm

"The most direct and powerful methods of showing appreciation include a favorable performance review and recommendation of a promotion and/or increased compensation," said Jane H. Marantz, a Bethesda-based career coach who specializes in helping younger workers. (Washington Post)***What? No pizza or coffee mugs? Actually, in most cases, you can skip the "favorable performance review" and "promotion."***[ June 02, 2004: Message edited by: blanp ]

12thfret · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2004 10:43 pm

One year we got a book bag, the next a faux wood ball point pen, and the next a keychain flashlight.

BobbyZ · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2004 12:15 pm

Well, my bonus last year was a $10 gift certificate to a local pizza joint. So bully for me.

SusanV · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2004 12:23 pm

Bonus? What's a bonus?

Mike Billings · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2004 12:36 pm

Appreciation? What's that?

majorbabs · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:44 pm

Actually, there WERE recommendations in my last performance review. But neither my supervisor's or mine matched, surprisingly enough.

12thfret · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:23 pm

Speaking of appreciation, how come the editor always pats the reporter on the back for some minimally interesting story and ignores the copy editors who translated the story for our English language edition?

Kewpie · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 12:07 am

Given the choice, I'd choose pizza or hamburgers over a coffee mug or exterior building improvements.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 12:14 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by 12thfret:
Speaking of appreciation, how come the editor always pats the reporter on the back for some minimally interesting story and ignores the copy editors who translated the story for our English language edition?<hr></blockquote>Please forgive me if i've told this long anecdote before:Reporter writes feature about immigrant family adjusting to local life. Assigned to front page. It sucks -- writing was flat and, worse, what could have made it interesting was missing.Rim sends it through. As deadline nears, a slot finally reads it (which should have happened earlier, but ... ) and refuses to let it be typeset.Night editor agrees that it stinks. Slot editor calls reporter, who says he and his editor and higher-ups think story is wonderful and that they don't want it changed. Slot editor tracks down family, interviews them and rewrites story. Turns out pretty well.Next morning, city editor chooses it as story of day -- to be displayed and profusely praised in prominent place.That afternoon, night editor/copy desk chief tells higher-ups why deadline was missed -- to salvage that story.And that ended story-of-the-day beatifications.The reporter? Soon became a manager.

12thfret · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 12:25 am

It's the old push him up the ladder caus he can't do dis job ploy.

SusanV · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 10:02 am

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by 12thfret:
It's the old push him up the ladder caus he can't do dis job ploy.<hr></blockquote>Ahh, yes. One more example of the Peter Principle. Still alive and well, unfortunately.

Oeditpus Rex · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 11:43 am

Just curious, Wayne. What happened to the slot who did the rewrite? Book bag?

Jim Bond · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 1:35 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by 12thfret:
Speaking of appreciation, how come the editor always pats the reporter on the back for some minimally interesting story and ignores the copy editors who translated the story for our English language edition?<hr></blockquote>How about this: The more the copy editor contributes, the more the writer fell short. To recognize the CE is to denigrate the writer.And *there* you have an image problem.

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 1:36 pm

You're in the wrong business if you expect accolades.

Jim Bond · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 1:48 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by blanp:
You're in the wrong business if you expect accolades.<hr></blockquote>Point taken, but accolades conjures images of awards and certificates. The recognition Wayne C. seemed to refer to was of the "Good job" variety.

Jim Bond · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:11 pm

The recognition Wayne C. seemed to refer to was of the "Good job" variety. 'Scuse me, Wayne. That was 12fret's comment.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:54 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Oeditpus Rex:
Just curious, Wayne. What happened to the slot who did the rewrite? Book bag?<hr></blockquote>Not fired. Praise from a few copy editors. Not so much as a mention from management, as far as i know.
She was lucky -- or unlucky, depending on how one felt about working there.

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What a novel idea

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