Comments on: Before The Tee Shirts

By: wmstrahan

wmstrahan — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:02:52 +0000

Thanks to the many folks who took the time to read and comment on this post. I appreciate it.

MsInformation – thanks as soon as HumanMarkets get’s a logo mug, one will be on the way to you!

Robert – thanks for your good observation. It is about the whole package – never just compensation.

Chad – this was unfortunately borne from years of emperical study. Thanks.

By: MsInformation

MsInformation — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:07:46 +0000

In addition to running my own studio, I have a part-time arrangement with a small ad agency in my area. It’s a place where those ten points are in full swing and run by three partners who have real vision. Sure, I have full health care. But a tee shirt or a mug? No. Nada. Those bastards. [Thanks for the great post!]

By: Totally Consumed

Totally Consumed — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:18:24 +0000

Nice post. Your blog and a couple others like it, have a way of keeping things positive and encouraging us all to do what’s right. I appreciate the tenor of your messages and mentioned your blog in my post today for that very reason. Keep up the good work!

By: robert edward cenek

robert edward cenek — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:34:37 +0000

Yes, trinket oriented, non-cash rewards are typically vapid forms of reward unless they are simply one element of an overall culture of recogntion.

Informal, spontaneous forms of recognition are more powerful than cash or non-cash rewards. Few organizations, other than the old Microsoft (or now Google) can chase people with cash and expect to win the marketplace. Few companies have the financial werewithal needed to bust the competition through compensation only.

robert edward cenek
http://www.cenekreport.com
Uncommon Commentary on the World of Work

By: Chad Bordeaux

Chad Bordeaux — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:23:22 +0000

Frank,
Great job on explaining what an A-hole is. You hit that right on the head.

By: wmstrahan

wmstrahan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:53:39 +0000

Thanks for the comments Mary. That chew’m while you gott’em (i.e. teeth) irony is compelling.

Also a shout out to Incentive Intelligence noted in the trackbacks today. He took me to task for getting this one not quite right. I kinda blended “gifts” and “rewards”. Although I stand by my post having thought about it for a bit, I do recommend looking there for a different angle.

By: Mary Lorenz

Mary Lorenz — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:11:29 +0000

This list is great. Having worked at a company whose management considered free doughnuts on Fridays an incentive to putting up with poor treatment the rest of the week. (I also found it a little cruel that we were allowed all the free soda we wanted, but given no dental benefits.) My point is, coming from a company where non-cash rewards were “used in lieu of good management”, I think you hit the nail on the head.

By: wmstrahan

wmstrahan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:51:12 +0000

Thanks Frank – the retroactive expectation is one of my favorites.

You got it HR Wench – some of the not-for-profits that I work with are now really self-sustaining – they are the best. Didn’t mean to imply making money is anything but a beautiful thing. Good catch. Thanks.

By: laurie ruettimann

laurie ruettimann — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:36:45 +0000

Brilliant, as usual.

By: Incentive Intelligence

Incentive Intelligence — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:12:00 +0000

My Kindgdom for Definitions…

What a way to start a Monday. I could feel it coming on. I knew it was going to happen and I couldn’t help myself. The bile was rising in my throat and I had to take a step away. I composed myself and came back. I came back to post a comment on an ent…