Category Archives: Ethics

What Does Diversity in the Workplace Mean to You?

CP STAFFING PARTNERS WITH JOURNEY’S END REFUGEE SERVICES TO GIVE BACK

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

The “I’s” in “SACRIFICIAL GIVING”

Featured image: Give by Thomas Hawk

In a society where we are sometimes embedded in putting ourselves first, where “me, myself, and I” are the greatest priority in our lives, we may fail to see where “I” fits within the community around us. When I see people so ready and proud to tell the world “I have to take care of myself first,” I can’t help but feel a slight sense of sadness. While I agree to an extent (you certainly can’t pour anything out of an empty cup; you should definitely take care of yourself in order to give), such a strong notion of always putting yourself first might take out a very important element that oftentimes comes with the word “give:” sacrifice. The very act of giving is sacrificial – whether that may be of your time, money, or interests. In order for a community to always flourish, there will be times in which “I” will need to stand for something other than “myself.”

“I” for “Include”

Although some of us may be introverts or “anti-social,” at some point in time we may enjoy the company of others (even if that means just one person in your life that you can stand to be around 🙂). By nature, we are relational creatures, and if there was no interaction within our communities then we wouldn’t have one! When you choose to give your time to help a cause or someone in need, you include those who need our interaction the most – you make then an important part of our society, even if their circumstances may lead them to feel hopeless. This might mean giving up that golf outing with your friends, or that weekend you had set aside for an awesome full-body massage – for your community that needs you! There are people out there that will thank you for including them in your busy schedule and letting them know that they matter.

“I” for “Impress”

As I briefly stated before, some of our people in need oftentimes feel hopeless. When we decide to give to our community in a sacrificial way, the love behind that very sacrifice impresses hope on those who need it most. You give them hope that there are people who care, hope that they are not alone, and hope that they will conquer whatever they are going through. Even if you’re volunteering for a cause that seems fairly generic on the surface, the “behind the scenes” of it all is always much greater. Additionally, a great thing about this impression of hope on others is that it’s reciprocal; you also become hopeful! Giving to your community and to those in need has the awesome effect of changing us for the better: we become more hopeful for our society, we become more empathetic, more motivated to be involved, and we become more loving; all great attributes that are needed in a great society.

“I” for “Inspire”

Did you know that giving is contagious? This is especially true when you are willing to sacrifice something of your own in order to do it. Sacrifice shows caring, it shows commitment, willingness, and it shows love. All of these things make those around you think to themselves: “I guess if he/she can do it, I can do it too.” The result: More people are inspired to contribute, bringing our society that much closer as a whole. When I think of inspiration in this sense, I like to think of my marriage. Do I always feel like loving my husband? No – sometimes he annoys the heck out of me. Nevertheless, it is during those times that I try my best to demonstrate my love for him anyway, even though I really might not want to (i.e. sacrificial love; purposeful love). What usually happens is that he’s inspired to love me back, and vice versa. Are we always perfect following this “sacrificial-loving” rule? No, but I notice that when we do, it always works out for the best; we never regret it. The take-away from this: the same way that marriage needs self-sacrifice in order to work in harmony, our society will also need our sacrifice in order to work in unity. Sacrificial giving inspires more giving! 🙂

“I” for “Improve”

It is no surprise that when we work together, we improve together. I’m drawn to think of the phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in team,” but this is my way of showing you otherwise 😉. Volunteering and giving are some of the great ways in which we work as a team and contribute towards the improvement of our society. We have to keep in mind that we are all in this together – I know, cliché, but very true! Think about your children (if you have them), and the example that you set for them (or anyone who looks up to you); by sacrificing part of yourself for the benefit of others, you’re teaching them that it is not always about “me.” And, of course, what comes out of this teaching is a future society of self-giving citizens, willing to help each other when needed, deviating any sense of entitlement and selfishness that may otherwise form (are you with me yet?). In other words, children are our future, and we are the guide they need for the purpose of improving our world – I am rocking it with the clichés, aren’t I?

“I” for “Interconnect”

The very last “I” in “Sacrificial Giving” is for interconnection. Everything that I’ve touched on in this piece shows the many ways in which we are all interconnected with each other. I truly don’t mean to sound all gushy, although I think I’ve outdone myself here (I blame it on the entire goopy, Valentine’s Day atmosphere), but it is so important to not forget this essential fact. The truth is that we need each other; we need each other for strength, encouragement, success, and our overall well-being. The minute we forget this truth and begin to drift into the “I come first” state of mind, that’s the moment we begin to lose sight of what we need: connection. This being said, by all means make sure that you take care of yourself (and do put your family first), but when you can, try to “care for yourself” also as a means of preparation for giving your help to those who need you. You’ll be surprised how much greater it is to give than to receive; you will not regret making a difference every now and again. 🙂

P.S.

I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!

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By Nayadee Wilson

How to Win an Argument – Once and for All

4 Traits of a Company You’ll Want to Work for

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Searching for a new job is not always nice and easy. It takes a lot of time, preparation, diligence, you name it! Not only is this search mentally exhausting, but it’s hard enough just getting an interview, let alone finding that awesome company you’ve always wanted to work with. Sometimes we get so caught up in our temporary state of desperation that we are ready to take whatever comes first. Or, the opposite may happen, where we are so stuck in our financial requirements or desired job title that we refuse to work with any company that does not meet those specific needs. Well, you may find that in either situation the decision to accept/refuse a job offer without considering the kind of company you will work for may cost you. Here are some things that I’ve learned say a lot about a company’s structure, which can help you make the right decision when it comes to your next career move.

Let’s not forget about our community.

Cindy and Kaitlyn at the Susan B. Coleman Race for a Cure – June 2016

One of my favorite traits of CP Staffing Solutions is the company’s ability and desire to care and be involved in the community that we are part of. Willingness to give and take care of the community says a lot about a company because it shows that they care about more than just making a profit. When the company cares about others, it means that they will care about you. When they care about you, it means you will have opportunity. Here is one of the messages our president, Cindy Neese, has sent to us:
“Team,
I wanted to share this email with everyone in the office. Kaitlyn recently made me aware of this Volunteer WNY Newsletter that goes out by United Way. If you sign up, you will get then notifications of different opportunities with non-for-profit organizations locally that are looking for volunteers for different fundraisers. As a company, I would like to see us do at least 2 of these each calendar year, but there may be opportunities for you to sign up as individual or family event that you might like to do. Also, if we see something that we can do as a team, this would be a great way to get those notifications. If you click on www.volunteerwny.org, it will take you to the main site where you can register for the monthly newsletter.

Thank you, Cindy”

If you’re not sure whether the company you’re interviewing with has much involvement in their community, then feel free to do some research. Additionally, this could be a good question for you to ask during the interview. When the dreaded “do you have any questions for me?” statement comes up at the end and you draw a blank, you could ask, “Do you have any outside projects that you participate in as company, such as volunteer work or anything like that?”
Our employees make this baby run!

Employee Appreciation Happy Hour!

So maybe the company you’ve encountered doesn’t have the chance to do much volunteer work, but they have other ways in which they show they care: the unquestionable value of their employees. When higher management openly expresses appreciation for their employees, it says a lot about the kind of environment you will be working in. I’ve never met anyone who is a greater example of this than our very own Cindy Neese (I will talk about her a lot, because she truly is awesome).

In a previous blog titled “Note from the President; Cindy Neese on Leadership,” Cindy wrote how “Many leaders could never imagine leading a company with Love – the verb not the emotion. I am talking about actions, not feelings,” and I could honestly say she practices what she preaches. Cindy never misses the opportunity to let us know when we do a good job, (no matter how small the task is), she lets us know the ways in which our job is valuable and useful – just this morning she came in to ring a bell to tell everyone how they’re doing a wonderful job, due to some good news she had just received – and she does her best to do really nice gestures for us all. Not only does this kind of appreciation motivate employees, but it makes us happy to come and work with her.
We’re like a second family.

Facebook post from a valued employee 🙂

One of the most important facts about valuing employees is that the expression of care is contagious! As a leader, Cindy teaches all of us how to treat each other in the same manner, which makes for a great atmosphere in the workplace. A great company will not only have top management care for you, but it will also have its employees caring for each other. It is a huge sign of good leadership. The same way our president gives praise to her employees, we also give praise to each other. The same way she makes great, small gestures, we also do those kinds of gestures for each other (as you can see from the picture on the right). I love our team! 🙂

When you decide to work for a particular company, it might be a good idea to scope out the atmosphere. How do employees treat each other, talk to (or about) each other? If you can’t really tell at first glance, you could check out some of the company reviews online. Additionally, if you know someone already in the company, you can ask them for their opinion on how they feel about the environment. Having a good crew to work with means you will have a much more relaxed environment, making you feel more motivated to come to work, as opposed to having to come in to work with people that just… don’t necessarily make for a great experience. 🙂
No more drama!

The Whisper by Brian Smithson

The very last thing you would want to deal with at your new job is drama. This is not always very easy to spot from a first interview, but it will not take long for it to surface if you’ve already started the job. One way you can spot this trait is by watching for the kinds of things your interviewer decides to share about the company or its staff. A previous coworker and friend (from a previous company I used to work for), told me about their interview experience. This individual was completely in shock because, during the interview, the manager began to talk about the employees, and not necessarily in a positive way. The interviewing manager talked about some of the employee’s personalities, using phrases such as “so-and-so can be very defensive,” as well as, “we have someone who doesn’t seem to want be here,” and, “everything is a mess because so-and-so did this,” etc.

When the interviewer blatantly discredits his/her employees, it may be a sign of mistrust, favoritism, and undervalue. This is the part where you start to look at your other options (red flag alert!). Having this kind of environment in the workplace can attribute to significant levels of stress, as well as interfere with your ability and skills to do your job in the first place. It also makes you question the kind of opportunity you’ll really have in the company if it will mainly depend on how much your boss “likes you.”

Choose success, but don’t forget peace of mind.

Before making the decision to jump on board or “swipe left” on a particular company, make sure you take note of the little things. Working for an unethical company or one that does not value its employees and/or their talents will only hurt you in the long run, and you will be miserable – no matter what your title is or how much they pay you. If you’ve already started working for the company, these traits (or the lack thereof) can be easy to spot. If you see some issues, your best bet is to run as soon as you can – while never forgetting to be professional. Even if you’re not being directly affected, it is only a matter of time before it catches up to you. By all means, choose a career path that will bring you success, but be very careful to choose the right company to help you get there! 🙂

By Nayadee Wilson

“You Can’t Make Me!” – Being Ethical VS Being Insubordinate

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Have you ever been assigned a task that you felt uncomfortable with? Additionally, have you always handled these situations properly? Ahh – that’s where the tricky part comes in. The rules of ethics can often seem to be perfectly black and white, while in other instances they may appear to have a grey area. Sometimes what is ethical for some may not be ethical for others, and so unwanted confrontations and conflict can arise (sometimes more than just your typical eyebrow-raiser O_O). When it comes to the workplace, while we all want to adhere to our ethical standards, we also want to be very careful of the way in which we handle these somewhat uncomfortable, yet common situations. There are a few things you can do in order to protect yourself, and the company, from engaging in what you believe to be unethical behavior/tasks while also keeping away from being labeled as an insubordinate employee; you do not want the latter!

That’s not right, so I’m not doing it.

One of the things you should be aware of is what the meaning of insubordination actually is. Insubordination in the workplace is defined as defiance of authority (refusal to obey others), disrespectful behavior, and/or a confrontation between an employee and a supervisor/manager. So, before refusing to do a particular task due to it appearing unethical, take a moment to brainstorm over the situation. Something you definitely want to refrain from is being disrespectful. The abrupt refusal of doing your task may come off as disrespectful behavior, consequently placing you in disciplinary action or putting your job in jeopardy. Take the time to analyze whether it truly is an unethical task, or if it is a biased opinion on your behalf (which can happen, we all have awesome, unique brains 🙂 ). That being said, once you’ve properly evaluated your circumstances, if the task seems to remain unethical you are now ready to decide on what your next step should be, and ask yourself some reasonable questions.

Question no.1 – Can they do that?

The greatest tool you can have at your disposal is information. When encountering a “grey area” in the topic of ethics, something that can help you greatly is your company handbook, and/or a list of company policies and procedures. Reviewing these will often help you make the distinction between having ethical vs unethical requests. The reality is that your boss might not be a bad guy, so give her/him a break; your boss may just be trying a different means to an outcome that could or could not be in line with company policy, without having analyzed the situation further. Therefore, keeping up with proper procedures on your end is essential. Another thing you should be informed about is your legal rights. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (our great friend, OSHA) does protect you in the event that your refusal to work is truly due to an unethical issue. Hence, if you refuse to do a certain task because you believe “in good faith” that what you were asked to do is unethical, it will not be considered insubordination.

Question no.2 – This is obviously unethical! …Or is it?

Again, what may be unethical to some may not be unethical to others, so communication is important here (and use your words!). I’ll give you an example: during a previous position I held as an admin, I was in charge of all the billing. Company procedure was to bill/charge all orders once they had already shipped, and not before. During month end, however, those billing numbers were important to our goals. One of the things I personally struggled with was charging an order before it actually shipped or had been completed – it just didn’t sit quite well with me. While I was only trying to follow company procedure, there was a grey area; would you say billing an order that perhaps didn’t leave the building just yet, but would leave first thing the next morning, was unethical? What about an order that was not leaving the building until next week? This was a discussion that I needed to have with my supervisor, which resulted in a reasonable and understanding conclusion – we worked out what was acceptable without disturbing my ethical standards. While billing something that was ready to leave the very next day was reasonable to me, I was uncomfortable billing an order that was not to be complete until, say, a week later. My boss was very understanding and did not require me to do so. Moral of the story: simply refusing to perform a task may not be the best option, and it can land you in the insubordination platform. Expressing your concern to your supervisor is not only the right thing to do but it also shows your appreciation for the company and its policies, as well as your good ethical standards. Just make sure that you remain respectful, honest, and open to a reasonable discussion 😉 .

Question no.3 – Are they still expecting me to do this?

Let’s say you’ve reviewed your handbook, the company policies and procedures, you’ve spoken to your supervisor about your concern, and yet the answer is still: “just do it.” What’s there to do? In this situation, the Human Resources department becomes your best friend. Your HR department is in place to make sure that you are protected and that all company policies are being followed. If all else fails, your best option will be to bring your concerns forward to someone in HR, and explain the situation as best as you can. Additionally, as tempting as it is, what you will not want to do is bring the matter out in public by talking to your coworkers about the issue, as this may cause you to be seen as insubordinate. As Reference.com puts it, “If it becomes public knowledge then it can be considered insubordination, as the employee is considered to be ruining morale for the company.” Make sure you are well informed regarding your company’s policy, and contact HR (privately – refrain from the urge to gossip!) if you need to.

I still don’t feel comfortable here.

Whelp, you’ve done all you can, and although maybe your particular situation was resolved, it may have ended in a way which still caused you to believe that it was unfair, or unethical. This is the time you may want to think about how the company culture lines up with your own ethical standards and personality. Although the company may have not engaged in what they would consider unethical (how we love that grey area, huh?), the fact that you still feel it is may be an indicator that you will thrive much better in a different atmosphere and company culture. Of course, in cases of serious unethical behaviors such as harassment and/or illegal behavior, I’d advise you to never forget your legal rights and follow through with proper procedure when possible, but also don’t forget your health and well-being – do what is best for you. That being said, given that your situation involves, more or less, just differences in working style, if you do decide to explore different opportunities remember to do it with professionalism, and always end on a good note. Whatever your situation may be, don’t be afraid to stay true to yourself and your moral standards, all while making sure you remain professional and refrain from falling in the traps of insubordination! Nobody wants that :).

By Nayadee Wilson (who has an awesome new pic!)

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