An Unproductive Rant

Disclaimer: This is the type of rant I would generally save for a different blog, but I just couldn't help myself with this one.

I've got some beef with a LOT of employers.

Not because they are higher up and making more money than me.

Not because they're not choosing my applications and resumes.

Simply because, even though they are making more money than me and not choosing my apps and resumes, many of them are not proving that they should be smarter than me! They're not even faking it!

It's simple: When I come to work, and read all the informative signs posted around the time clock, I shouldn't be finding typos I feel the need to blatantly correct with a big black Sharpie. An employer, especially while giving instructions to their employees, should be proofreading, researching, spellchecking, doing whatever it takes to make sure they are spelling and writing correctly.

I shouldn't be reading a sign that says, "Help sell candy bars at your cheker stand for [ABC Foundation] and win prrrizes. You can do this......if you really try.......help a good cuase!"

Note the poor spelling and unnecessary use of improper ellipses (unnecessary / improper ellipses are a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I don't need to know that you were pausing to think while you were writing whatever it was you were writing). How can I take you seriously? How can I possibly feel motivated to do this task?

I even know of a hiring manager who spells the names of new employees incorrectly on their own name tags!

I'm sure I'm one of few people who actually pay much attention to these problems, and one of even fewer who care so much. But clearly it bothers me. A lot.

It's one thing to write however you please for your own purposes. But when you're addressing your employees, show them that there's a reason you are currently above them. Don't make them question you.