Tt post apr 18, 2017 - b

I have never owned a business, but I would like to answer as if I was the employer of a company that had fewer than 50 employees, and the business was a computer programming/design shop that was profitable, of course.

1. Outside of standard benefits, what benefits should a company offer employees?

It might not be considered a benefit, but I would strive for the four-day work week. The employees work whatever hours are required to complete their tasks on those four days only, either at home or in the office. No work is to be done on the other three days. And no email/messaging after 7:00 p.m. on work days. Save that crap for the next work day. And wherever possible, replace email communication with other software apps.

If we didn't have our own exercise gym, then the company would pay for whatever exercise memberships the employees want. I might pay for home exercise equipment up to a certain amount. I prefer to exercise at home.

I assume that paying for more college coursework and training would be considered a standard benefit.

The company would offer lengthy maternity leave not only for the mom who gave birth but also for the dad or significant other.

2. What should the national minimum wage be?

The minimum wage should not exist.

3. How many sick days should be given to employees?

It's all time off, whether it's used for sick days, vacation, appointments, whatever. Time-off for a new employee with no experience should be a minimum of three or four weeks per year, whatever is competitive for the industry and region. The amount increases with time spent at the company and/or with experience before joining the company. I would permit carry-over into the next year, and the year after that, and so on, but I would "encourage" employees to take at least two weeks of vacation time per year.

I know what it was like to get too involved with work and not take time off and not exercise and not eat well and not rest properly. It's unsustainable.

4. How often should employees get raises?

Employees should not get raises for "meets expectations." That's called a salary. They were hired to at least meet expectations. Raises should be for something greater.

5. How do you feel about guns?

I do upper body exercises at least three days per week, including bicep curls. And I have no problem with firearms as long as they are not loaded and pointing at me.

6. What are your feelings about employees or clients carrying guns?

I don't know have any feelings about either.

Although I might be concerned about a client entering the building with a gun because I would be unsure of the client's intentions. Maybe we screwed something up, or maybe the client didn't like bill.

7. What are your feelings about safe spaces in challenging work environments?

I don't understand "safe spaces." The work will be challenging. The expectations will be high. Prospective employees would know that before accepting an offer of employment.

If an employee doesn't meet expectations, then that person's "safe space" would be to receive more training or education. The employee would be given plenty time and opportunity to improve, otherwise it's a hiring mistake, and we want to be mistake-free.

For the physically able, we would offer standing desks. Hopefully, the office would be designed to provide temporary quiet rooms or other places to work.

8. In a creative environment like The Silent Partner Marketing, what do you envision work attire looking like?

Work attire can be whatever the employee wants to wear. Same with hair color, piercings, tattoos, scars. I don't care. And if a client can enter our building wearing a gun, then we can dress and look however we want. I'll stand at my desk wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, ballcap, and homemade, crazy socks with my Birks. Our employees could vary from hot-shot, freak show-looking front-end designers to disheveled, "old" C programmers who mistakenly wear two different shoes to work because that kind of trivia is unimportant to them. And if that bothers the client, good riddance to the client. We value craft, and we want to work for clients who share the same mindset.

9. Should “trigger warnings” be issued before we release content for clients or the company that might be considered “controversial”?

Trigger warnings, is that another firearm issue? I would defer to HR because I don't understand any of this. Whatever the dork, I mean, excellent employee in HR decides is fine with me.

br 10. How do you feel about police?

I don't know if I have feelings. I'm glad that the West Toledo police station was re-opened. I like seeing a police car cruise through our neighborhood. I liked seeing the two-person police crew walk Sylvania Ave, and I enjoyed chatting with the officers. I've been pulled over a few times by law enforcement, and I follow their orders.

11. If you owned the company and were to find out that a client is operating unethically but was a high paying client…how would you handle it?

Hopefully, our client portfolio was diverse enough that we wouldn't need to depend upon one major client. We would gracefully terminate our work with that client.

12. When was the last time you cried and why?

I was sad in the first half of 2016 when my Dad slowly withered away due to pancreatic cancer. I was sad when I watched him die last August at his home. And I occasionally get sad now. I miss talking to him about the simple things of life. But three weeks after my Dad passed away, my Stepdaughter gave birth to her first child. One exists and another one enters. It was interesting observing both events throughout 2016. Naturally, I took notes.

13. You arrive at an event for work and there’s a major celebrity you’ve always wanted to meet. What happens next?

The only celebrity that I have wanted to meet is Ernest Hemingway, and I don't think that is going to happen without some kind of virtual reality, which means I can meet EH in my own time, away from work.

14. What’s your favorite kind of adult beverage?

Delicious beer.

15. What’s the best way to communicate with clients?

That would depend upon the client. If the client wants us to meet at their offices, then that's what we do. Most likely, it would be face-to-face in the early phases of the project, and then electronic communication and phone calls later on, hopefully.

16. What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Crochet.

17. What are your thoughts on the current college environment as it pertains to a future workforce?

No thoughts.

18. What’s your typical breakfast?

Two fried eggs from a local farmer, toast, plain yogurt with local honey, and either coffee or tea.

19. What’s your favorite drink when you go to a coffeehouse?

Cappuccino

20. How do you handle bullies?

Take whatever they dish out and move on. Jail time does me no good now. I won't waste precious brain cycles trying to reason with an obviously irrational person. I might take notes. The person could provide inspiration for a character in a future short story.

21. How do you handle it when your ideas are shot down?

That has happened a lot, but at least I have ideas. Sometimes, my ideas get accepted. When I stop having ideas, then I'll get worried. Always be thinking.

22. What do you do if a coworker comes to the table with an idea and it sucks?

Maybe hold a private conversation, explaining why the idea may not be appropriate at this time. But at least the person has ideas. Always be thinking.

23. What does the first amendment mean to you?
24. What does faith mean to you?
25. Who is your role model and why?
26. “You’re in Starbucks with two friends. Someone runs in and says someone is coming in with a gun in 15 seconds to shoot patrons. They offer you a gun. Do you take it? What do you do next?”
27. What does America mean to you?
28. You see someone stepping on an American flag. What do you do?
29. What does “privilege” mean to you?
30. What’s more important? Book smarts or street smarts? Why?