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.


br. *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. 




br. *2. What should the national minimum wage be?*

The minimum wage should not exist. 



br. *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. 


br. *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.


br. *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.



br. *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.



br. *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.



br. *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.



br. *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.



br. *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?*