No no that's not what I'm saying at all. I did not meant to say that you should put up with a slacker, but that you should give enough flexibility and empowerment to the employee so that he feels at least a sense of loyalty to your company and a sense of importance within whatever project he's working on.
I'll work the hardest when I'm not treated as a mere employee like all the others in crappy jobs around the world. For most of us you don't need to wine and dine us, as the perks are part of the offer. For example, if you where hiring me I would ask for three things:
1) A decent/competitive salary (i might take a 100k offer over a 120k offer just because I feel that your company is a better fit though)
2) Good equipment and comfortable workplace. There's nothing worse than having to code in a miniature cubicle with an underpowered laptop (been there, xcode on a 3 year old standard macbook?) and no external monitor.
3) For you to treat me like an adult and an important part of your company. I don't need to be chastised for not working over 40 hours a week or arriving at 10 instead of 9. If you don't do so I might work an 80 hour week when it really is needed as a thank you for not being a pointy haired boss and I'll make sure I'm giving you the results you hired me for.
Listen, as an employer you can be one of two people. The boss everyone is afraid of and secretly hate, or the boss that eats at the same table as the rest of us. I'll give you better results and really care about your company if you're the later. If you're the former, I just want my paycheck until something better comes along.
I'll work the hardest when I'm not treated as a mere employee like all the others in crappy jobs around the world. For most of us you don't need to wine and dine us, as the perks are part of the offer. For example, if you where hiring me I would ask for three things:
1) A decent/competitive salary (i might take a 100k offer over a 120k offer just because I feel that your company is a better fit though)
2) Good equipment and comfortable workplace. There's nothing worse than having to code in a miniature cubicle with an underpowered laptop (been there, xcode on a 3 year old standard macbook?) and no external monitor.
3) For you to treat me like an adult and an important part of your company. I don't need to be chastised for not working over 40 hours a week or arriving at 10 instead of 9. If you don't do so I might work an 80 hour week when it really is needed as a thank you for not being a pointy haired boss and I'll make sure I'm giving you the results you hired me for.
Listen, as an employer you can be one of two people. The boss everyone is afraid of and secretly hate, or the boss that eats at the same table as the rest of us. I'll give you better results and really care about your company if you're the later. If you're the former, I just want my paycheck until something better comes along.