November 2006 | Current Webpolls
Holiday Parties
It's official: Most workplaces among those whose staff we surveyed have their holiday parties outside the office. In our first poll for November, a clear majority (47 of 76 respondents, or 62 percent) said their workplaces host their holiday party outside the workplace. Only 20 respondents (26 percent) said their employers have on-the-premises holiday party. Two respondents (3 percent) said their organizations host a holiday party, but at another venue altogether, while seven respondents (9 percent) said their employers don't have a holiday party at all. That's one in 10 who don't celebrate the holidays at their workplace!
We change it up each year. Sometimes it is a Holiday Lunch at a nice restaurant. Sometimes it is a Staff and family party at an outside facility.
– bwestfall on November 28, 2006
Employee Theft
Our second November poll was neck and neck the whole time between respondents whose employers call workers in when they have been caught stealing from the company, and those whose organizations automatically terminate an employee proven to have stolen company property. The former group of respondents became the majority at the very end of the month: 18 of the 36 respondents (50 percent) say their employer brings thieving employees into a meeting which may result in termination. One respondent, representing 3 percent of the vote, said thieving employees are dealt with by other means. Thankfully, no respondents reported that their workplaces remain dormant when employee theft is proven to have occurred. We believe that some sort of reaction by the leadership is necessary, which may vary based on the size and severity of the theft. After all, a missing computer makes a much bigger difference to a business than a missing marker.
As a sole practitioner, I believe my "vote" is irrelevant. The only other "employee" is my husband, who does the monthly books, and a verrrrry part-time audiologist who has assisted in the past.
– cyoung on November 28, 2006
I have terminated three employees in 10 years for theft. Two were hispanic and one was turkish. We have numberous people from different places and cultures working here. Two of the employees that were caught had stolen things of considerable value. I felt justified firing them immediately. The other person I caught stealing was the wife of a long term employee. She stole two bottles of wine. She was very ashamed to have been caught.
– dardanelles on November 27, 2006
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