CEO Shares His Wisdom About Why It’s Important As A Manager To Be Honest With Coworkers
I don’t think I need to say that the workplace as a concept is a very complicated thing. It is enough to ask a person how their day at work was to understand how difficult jobs can be.
After all, things like corporate culture, colleague personalities, work processes, and even our own mindsets can lead us to avoid certain topics and conversations, to be afraid of the boss man, or to simply feel bad or awkward for asking to have your needs met, whether work-related or personal.
They say that “honesty is the best policy” and the workplace is no exception to this rule
Image credits: Ian Brown
Recently, Daniel Abrahams, the CEO of Hustlr Agency, took to LinkedIn to explain why it is important to remain authentic, honest, open, and, most importantly, human, in the workplace. In response, thousands upon thousands of people joined the discussion, expressing support for this idea.
A CEO took to LinkedIn to stress the importance of honesty when asking for time off
Image credits: Daniel Abrahams
Daniel Abrahams explained his openness with his team: he needed to go see his daughter receive an award at her school assembly, and that’s exactly what he said. He did not hide the true reason by using a business meeting or a doctor’s appointment as an excuse.
He further said he is not trying to impress anyone with how much he works. He just wants to form a transparent work culture and as a leader, it starts with him.
Why? Because we’re all human. And as humans, Daniel believes that we need to be real about our lives. Sure, things need to get done when at work, but it shouldn’t stop us from being honest and transparent with each other so as to make work a better place for everyone.
People loved the idea and joined the discussion. As of this article, the post has received over 610,000 reactions with over 14,700 comments.
Ironically, Daniel spoke about being transparent with your colleagues, but was asked why he told them about leaving early hours before the fact as opposed to more in advance, given the nature of the reason. However, that did not detract people from the point of the post.
Many employers and employees praised Daniel for his socially responsible take on work…
Like the attitude and everything but in the UK we mostly get given enough annual leave that you can take a half day off to go to a child's school event - legal minimum is 28 days per annum even for people on zero hours contracts and agency workers. Leaving at 1pm is taking a half day, not really leaving early. For things that do crop up and that you can't always plan for then, yes, leave early/come in late and you should be able to do it with a clear conscience. There is also working from home if you have the kind of job where you can. There are a few ways bosses can be flexible and I do think if you treat your staff well they usually behave well - there are exceptions but when I've had staff like that I've spotted who they are.
In the USA, there is no law requiring any vacation or sick time. When I worked in the food industry, if I wasn't there I didn't get paid no matter what. I took 1 vacation in 8 years and had to make sure I had enough saved up to pay for the week if missed work as well.
Load More Replies...That's nice, but it's far from common place. When I worked at Travelers Ins in customer service, if I took an "unapproved" sick day it counted as missed work. If you had 5 unapproved absences you were out the door. My last year there I had a 5th day and during my exit interview the HR person asked if I had some medical co edition that prevented me from working. I told her her question violated Hippa laws and planned on filing for unemployment. Luckily I didn't have to and had another job the next week. Travelers Ins, Houston, TX. Worst job I ever had. So many more complaints than just this.
And in som ecivilized countries, you don't have to worry you'll lose your job if you need to stay home with the flu, or your sick kid, or a dying parent... And then there's the USA.
In my work environment, the execs do what they want and are totally up front about it. Plumber coming? No problem. Waiting (all day) to get HVAC fixed? No problem. All day wait for furniture delivery? No problem. The admin staff, not so much. We have to lie. We aren't allowed to have a life. I hate double standards, but whatever... it is what it is.
Going to see your child participate in a school function is a perfectly legitimate reason to leave work. There was zero reason not to tell employees about this.
Wish I worked for any one of these companies/people. After working at my organization for 10 years, had to have a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Got written up for missing too much work (until I got the paperwork for the FMLA). Boss never ONCE asked how I was feeling. Total a*****e. Also, still there, and after 12 years, doesn't know my husband's or any of my 3 kids names.
That is awful - people like that should never be in charge of staff. Makes me realise how grateful I am to live in a country with good employment laws. Might still get crappy bosses but they have to follow the rules at least. I hope you are well now.
Load More Replies...Good that we have flexible working times... I'd never want to work in a job which requires 9 to 5 attendance.
This model would be great if it worked everywhere. I worked at a level 5 lockdown treatment facility for girls 13-18 yrs old and the initial Director of the campus was great, but when she became pregnant and left we got a new director. This guy had worked operating his own small business prior to coming in. He terminated all non critical staff on campus immediately. No more campus nurse to assist with the medical charts, appointment making, files, shots, and medical intakes, leaving only counseling staff. Rid of the campus cook for all staff in clinical care, kids, and admiration staff. Got rid of admin staff. Made all cooking a clinical staff job. A lot of staff walked out. We had a 32hr wk full time benefits package since the dawn of time and he got with corporate and nixed it. I was 32hrs, ended up working 80 a week for 3 months. My 14yr old daughter had 4yrs prior had extensive spinal surgery, opened from the base of the neck to her tailbone for Harrington rods to be placed on each side of the spine after cutting apart every vertabre, muscle, and and tissues to correct a 72° severe scoliosis curve. Which some morons engaging in horseplay on the bleachers at school, fell from 3 above her, onto her back. Not notified by school. She calls me when she gets home crying in pain. Director won't let me leave work cause we're short staffed, due to his maltreatment. He threatens me, you can't just leave campus due to abandonment, and he won't call anyone early for me. Ok, been there since 8am, can't leave till 10pm, tell her and younger kids be ready when I get off work to go to hospital. Take her, has a large knot and reddened area where bottom hardware and screw tightens on the left, but where the local hospital has never seen her surgical hardware they have no idea how off it might be. Give her a pain shot and Valium and send her home to rest and call her surgeon in the morning, with a note for me. Call the director first in the morning, explain the possible damage from the accident, had explained history day before and told him I needed to be home with her, she can't take care of herself and his answer is no, we have to have you at work. So I said I tried to give you a chance, but you just don't get it... I quit. I was only totally unconcerned about her medical bills with her spine as she was clogging and dancing with a large group when her condition was found and one of the elderly gentleman that loved to support activities the group did was a Shriner and helped get us the paperwork and tell us who to see. Once you're accepted to the Shrine Hospital, you are cared for completely free of charge. They are the most wonderful people. The director was a nightmare and was down to 5 staff out of a needed 12 for a smoothly running, fully staffed campus. I hated to leave the girls, but not at the expense of my own. Sorry so long.
Sry, brain farct, within 2 weeks of the incident, her bottom screw to her hardware had backed out of the fitting and the left side rod had shifted down 4 inches. Her surgery had to be repeated on the left side of the spine, but they did say that they couldn't say for certain that the accident was completely responsible for it because she had a spot about 3 inches long and in her thoracic region where the bone was still really soft and they had to do a bone graft during the second surgery to try to repair and encourage new bone growth. She just turned 30 this year, has an 11 yr old son and is doing wonderful now.
Load More Replies...I've been managed by a nitpicking, micro-managing, telephone hovering manager who I, and most others detested. I always knew that I never wanted to be like that if I was ever a manager. I did become a manager, and I hope I had the same kind of attitude as Daniel. Employees would ask for time off, and I told them that they were adults and knew what they were doing. I never asked for a reason, but did tell them they needed to fill out a request for time off for the "higher ups". I think it worked well.
All leaders, managers, bosses should adopt this. Transparency is good... the word "Transparency" has been twisted and abused as a 'lure' or 'buzzword' managers use to make them look good... when they're anything but. "Be honest, we'll respect you" - why do we lie? Because of things like this: My father was dying of a primary brain tumour and my family was not doing very well dealing with it (lashing out, being unreasonable, not able to plan anything... NPDs, the lot of them... but not my dad) - and I told them flat out "My dad has a malignant brain tumour, he has only months if he's lucky" - they later used my absences as black mark ... citing "poor attendance" - and said it as if "Well, of COURSE, what did you expect to happen??" attitude. Used it as the reason I wouldn't be allowed a raise, promotion or ability to apply for a higher position.
This is as it should be. I worked for someone who told me I couldn't take a couple days off work after my dad died because the bereavement leave listed in our handbook was only for having to travel to out-of-town funerals. I went in to work; it was horrible. I will never forgive this vile person. This boss also got upset when another employee left early because their mother lost a finger on her job and was at the emergency room. Said the owner of the small book publishing company in Southern California, "Why did she have to go?... it's just a finger."
Geez, a boss that is sensible, get your work done, but have a life. We need more leaders like this.
I thought Australia had normal employee laws, like the rest of the 1st world countries, not like the USA? Why wouldn't you be able to leave early if you have something to take care of? If you don't do it too often and make sure your work is done or covered, what's the problem? I must say I never tell the boss (or anyone else) why I take time off, that's none of their business.
Ugh I wish my work was this amazing. I have had such a horrible previous year with health problems. I have hundreds of sick hours banked but that doesn't seem to matter. I like my job and enjoy being at work, the challenges and the conversations, meeting new people, and helping the sick in any way I can. Unfortunately we do have a lot of staff that do call in sick I suspect to do whatever. I've been told if im sick again within the next 6 to 12 months i am going to be disciplined..... I work in an ER dept and I am coughed on, vomited beside/in front of, touch very sick people it's going to happen :/
I like this approach to business. When I was a senior in high school, my mother came to all my pep rallies. I was on the school dance team. When it was time for my senior pep rally, her boss(she was a teacher's aide) told her she couldn't go because of the fact that they were doing standardized testing and needed all the staff there to monitor the students. Now the pep rally was in the afternoon when there wouldn't be that many students still testing. My mom said that she was going to the pep rally no matter what her boss said. In the end, her boss gave her permission to go, but it's sad that her boss was putting the testing above one of her top employees personal life.
why should I justify or tell you what I am doing? If I tell you that I will not be at work in advance it's all you need to know. I do not need to send you a picture to show you that I am telling you the truth. I won't be at work that day that's all.
If you are using your annual leave then of course you can do what you like without telling anyone. This isn't about requested and approved leave. It's allowing people to use some judgement when there are things that crop up unexpectedly. If people don't show good judgement then they don't get the privilege.
Load More Replies...As a typical peon, if we did this at work without available 'personal time', you know the ones, the 3 days you get a year to take care of personal business or get sick, you're out. Your tombstone may not say 'I wish I spent more time at work' but your resume may need to.
I'm so glad I work in a country which has reasonable rules around annual leave and a reasonable amount available to me. Where I don't have some weirdly allocated amount of 'sick days' I can take but just take the time I need when I am ill.
Load More Replies...It's all about balance. If people abuse the policy by taking off too much time they won't get their work done and that's what this hinges on - getting things done. The boss sets the targets. Jobs shouldn't have that much slack in them that you can just take time any time off frequently and yet it doesn't have an impact. If they can then their job hasn't been assessed very well and probably only needs to be part time. As for people resenting it - why should they when they have the right to go and do something when they need to. Mutual co-operation. A good boss will also see when people take the p**s or if others get resentful and nip it in the bud. I've seen skivers and hard workers - the difference is pretty obvious to anyone paying the slightest attention.
Load More Replies...Like the attitude and everything but in the UK we mostly get given enough annual leave that you can take a half day off to go to a child's school event - legal minimum is 28 days per annum even for people on zero hours contracts and agency workers. Leaving at 1pm is taking a half day, not really leaving early. For things that do crop up and that you can't always plan for then, yes, leave early/come in late and you should be able to do it with a clear conscience. There is also working from home if you have the kind of job where you can. There are a few ways bosses can be flexible and I do think if you treat your staff well they usually behave well - there are exceptions but when I've had staff like that I've spotted who they are.
In the USA, there is no law requiring any vacation or sick time. When I worked in the food industry, if I wasn't there I didn't get paid no matter what. I took 1 vacation in 8 years and had to make sure I had enough saved up to pay for the week if missed work as well.
Load More Replies...That's nice, but it's far from common place. When I worked at Travelers Ins in customer service, if I took an "unapproved" sick day it counted as missed work. If you had 5 unapproved absences you were out the door. My last year there I had a 5th day and during my exit interview the HR person asked if I had some medical co edition that prevented me from working. I told her her question violated Hippa laws and planned on filing for unemployment. Luckily I didn't have to and had another job the next week. Travelers Ins, Houston, TX. Worst job I ever had. So many more complaints than just this.
And in som ecivilized countries, you don't have to worry you'll lose your job if you need to stay home with the flu, or your sick kid, or a dying parent... And then there's the USA.
In my work environment, the execs do what they want and are totally up front about it. Plumber coming? No problem. Waiting (all day) to get HVAC fixed? No problem. All day wait for furniture delivery? No problem. The admin staff, not so much. We have to lie. We aren't allowed to have a life. I hate double standards, but whatever... it is what it is.
Going to see your child participate in a school function is a perfectly legitimate reason to leave work. There was zero reason not to tell employees about this.
Wish I worked for any one of these companies/people. After working at my organization for 10 years, had to have a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Got written up for missing too much work (until I got the paperwork for the FMLA). Boss never ONCE asked how I was feeling. Total a*****e. Also, still there, and after 12 years, doesn't know my husband's or any of my 3 kids names.
That is awful - people like that should never be in charge of staff. Makes me realise how grateful I am to live in a country with good employment laws. Might still get crappy bosses but they have to follow the rules at least. I hope you are well now.
Load More Replies...Good that we have flexible working times... I'd never want to work in a job which requires 9 to 5 attendance.
This model would be great if it worked everywhere. I worked at a level 5 lockdown treatment facility for girls 13-18 yrs old and the initial Director of the campus was great, but when she became pregnant and left we got a new director. This guy had worked operating his own small business prior to coming in. He terminated all non critical staff on campus immediately. No more campus nurse to assist with the medical charts, appointment making, files, shots, and medical intakes, leaving only counseling staff. Rid of the campus cook for all staff in clinical care, kids, and admiration staff. Got rid of admin staff. Made all cooking a clinical staff job. A lot of staff walked out. We had a 32hr wk full time benefits package since the dawn of time and he got with corporate and nixed it. I was 32hrs, ended up working 80 a week for 3 months. My 14yr old daughter had 4yrs prior had extensive spinal surgery, opened from the base of the neck to her tailbone for Harrington rods to be placed on each side of the spine after cutting apart every vertabre, muscle, and and tissues to correct a 72° severe scoliosis curve. Which some morons engaging in horseplay on the bleachers at school, fell from 3 above her, onto her back. Not notified by school. She calls me when she gets home crying in pain. Director won't let me leave work cause we're short staffed, due to his maltreatment. He threatens me, you can't just leave campus due to abandonment, and he won't call anyone early for me. Ok, been there since 8am, can't leave till 10pm, tell her and younger kids be ready when I get off work to go to hospital. Take her, has a large knot and reddened area where bottom hardware and screw tightens on the left, but where the local hospital has never seen her surgical hardware they have no idea how off it might be. Give her a pain shot and Valium and send her home to rest and call her surgeon in the morning, with a note for me. Call the director first in the morning, explain the possible damage from the accident, had explained history day before and told him I needed to be home with her, she can't take care of herself and his answer is no, we have to have you at work. So I said I tried to give you a chance, but you just don't get it... I quit. I was only totally unconcerned about her medical bills with her spine as she was clogging and dancing with a large group when her condition was found and one of the elderly gentleman that loved to support activities the group did was a Shriner and helped get us the paperwork and tell us who to see. Once you're accepted to the Shrine Hospital, you are cared for completely free of charge. They are the most wonderful people. The director was a nightmare and was down to 5 staff out of a needed 12 for a smoothly running, fully staffed campus. I hated to leave the girls, but not at the expense of my own. Sorry so long.
Sry, brain farct, within 2 weeks of the incident, her bottom screw to her hardware had backed out of the fitting and the left side rod had shifted down 4 inches. Her surgery had to be repeated on the left side of the spine, but they did say that they couldn't say for certain that the accident was completely responsible for it because she had a spot about 3 inches long and in her thoracic region where the bone was still really soft and they had to do a bone graft during the second surgery to try to repair and encourage new bone growth. She just turned 30 this year, has an 11 yr old son and is doing wonderful now.
Load More Replies...I've been managed by a nitpicking, micro-managing, telephone hovering manager who I, and most others detested. I always knew that I never wanted to be like that if I was ever a manager. I did become a manager, and I hope I had the same kind of attitude as Daniel. Employees would ask for time off, and I told them that they were adults and knew what they were doing. I never asked for a reason, but did tell them they needed to fill out a request for time off for the "higher ups". I think it worked well.
All leaders, managers, bosses should adopt this. Transparency is good... the word "Transparency" has been twisted and abused as a 'lure' or 'buzzword' managers use to make them look good... when they're anything but. "Be honest, we'll respect you" - why do we lie? Because of things like this: My father was dying of a primary brain tumour and my family was not doing very well dealing with it (lashing out, being unreasonable, not able to plan anything... NPDs, the lot of them... but not my dad) - and I told them flat out "My dad has a malignant brain tumour, he has only months if he's lucky" - they later used my absences as black mark ... citing "poor attendance" - and said it as if "Well, of COURSE, what did you expect to happen??" attitude. Used it as the reason I wouldn't be allowed a raise, promotion or ability to apply for a higher position.
This is as it should be. I worked for someone who told me I couldn't take a couple days off work after my dad died because the bereavement leave listed in our handbook was only for having to travel to out-of-town funerals. I went in to work; it was horrible. I will never forgive this vile person. This boss also got upset when another employee left early because their mother lost a finger on her job and was at the emergency room. Said the owner of the small book publishing company in Southern California, "Why did she have to go?... it's just a finger."
Geez, a boss that is sensible, get your work done, but have a life. We need more leaders like this.
I thought Australia had normal employee laws, like the rest of the 1st world countries, not like the USA? Why wouldn't you be able to leave early if you have something to take care of? If you don't do it too often and make sure your work is done or covered, what's the problem? I must say I never tell the boss (or anyone else) why I take time off, that's none of their business.
Ugh I wish my work was this amazing. I have had such a horrible previous year with health problems. I have hundreds of sick hours banked but that doesn't seem to matter. I like my job and enjoy being at work, the challenges and the conversations, meeting new people, and helping the sick in any way I can. Unfortunately we do have a lot of staff that do call in sick I suspect to do whatever. I've been told if im sick again within the next 6 to 12 months i am going to be disciplined..... I work in an ER dept and I am coughed on, vomited beside/in front of, touch very sick people it's going to happen :/
I like this approach to business. When I was a senior in high school, my mother came to all my pep rallies. I was on the school dance team. When it was time for my senior pep rally, her boss(she was a teacher's aide) told her she couldn't go because of the fact that they were doing standardized testing and needed all the staff there to monitor the students. Now the pep rally was in the afternoon when there wouldn't be that many students still testing. My mom said that she was going to the pep rally no matter what her boss said. In the end, her boss gave her permission to go, but it's sad that her boss was putting the testing above one of her top employees personal life.
why should I justify or tell you what I am doing? If I tell you that I will not be at work in advance it's all you need to know. I do not need to send you a picture to show you that I am telling you the truth. I won't be at work that day that's all.
If you are using your annual leave then of course you can do what you like without telling anyone. This isn't about requested and approved leave. It's allowing people to use some judgement when there are things that crop up unexpectedly. If people don't show good judgement then they don't get the privilege.
Load More Replies...As a typical peon, if we did this at work without available 'personal time', you know the ones, the 3 days you get a year to take care of personal business or get sick, you're out. Your tombstone may not say 'I wish I spent more time at work' but your resume may need to.
I'm so glad I work in a country which has reasonable rules around annual leave and a reasonable amount available to me. Where I don't have some weirdly allocated amount of 'sick days' I can take but just take the time I need when I am ill.
Load More Replies...It's all about balance. If people abuse the policy by taking off too much time they won't get their work done and that's what this hinges on - getting things done. The boss sets the targets. Jobs shouldn't have that much slack in them that you can just take time any time off frequently and yet it doesn't have an impact. If they can then their job hasn't been assessed very well and probably only needs to be part time. As for people resenting it - why should they when they have the right to go and do something when they need to. Mutual co-operation. A good boss will also see when people take the p**s or if others get resentful and nip it in the bud. I've seen skivers and hard workers - the difference is pretty obvious to anyone paying the slightest attention.
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