Reminds me of a conversation I’m having with a friend that’s looking to work with one of Fortune’s Best 100 Companies to Work For. Why is it that there aren’t any insurance companies/agencies/brokerages on that list?
You’re not actually correct. Look at the medium and small employer lists (for employers with less than 1,000 employees). It’s created by the same people (The Great Place to Work Institute) and you won’t have to look very far down the list to find an insurance company.
In my central Florida City TWO of the larger Independant Agents are ALWAYS in the top 10 best places to work for my area.Unfortunately I don’t work for either – This is my annual review month and I’m not even bothering asking for a review or a raise – whats the point? Anyone else in this boat??
In my central Florida City TWO of the larger Independant Agents are ALWAYS in the top 10 best places to work for my area.Unfortunately I don’t work for either – This is my annual review month and I’m not even bothering asking for a review or a raise – whats the point? Anyone else in this boat??
To FL agent – Until recently I had the worst micro managing boss in the world. He was obnoxious, a “screamer” and called good employees “f’ing morons” behind their back. The owner of the company basically gave him complete control. When anyone asked for a raise his answer was absolutely not – there is no money. Come to find out there was no money because it was in his pocket!! Owner finally smartened up – He’s gone!!
Ask for the review. Have it on record. I was at a firm where I thought things were going well. When I didn’t get an annual review one year, I figured that everything was ‘hunky dory’ and not having a review was a sign my boss and I were on the same page. A few months later, a promotion opened up in another department, but I wasn’t eligible because HR did not have a current review for me on file. At that point, when I asked for the review he knew I was looking to transfer out of his dept which soured our relationship. To make matters worse, the position was filled before my paperwork was done.
I have 15 employees and own a retail insurance agency in Florida. We specialize in construction due to there being very little standard markets writing property. Payrolls are about 50% off from the highs of 2005 and workers compensation rates are 60% less now that we have tort reform in Florida regarding Workers Comp. Our revenues are off 30% and our expenses have increased 5%. I am not making any money and have kept all my employees. I made less than my lowest paid CSR last month. So before you ask for a raise understand the economic environment in Florida right now. All agencies are down financially. I love my employees and the average time employeed here is over 15 years. I am the first one to get a raise and the first one to take a hit. Its ok with me but please understand where your boss is at. Some do not feel the way I do and most have cut jobs. I have 4 CSR’s whos husbands have lost their jobs. I have loaned them money paid for a get away for them and done everything I can to help them, but a raise is out of the question right now. Unfortunately I dont want to get political but our country right now is heading down a very bad road for workers. Unemployement will top 15% next year. Be grateful for our employement and all we have been bless to have what we have. It is impossible to feel depressed when in a state of gratitude.
I had to screen the boss’s calls. A caller lied to me about why he was calling and I put him through. The boss went ballistic, pulled his phone out of the wall, ran out of his office, aimed the phone and threw it at me, screaming
“The next time you give me an (expletive)ing call like that, I’ll shove this (expletive)ing phone down your (expletive)ing throat.” This was back in the bad old days when you paid a fee to get a job and had to stay for a year to get the fee back. Fortunately, that terrible year was almost up and I stuck out my sentence to get my money back. Had a few not so nice bosses after that but this guy took the cake.
In reply to Sam. Realize that yes while a review is often seen as the opportunity for an increase in salary, if properly done should also be the opportunity to discuss where everyone is headed and comment on performance of the individual, give constructive feed back and the like.
Everyone understands how the economy is. So still do the reviews and have an honest discussion about all things.
You owe it to your employees.
Silence from the corner office is a death sentence!
I got my boss candy today and have turned down other job offers in the past to stay with the employer I have. I think that like bad claims only the bad ones get in the news. There is more to a job than just money. Mutual respect is as good as cash, try putting that on your employee review request list.
Definitely do everything you can to get your annual review. A few years ago my annual review was allegedly put together but my boss never sat down with me to discuss it despite several attempts to do so. A year after the fact when it was time for my review again, I got the most current one, but was told I wasn’t getting promoted because I didn’t meet the goals that were set for me the prior year. The same ones I never saw yet repeatedly asked for. Needless to say that was the final straw and I knew right then and there that I would be gone within a year. I kept my word. It was such a great feeling to resign! It’s been almost two years since I left my former company and I am in a much better place. My boss and all of my other teammates as well for that matter are supportive and trustworthy and I actually enjoy coming to the office again.
Are there?
Reminds me of a conversation I’m having with a friend that’s looking to work with one of Fortune’s Best 100 Companies to Work For. Why is it that there aren’t any insurance companies/agencies/brokerages on that list?
You’re not actually correct. Look at the medium and small employer lists (for employers with less than 1,000 employees). It’s created by the same people (The Great Place to Work Institute) and you won’t have to look very far down the list to find an insurance company.
In my central Florida City TWO of the larger Independant Agents are ALWAYS in the top 10 best places to work for my area.Unfortunately I don’t work for either – This is my annual review month and I’m not even bothering asking for a review or a raise – whats the point? Anyone else in this boat??
In my central Florida City TWO of the larger Independant Agents are ALWAYS in the top 10 best places to work for my area.Unfortunately I don’t work for either – This is my annual review month and I’m not even bothering asking for a review or a raise – whats the point? Anyone else in this boat??
He’s smart, talented, and (I think he reads all of my e-mails, so that’s why I’m saying this)………..
To FL agent – Until recently I had the worst micro managing boss in the world. He was obnoxious, a “screamer” and called good employees “f’ing morons” behind their back. The owner of the company basically gave him complete control. When anyone asked for a raise his answer was absolutely not – there is no money. Come to find out there was no money because it was in his pocket!! Owner finally smartened up – He’s gone!!
Get back to work, Hibbsey! You can kiss my a$$ later. Now, where’s my coffee?
Fl Agent,
Ask for the review. Have it on record. I was at a firm where I thought things were going well. When I didn’t get an annual review one year, I figured that everything was ‘hunky dory’ and not having a review was a sign my boss and I were on the same page. A few months later, a promotion opened up in another department, but I wasn’t eligible because HR did not have a current review for me on file. At that point, when I asked for the review he knew I was looking to transfer out of his dept which soured our relationship. To make matters worse, the position was filled before my paperwork was done.
Good work, Smithers, on handling that Hibbsey. Give yourself a 50% raise.
(By the way, have you washed my car yet? And where’s my dry-cleaning?)
I have 15 employees and own a retail insurance agency in Florida. We specialize in construction due to there being very little standard markets writing property. Payrolls are about 50% off from the highs of 2005 and workers compensation rates are 60% less now that we have tort reform in Florida regarding Workers Comp. Our revenues are off 30% and our expenses have increased 5%. I am not making any money and have kept all my employees. I made less than my lowest paid CSR last month. So before you ask for a raise understand the economic environment in Florida right now. All agencies are down financially. I love my employees and the average time employeed here is over 15 years. I am the first one to get a raise and the first one to take a hit. Its ok with me but please understand where your boss is at. Some do not feel the way I do and most have cut jobs. I have 4 CSR’s whos husbands have lost their jobs. I have loaned them money paid for a get away for them and done everything I can to help them, but a raise is out of the question right now. Unfortunately I dont want to get political but our country right now is heading down a very bad road for workers. Unemployement will top 15% next year. Be grateful for our employement and all we have been bless to have what we have. It is impossible to feel depressed when in a state of gratitude.
Stop the Whining, stop chating on the computer and get back to work! and by the way, WHERES MY COFFEE!
I had to screen the boss’s calls. A caller lied to me about why he was calling and I put him through. The boss went ballistic, pulled his phone out of the wall, ran out of his office, aimed the phone and threw it at me, screaming
“The next time you give me an (expletive)ing call like that, I’ll shove this (expletive)ing phone down your (expletive)ing throat.” This was back in the bad old days when you paid a fee to get a job and had to stay for a year to get the fee back. Fortunately, that terrible year was almost up and I stuck out my sentence to get my money back. Had a few not so nice bosses after that but this guy took the cake.
In reply to Sam. Realize that yes while a review is often seen as the opportunity for an increase in salary, if properly done should also be the opportunity to discuss where everyone is headed and comment on performance of the individual, give constructive feed back and the like.
Everyone understands how the economy is. So still do the reviews and have an honest discussion about all things.
You owe it to your employees.
Silence from the corner office is a death sentence!
Pita, I tell my employees all the time what a great job they are doing and how grateful I am to work with such professional people.
I got my boss candy today and have turned down other job offers in the past to stay with the employer I have. I think that like bad claims only the bad ones get in the news. There is more to a job than just money. Mutual respect is as good as cash, try putting that on your employee review request list.
I LOVE MY BOSS He ALways gets The job done
Any suggestions?
Definitely do everything you can to get your annual review. A few years ago my annual review was allegedly put together but my boss never sat down with me to discuss it despite several attempts to do so. A year after the fact when it was time for my review again, I got the most current one, but was told I wasn’t getting promoted because I didn’t meet the goals that were set for me the prior year. The same ones I never saw yet repeatedly asked for. Needless to say that was the final straw and I knew right then and there that I would be gone within a year. I kept my word. It was such a great feeling to resign! It’s been almost two years since I left my former company and I am in a much better place. My boss and all of my other teammates as well for that matter are supportive and trustworthy and I actually enjoy coming to the office again.