How to Spot Red Flags in the Workplace
Not all of us started out as successful CEOs and business moguls. Likely, the vast majority of people have had to work some job in their career that was–well, to put it nicely–somewhat less than ideal. Maybe you didn’t like the job because you didn’t like the customers or the work itself, or maybe it was because of the attitude of the company that you worked for.
The work and the customer base are factors that can really make or break a job, but if your employer shows any signs of being unprofessional, then it’s imperative that you get out and find a new job. It’s about more than being valued and enjoying your work, a lack of professionalism puts you at risk for injury or the exposure of your sensitive information.
A Disregard for Employee Safety
Sometimes it’s hard to judge whether or not the things you do at work are actually safe. A good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself whether or not Willaim Blake would write a poem about how unfair your working conditions were had he been alive today instead of in Victorian England.
If the answer is yes, then it’s time to find a new job. The likelihood of workplace deaths has greatly decreased since the founding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the 1970s, but there is always still a chance that accidents will happen. This is why it’s so important for employees to receive training any time they are performing potentially dangerous tasks, using heavy equipment, or handling toxic chemicals.
It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that employees receive the proper training so that they can keep themselves and others safe. If your employer fails to train you properly, and you end up getting injured on the job, you could be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits.
There are certain rules and regulations laid out by OSHA to ensure that your employer provides a safe work environment for you and the other employees. These rules include making sure that exits are properly marked and pathways out of the building remain clear, stairs and other hazards are properly lit to prevent anyone from falling, and the air in the facility is free of any carcinogens or toxins.
If your employer fails to do any of this, and your health suffers as a result, you should quit and hire a personal injury lawyer. Hiring a lawyer can help guarantee that you receive financial compensation for any medical bills or additional pain and suffering that you were faced with as a result of your employer’s negligence.
A Complete Lack of Organization
A lack of organization is a clear sign of unprofessionalism and should be considered a huge red flag. Disorganization can extend to more than the physical appearance of the workplace, It is important for employers to have a way of tracking appointments, worker shifts, payroll, etc. It’s also important that employers stay on top of their books so that they do not find themselves in any legal trouble. There is plenty of software out there that can help companies keep track of all of their legal requirements.
If the company you work for isn’t organized, then you could end up having problems with inconsistent or late payments, being scheduled outside of your availability, or in severe cases of unprofessionalism, your personal information could end up being leaked. Dealing with disorganization in a company is more trouble than it is worth.
Finding a Better Job
With the advancement of technology, you no longer have to visit job boards or look through the newspaper to find employment. Now, you can visit sites like Indeed, type in ‘jobs in Peoria,’ and you’ll find hundreds of postings in a matter of seconds. Be selective in which jobs you apply for, you don’t want to end up in another bad situation.
Pay attention to the dates of job postings. The longer a posting has been up, the less likely it is that the employer is regularly checking the applications. However, this could also mean that they are just being selective in their hiring process. If you do apply, pay attention to how long it takes the employer to get back to you. This will foreshadow how organized things will be in the workplace and how efficiently things will get done.
Some job sites will also provide a spot for past employees to leave reviews about their experience working with the company. Make sure that you read through these reviews to get a feel for the work environment and make sure that it’s right for you.
