By Osbornb on Flickr

For many of us, once we get a job, we hang on to it as long as we can. Especially during these trying economic times where job scarcity is in abundance, we are usually willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for a little financial security. But what if your boss decides to expand business by opening up another office elsewhere..(say, on the other side of the country) and put you in charge?

Do you stay or do you go?

Relocation, Car Shipping and Headaches

When my father worked for Avis, he was not only offered a cushy promotion, but he was also offered full relocation services that included having his vehicle(s) shipped with a car shipping company, a reputable home movers company and other miscellaneous expenses- ALL PAID FOR.  At the time, the move was only from New York to New Jersey, but it was a move nonetheless. He didn’t want to uproot the family, but he also didn’t want to leave his job either.

He wound up deciding to do a double residency by living in New Jersey during the workweek and then coming home on the weekends. It wasn’t long before it became too much, however. He wound up bowing out of Avis and then pursuing his law career full speed ahead. In the end, it worked out for the better.

There are numerous cases similar to my father’s in which families, couples and even young, single professionals have to decide what the pros and cons are of moving with a company. There are many factors to consider, and after you get past the headache of figuring out what car shipping and moving companies you’re going to use as well as all of the things that you’ll have to sort through in your home before you pack, you have to consider your surroundings. Are you close to your family? Will the relocation be to a place that puts you closer or further away from family members? What is the climate like where you are going? What is there to do in the area?

So, if the opportunity ever arises where your boss sits you down and asks you to step up to the plate, what will your answer be?

In today’s business world and economy, money has everyone’s full attention now. Things such as the rising cost of health care as well as congressional spending that has spiraled out of control have many of us worried about inflation, our bank accounts and whether or not we will even have a job tomorrow. In the following video clip, famed economist, Milton Friedman, discusses other people’s money as it pertains to the United States economy:

According to Yahoo Finance via BusinessWeek, there are ten different types of “bad bosses”. The list is fairly amusing, that is, unless you fit into one of these descriptions! I’ve only chosen to list five of the ten, but if you’d like to read the entire article by Jeff Schmitt, click here.

1. Don’t Know Your Job- These types of bosses are the ones who are sort of out of touch with reality- the ones who tell their employees that they need to do everything (usually because their boss is simply clueless him or herself!)
2. Don’t Listen- This is a popular one. I can remember attending several meetings with my “superiors” in which they were more interested in sending text messages, emails and checking their Blackberries than they were actually interested in the conversations going on around them at the meeting! It would behoove you to pay attention to what your constituents are saying, this way you are well-informed about what direction your business is heading in.
3. Close-Minded- Part of being successful in the business world means being open to new ideas and ways of thinking. Just because you landed in a successful position based on hard work and other factors doesn’t mean that doing things one way, all of the time will yield the same results. Before shooting down an employee’s idea, set aside your pride and really hear what it is that they have to say.
4. Poor Preparation- Remember when you weren’t listening earlier? Well, now it’s come back to bite you. In a management position, every time you make unexpected changes, start hosting ‘emergency meetings’ or start subpoenaing your employees for last-minute workload dumps, your employees will be able to figure out what is going on pretty quickly. Poor management indicates poor preparation for the unexpected, which translates to your employees as “Start looking for another job QUICK because my boss has no idea what the heck he/she is doing!” Nobody wants to stay on a sinking ship, so get it together before there’s a mutiny.
5. Not Building Skills- As a manager, part of your job description entails encouraging your employees to broaden their outlook, push them beyond their comfort zones (but not too much), exemplify corporate values and focus on learning and advancing. No one likes to have a micro manager as a boss; but then again, no one likes to have a boss that is so hands-off, that your employees start to wonder whether or not they even work for someone.