Stephanie Martin-Smith
Soul Purpose
So the other day I’m at the store in between students and decided to update my Facebook account and check to see how my friend was doing in the Dominican – as this was our way of communicating – when I noticed Les was online at home.
I instant-messaged him saying, “Hey, I thought you were sick, shouldn’t you be resting?”
He responded, “Why don’t you work,” to which I responded, “I am.”
He came back, “You work!” Now I thought that since this was an odd chat for Les he must be delirious … but it did have a Dustin tone to it so I sent, “No, you work.”
Back to me came, “You work,” to which I responded, “Your face should work,” followed by, “This is Dustin ... no fool, get back to work ... I know it’s not Max … he can spell better than this!”
So since the messaging war was waged, I decided to use front line tactics and phone. Of course Dustin answered in his calm, cool voice and just as I was telling him to get off the computer my teaching staff somehow found their way behind the desk and were watching what I was doing on the computer – and then the outbursts began.
They consisted of, “What on earth are you doing?” and “We are so disappointed in you,” and “Can’t you read the signs? – NO FACEBOOK!”
At this point they’re loud, laughing and mocking my every answer – and I still have Dustin the imposter messager on the phone requesting to be released from the telephone interrogation.
I explained to them I own the place and I can do whatever I want, but apparently they didn’t think this was a good enough reason to be on Facebook.
What have I created, I wondered to myself – a bunch of rule following teens with enough self confidence to raz their employer into an apology?
Yes, this is exactly what I am looking for in an employee: a great sense of humour, great communication skills and a good healthy sense of what is right and wrong.
After all, it was one of our student employees that made the no Facebook rule (which I’m still confident doesn’t apply to me).
I’m also confident that our staff will go on to be great members of society, even though they busted me trying to talk to my husband on Facebook.
People think our teens don’t want to talk, but I always say, if you’re willing to hear what they really have to say, they have lots to talk about!
Another thing I always try to remind our teens is that Facebook is a very public tool, so don’t put anything on it that you don’t want the world to see (this should go for adults, too).
It’s a great way to keep connected and reconnect with people you haven’t seen forever, however, I guess I’ve learned you shouldn’t be doing it at work even if you own the place.
