[Puckaroo]

I shudder at the thought of starting a new topic because of the way they always turn out, but I wanted to put this out there since it's been something I've been thinking about for a while, and a few others seem to agree with me.

Since the RM's get a small "bonus" based on their branch task participation, they will always have the ability to earn more bucks ($25 I think?) then a regular employee. In no way am I saying that this isn't well deserved, because it's not easy for RMs, especially those in large branches, to get a majority of their branch's involved on a weekly basis. What I am saying, and sort of proposing, I guess, is that there be two separate "Top Ten" lists....one for the "Top RMs" in the company, the other for "Top Employees". Apples to apples, right?

I say this not because I'm upset in the standings, because I'm pretty happy where I'm at considering that I'm not an RM and haven't won any tasks (and probably won't....thank goodness for that maze task that I aced lol), but I'm looking at the most recent standings for the top 20 and 14 of them are RM's. I like the fact that the RMs are in such a close race with each other, but I'd kind of like us "regulars" to have our own race as well.

Anyways, just my thought that I wanted to throw out there and see how the rest of you felt about it. Thanks for reading, and Discuss...

Edit: I should also point out that if two lists aren't really feasible (or realistic), the RM's should have their bonuses racked up in the "spendable" column, not the total.

[LaQutis]

Couldn't agree with you more cause the way I look at it... It's a race between the RM's

Have no beefs with the RM's cause most of them are my friends

[blattman77]

Puck I am a RM and I agree with you 100% I dont agree we should receive a RM bonus to put us ahead of anyone else! and the spendable column sounds like a great idea

[JadeCorsett]

I can understand feeling this way. I didn't much like this idea since day one and would've preferred it in Spendable. But, 2 lists are confusing. If the bonus just went towards an RM expense account or something, then that'd be great, but having to be an RM to have an advantage in the game is not how it should be done. 25 sbs a task may not seem like a lot now, but down the track when we start getting close to the end, it'll make a HUGE difference.

Guaranteed an RM will win this year if it continues to count towards total. This is not to say RMs don't deserve this bonus, because we sure as hell do. It would just be more fair to put it towards spending.

[beachinbrunette]

Agreed.

[konamouse]

As I understood the original intention (from the Employee Manual), I thought it was suppose to go into Spendable (and not towards the total). Not sure why it went into Tasks instead.

Some things to consider about an RM list - there were a couple of isolated cases in 1.0 and 2.0 where an RM was supported by the branch to the point of questionable voting that pushed that one individual up the employee earnings list (i.e. winning all the branch tasks).

Just putting that point out in to the discussion. RMs of small branches will be more often winning (or being runner up) in voting tasks. So this season will favor small branches in another aspect. Time is good to be in a small (but active) branch! Let's fill up the little guys and get RMs in place for those last 13 cities.

[shakymon]

The bonus should go into a new category specific to branch spending. I would prefer this because:

1. The RMs can't spend it on themselves without everyone in the branch knowing about it. After all, it is awarded because 50% or more of the branch earned it. They should know how it gets spent.

2. The RMS can't take it with them if they decide to step down or get fired.

3. The amount counts toward the branch's total SBs and average SBs.

The bonus should also be more the 25 SBs. Given a 30-week season, if the bonus is awarded every week, the total would only be 750 Sbs. Even if the branch has only 10 employees, that amounts to a measly 75 SBs per employee. If the RM wanted to reward everyone in the branch with a desk item, what would s/he get them? A stapler? Gee, what they always wanted, I'm sure. And that's with a tiny branch of 10! Imagine how ridiculous and unfair the reward would be for a branch of 20 or more.

I believe the reward should be based on headcount, and it should be high enough to allow RMs to buy gifts on a weekly basis. Right now it takes 2 weeks for an RM to accumulate enough bonus SBs to buy one lousy squishy! "Hey, great job over the past 2 weeks, everyone. Here, you can all share this squishy while I stretch my lead over you by another 50 SBs." Does that sound asinine or what? Well, that's the way it is right now, and it's just wrong.

[beachinbrunette]

Yeah, but look at your headcount compared to everyone else's, even the #2 branch right behind you. It's a pretty significant difference.

[adimike55]

I have been under the impression that these were "personal bonuses" (from the employee manual), and I did not take that to mean that it would count competitively.

OLC, since this question seems to be based on Shaky's Top Employees list, can we get the DMI version posted si that we can see if they are being counted by you, as well, and if they are, to make the necessary corrections?

I am against two lists, as I am against any other handicapping that would split the competition.

[shakymon]

beachinbrunette, on Dec 8 2009, 10:42 AM, said:

Yeah, but look at your headcount compared to everyone else's, even the #2 branch right behind you. It's a pretty significant difference.

If a branch has more people to reward, then shouldn't it have more money to reward them? If 100 people have to complete a task in order to get the reward, shouldn't they each be compensated as much as the branch where only 5 people have to complete it? Did they not work as hard as those 5 people did?

Remember, in my thinking, this is a branch award, not an RM award. The RM only has final say on how it's spent.

[BeersBarsBuzzed]

What about clones?

At least with the 25 SB "RM bonus" we know where the SBs are going and how they are being achieved.

Branch/Company votes could very well be riddled with manipulation and that's 200 SB for branch winners and more for company winners.

[Ducks]

Thanks for starting this thread Puck. I feel the same as you. It looks like they are finally addressing this. This is what my RM just shared in my branch...


QUOTE (DMIHumanResources @ Dec 8 2009, 07:31 PM) *
Currently the Sb $25 bonus is added to Available to Spend AND Current Total. We asked back on Nov. 12 if you wanted us to create a poll to decide on the allocation once and for all, but never heard enough arguments on either side.

We'll create a poll as there is obviously differing opinions about this.


QUOTE (DMIHumanResources @ Nov 12 2009, 06:14 PM) *
This money is in fact the bonus Sb for 50% participation or higher that was announced at the beginning of DMI 3.0 It has been awarded retroactively for the following tasks:

Niagara Do's and Don'ts
Business Quiz
Find the Mallard
Monster Maze

There has been a question brought up about whether this $$ should be in your Available to Spend or Current Total. There are pros and cons to both, some of which have already been brought up on this thread. We're happy to create a poll to allow all of you to vote on where these Sb are allocated.


QUOTE (DMIHumanResources @ Dec 8 2009, 07:36 PM) *
NOTE: If a majority votes for "Available to Spend" only we will retroactively remove past Sb from your Current Total.

[Feef]

Ducks, on Dec 8 2009, 08:36 PM, said:

Thanks for starting this thread Puck. I feel the same as you. It looks like they are finally addressing this. This is what my RM just shared in my branch...

That would be me, I like to keep the troops informed

The voting goes to 12/15 or 15/12 for us people who say the date the "right" way!!!

[Ducks]

Feef, on Dec 8 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

That would be me, I like to keep the troops informed

The voting goes to 12/15 or 15/12 for us people who say the date the "right" way!!!

Thanks for keeping us informed Feef. We appreciate it!

[BeersBarsBuzzed]

RM’s quit for this very reason. We get pushed back further and further and try to please everyone and nothing ever works. If a task is too hard, we are to blame. We are the “go to” people to hear it. If a post is “too risqué” we are the ones informed. NOTHING is ever good enough. When one of us quits, it’s because we lost enjoyment for the game. With all the complaints, you can see for yourself just by the returning RM list that many have fallen because the enjoyment for the game was literally stolen from them. From all the b!tching to the glitches, it’s been hard to keep a positive attitude around here.

What most of you don’t realize is we have NO (zero) “pull” at all around here. We constantly take ponies day in and day out for literally nothing. And as another surprise, we are left in the dark about everything, just like you. We don’t get the tasks in advance and we don’t test for glitches. When we try to help, we are just as confused as you are, because have the time we are experiencing the same problem.

This year, RM’s are awarded 25 SBs for achieving 50% participation. Being in a small branch (Juneau has 17) you’d think it’s so simple to get. You’d be sadly mistaken. Although I have received a 25 SB bonus, it has not been for every task.

When it’s all said and done, you will all see that 25 SBs will mean absolutely nothing come “Top 10” award time. Last year I was 4th overall, and I was about 600 SBs from #1 overall (I think).

Here’s last years top 10:
1. Tullie (REGIONAL MANAGER)
2. Mikethebat (REGIONAL MANAGER)
3. Dabaum (REGIONAL MANAGER)
4. BeersBarsBuzzed (REGIONAL MANAGER)
5. Fancee
6. stevecarrellfan
7. The_Question
8. Lizzie9071
9. kje1013
10. JadeCorsett (REGIONAL MANAGER)

In order to get in the top 10, you HAVE to win branch/company tasks. Plain and simple. As you can see, RM’s are always going to be in the top 10, with or without the 25 SBs.

Here’s my point about RMs: we have no power, we take non-stop ponies, nothing is ever right, we can never make you happy and 25 SBs means nothing.

And.. Separate RM’s and regular employees? Sure, why not? We are here to make you happy.

Ps. I’m so never ever ever ever quitting.

Pps. I could give two ponies about the 25 SB bonus.
Boom roasted!

[BeersBarsBuzzed]

That was way too long. So basically my post scripts are the only thing worth reading.

[Puckaroo]

Thanks for your input, everyone.

Again, to reiterate, this is not to say that RMs don't deserve something, because we all know how hard many of you work to maintain your branches. Some RMs will be in the top ten simply because of winning tasks, a reward that anyone has a chance to obtain. An expense account is also an idea as mentioned. I don't care if you guys get 25, 250, or 2500 sb every task to award your branch. I, like many of you, would just like to see it not count toward your final total, that's all. It might not seem like a lot now, but by May it could start to make a difference.

If you RMs decide on putting the bonus into your available to spend fund, there's obviously no need for two lists. I only brought that up based on the fact that this was going into your totals.

[Ducks]

BeersBarsBuzzed, on Dec 8 2009, 10:20 PM, said:

Here’s last years top 10:
1. Tullie (REGIONAL MANAGER)
2. Mikethebat (REGIONAL MANAGER)
3. Dabaum (REGIONAL MANAGER)
4. BeersBarsBuzzed (REGIONAL MANAGER)
5. Fancee
6. stevecarrellfan
7. The_Question
8. Lizzie9071
9. kje1013
10. JadeCorsett (REGIONAL MANAGER)

That looks like a very balanced list of winners last season. Fingers crossed that it will remain like that.

I've heard some really nice stories of things people have given, done or said for their RM. I also know it takes a lot of time to be a good RM and acknowledge that RM's have to take a lot of ponies too. Finding the Yin in the Yang can be difficult.

[JadeCorsett]

BeersBarsBuzzed, on Dec 8 2009, 04:20 PM, said:

RM’s quit for this very reason. We get pushed back further and further and try to please everyone and nothing ever works. If a task is too hard, we are to blame. We are the “go to” people to hear it. If a post is “too risqué” we are the ones informed. NOTHING is ever good enough. When one of us quits, it’s because we lost enjoyment for the game. With all the complaints, you can see for yourself just by the returning RM list that many have fallen because the enjoyment for the game was literally stolen from them. From all the b!tching to the glitches, it’s been hard to keep a positive attitude around here.

What most of you don’t realize is we have NO (zero) “pull” at all around here. We constantly take ponies day in and day out for literally nothing. And as another surprise, we are left in the dark about everything, just like you. We don’t get the tasks in advance and we don’t test for glitches. When we try to help, we are just as confused as you are, because have the time we are experiencing the same problem.

This year, RM’s are awarded 25 SBs for achieving 50% participation. Being in a small branch (Juneau has 17) you’d think it’s so simple to get. You’d be sadly mistaken. Although I have received a 25 SB bonus, it has not been for every task.

When it’s all said and done, you will all see that 25 SBs will mean absolutely nothing come “Top 10” award time. Last year I was 4th overall, and I was about 600 SBs from #1 overall (I think).

Here’s last years top 10:
1. Tullie (REGIONAL MANAGER)
2. Mikethebat (REGIONAL MANAGER)
3. Dabaum (REGIONAL MANAGER)
4. BeersBarsBuzzed (REGIONAL MANAGER)
5. Fancee
6. stevecarrellfan
7. The_Question
8. Lizzie9071
9. kje1013
10. JadeCorsett (REGIONAL MANAGER)

In order to get in the top 10, you HAVE to win branch/company tasks. Plain and simple. As you can see, RM’s are always going to be in the top 10, with or without the 25 SBs.

Here’s my point about RMs: we have no power, we take non-stop ponies, nothing is ever right, we can never make you happy and 25 SBs means nothing.

And.. Separate RM’s and regular employees? Sure, why not? We are here to make you happy.

Ps. I’m so never ever ever ever quitting.

Pps. I could give two ponies about the 25 SB bonus.
Boom roasted!

Wow man. This has got to be your longest post ever.

Anyway, I agree with this. RMs will ALWAYS be in top 10, because we're just like normal employees too. We do the tasks, we work hard, and most of us are on 10 times more than normal employees. So, of course we're always going to be in top 10. Right now the top 10, according to shaky stats, is flooded with RMs, but this will change when more tasks are completed. I'm still against the bonus for our advantage, but it needs to be made clear that RMs have a right to be in top 10 too on one list. I already know you know this, Puck, but others might not.

And in relation to what BBB said about RMs not knowing anything just as much as normal employees, I'm afraid that's completely true. And trust me, we whine about it all the time.

[Bubs]

JadeCorsett, on Dec 8 2009, 08:20 PM, said:

And in relation to what BBB said about RMs not knowing anything just as much as normal employees, I'm afraid that's completely true. And trust me, we whine about it all the time.

I'll vouch for that