There should be classroom-type training for employer-specific work-rules.

[friendsoulmate]

I would like an employer to have a classroom-type training for "the employer's" specific work-rules for the job. These rules are specific to the employer's job, and are not expected to be learned in your college courses, before the job. I work an administrative support role in a finance department and the work can be somewhat complex with rules. My co-worker(who is not my boss) has "on-the-job" trained me on some of the rules. She takes the "real rules" and mixes-in "her rules she makes-up according to how-well it makes sense to her", and judges my work according to "the rules". "The rules" don't always stay the same, because she is in total control of making exceptions to the rules or trying something new. This is often the source of my job stress and anxiety. I have asked my employer before if there is classroom-type training for "the employer's" specific work-rules for the job, but was told there wasn't any, and you just have to pick-up rules here and there, as you go, on-the-job, hear of new ones, and discard old ones. I then have to pretend I am working happily, as part of a team. I am feeling discouraged in my job search, because if I am hired by a new employer, I would like there to be a classroom-type training and then test taking, for their employer-specific work rules for my administrative/office clerical type of support, and if the employer doesn't have this, I fear a repeat of my current experience, which I don't want to re-live. With this being what I should expect from my employer, this way, I can do the best I can to be knowledgable about the employer's rules, and to follow the rules, according to the classroom training, without the work-checker(boss or co-worker) mixing-in "his/her rules", and judging my work according to "the rules".

[rosephase]

Well then you better get ready to work in a Starbucks, or some other big name, giant company. Even then they won't sit you down and test you, but your co-worker sounds out of line. Can you give an example of things that she has told you that you think are strange?

[blueidealist24]

I've sometimes wished the same thing, but I guess companies don't have time to give out that much training these days (or ever, maybe). Ideally, college courses are supposed to teach you "the rules" of your profession but I agree they probably aren't specific enough.. they can't really be with so many unique businesses out there. But if your coworker isn't a superior to you, she sounds really controlling. Just curious, what are some examples of her "rules?"

[jordesse]

Here in Australia, we call the kind of rules that you're talking about "Company Policies". Usually the employer has a manual of some description that sets out these types of policies. If they don't, it is up to the employer to put together their own type of manual. This usually involves screen dumps of the computer steps taken to enter data or pages outlining procedures or the rules for each given situation. It should be a reference document that you can go to should you need to clarity anything. I know that is pretty vague but a good example would be say in payroll: when paying an employee there is an award that governs their position. The award contains all the "rules" by which they are paid. eg " a thirty minute break shall be allowed to emploees between the 4th and 6th hour on any shift greater than 6 hours duration. Where the meal break cannot be taken after 6 hours of work, overtime rates will apply." So if you are paying someone from a time sheet, you can look up the 'rules' in the award manual. Does that make sense?

Is it possible you can compile a manual relating to your position, list all the rules you've been given by your supervisor and then you have a document you can take to your employer if you have any questions or queries? It could also be used to help demonstrate the types of tasks you have undertaken to any future employer.