Accounting Department

As the manager of the accounting department who also serves as the supervisor for all employees, we have training and programs set in place for each step of an employee’s career. Jennifer has been trained and has been shown all of the adequate steps to become a successful accountant in our firm. However, she has been unable to learn the basic computer applications that have been taught to her. First, since she has been taught the computer applications, being the supervisor it should be taught a different way. Possibly in a class setting where everyone is present and are able to ask questions and provide answers amongst each other. The next thing that should be done with Jennifer, since this is her first big job from college, to show her time management outside of college, Sundbland (2012) found that, “One reason for an employee not pulling her weight within the workplace can be the need for training. It can be as simple as teaching the employee time management skills to help them multi-task in today’s environment.” Team motivation can also help employees gain knowledge and the know-how. With Jennifer’s projects as the supervisor, it could be possible to pair her with another employee who is more senior to help with those projects, track her progress and teach her the computer applications that she needs to grasp. During that time, she can be praised for learning and doing a job well done and explain to her that in order for her to succeed as an accountant in this firm or anywhere else she needs to learn these programs. As the projects progress and Jennifer improves and is learning new things, the supervisor should provide feedback. This is important to let her know how she is doing and find out what she would like to do in the future. Ervin from The Ohio State University (2011) states that, “Feedback can help immensely in helping them grow into the potential they demonstrated when hired. They will appreciate feedback at the end of the first day, first week, at regular intervals during the probationary period, and several times during the first year. Employees having learned the value of feedback during their first year will expect it to continue. Employee reviews this become less of a chore and more of an opportunity to benefit everyone.”

The second problem in Jennifer’s is her attitude and tardiness. When this has been addressed with the company late policy and her behavioral issues, it has not improved. Attitude and tardiness can bring the whole office morale down very quickly, other employees may think that she is being favored because she is late and with her attitude no one will be willing to work with her on a team project or attend meetings that she is involved in. When Jennifer is confronted about her tardiness, she states that she took a business law class while she was in her undergraduate program and that she understands what she can do if she gets in trouble. According to the National Conference of state