We look for 3 basic thing when we hire people here. Two I’m sure you
know:
· Smart
· Get Things Done
Joel Spolsky is famous for those.  We added another one of own after
learning some hard lessons firsthand:
· Not an Asshole<p>So with that I want to review the extremely generous Vacation and Work
from Home policy we have at TheLadders.<p>· Unlimited Vacation/Personal days with manager approval
· Flexible hours and work from home policy with manager
· approval<p>This policy is extremely generous and denying time off requests are
very rare.  The only one I’ve ever personally denied was because I was
only given a couple days’ notice for a weeklong vacation.  And in that
instance the report and I worked out something that satisfied both the
team here and the employees desire for some hard earned time off.<p>I don’t think I’ve ever denied or been denied myself a time off
request with plenty of lead time.<p>With all that in mind.  If you wake up one morning and decide, “Today
is too much for me to bear, I will work from home” YOU ARE TAKING AN
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE, THERE IS NO LAST MINUTE UNAPPROVED WORKING FROM
HOME.
Taking an unexcused absence says this to your colleagues, “I am
special and my time is more valuable than yours.  This morning I woke
up and decided I will not be joining you and the team today I have
more important matters to attend to.  Feel free to email me and maybe
I’ll respond, otherwise please assume I am working on something so
important I cannot share it with you.”<p>AKA, You are being an asshole to the rest of the team, who has decided
to come to work today and misses you and is wondering why you hate
them and what they did to piss you off. Did they eat the last piece of
beef jerky and you really wanted it?<p>If you get up and decide not to come in you are taking a sick day.
And taking a sick day means one of two things:
1) You are legitimately sick, and should seek the advice of your Doctor and/or Mom.
2) You are remotely engaging in selfish asshattery, and decided today is good
day for an unapproved personal day.  And on your permanent record we
will place a frown sticker for that day.<p>Again we have an extremely flexible policy here.  There is no reason
for anyone to not abide by it.<p>You may say to yourself, but I was up all night working! Great work
hustling, now please come in today your team needs you.  We don’t work
alone here.<p>You may say to yourself, but I work so hard! Great ask your manager
for some time off, now please come in today your team needs you. We
don’t work alone here.<p>If anyone has a problem with our vacation/work from policies speak
with me immediately.  Otherwise just don’t be an asshole.