BADGERING MANAGER ANNOYS.

Byline: KEN LLOYD On the Job

Q My manager is constantly rushing me to get my job done. He interrupts me when he knows I'm in the middle of a report, tells me that he's waiting, and asks when it will be on his desk. I give him an honest answer, but it's not long before he shows up again. How should I deal with this kind of person? S.M.

A Your manager may think he is managing, but all he is really doing is badgering. Effective management certainly calls for follow-up, but nonstop managerial visits point to a manager who does not know how to operate, delegate or communicate.

The irony is that your manager's frequent interruptions, along with your anticipation of being interrupted, actually interfere with your work, and, as a result, delay the progress you are making on these reports. There is also something terribly archaic about a manager who asks when a particular report will be ``on his desk.''

The best way to deal with this manager is to let him know that you appreciate his follow-up, while adding that you can perform more expeditiously and effectively with fewer interruptions. However, you should also take a careful look at your own performance.

In a word, is there anything in your work history with this manager that may be causing him to feel that he needs to over-supervise you? To the extent that this may exist, it too should be discussed with him.

If your manager loosens the reins, it will be important to let him know that you appreciate the increased independence, but it will be even more important to complete high quality work on time.

Q I recently went for a job interview, and before the formal questioning began, the interviewer and I had a little ice-breaking chit-chat. In the process, he asked me a bunch of personal questions, including whether I live with my boyfriend. Once the actual interview started, there were no further personal questions. Does this sound right? G.D.

A This sounds right only if the company is looking for the right way to get itself into some real trouble. All pre-employment inquiries are supposed to be job-related, and there are clear guidelines in this area. The interviewer's little chit-chat could arguably be construed as pre-employment inquiries, and his question about living with your boyfriend was clearly not job-related.

When an interviewer engages in this type of behavior, it is a bad sign on a number of levels. For example, it raises real questions about the interviewer's understanding of employment law, his awareness of the rights and needs of employees, his insight into today's tight labor market conditions, and his grasp of what is truly happening in the world of work.

On a broader basis, the interviewer's behavior raises questions about the company itself. When applicants are treated unprofessionally, the professionalism of the whole company is placed in doubt. Importantly, applicants who feel they are treated improperly during the interview process typically think twice about accepting employment with the company. This company would be well advised to think twice about the way its job interviews are being conducted.

Q Our company recently sent clocks to every employee, and there are more than a hundred of us. It was supposed to be a way to say thank you for our hard work, but I don't think a clock says it all. What do you think of this as a means of recognition? P.D.

A Gifts to all of the employees can generate all sorts of reactions, from appreciation to aggravation. Interestingly enough, employee reaction tends to be caused less by the gift itself, and more by whatever else may be going on in the company at the time.

For example, in situations where a company treats the employees with low levels of respect or trust, uses harsh supervisory practices, or has inequitable pay practices, most employees are not going to be particularly enthralled with any gifts. In this context, gifts are typically viewed as a form of manipulation, a waste of money or a useless trinket.

At the same time, in companies that have truly progressive management and up-to-date policies and programs, the employees recognize that top management truly values them as resources, and any form of recognition is appreciated.

Now, if you are in the former type of company, it is not surprising that you do not have the time of day for a gift clock. However, if you are in the more progressive type of company and still feel that a clock is a poor form of recognition, the time has arrived for you to recognize the broad range of benefits associated with working for your present employer.