General > Are you an Untouchable?
on Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:33 am

My Dad sent over this great article from NY Times today that I think is a good one for discussion.

The "Untouchables" are employees who have the ability to imagine new services, new opportunities and new ways to recruit work. They are the opposite of what I call "clock punchers". Clock Punchers are employees who do the bare minimum, counting down the minutes until they can go home. They don't actively try to add to the success of the company. They are just there to pay the bills. A lot of people do this. I had jobs where I did this. If you find you are doing this, you might not be in the right job.

As someone who has been both an employee and now an employer, I see especially now how valuable Untouchables are. An Untouchable is invested not only in their own personal success, but in the success of the company. They understand that their hard work will give them more job security, a stronger reputation, and of course, more money.

The recession was a great excuse for many employers to lay off clock punchers. That is not to say everyone who lost their job was one of those, but I'm sure companies were happy to have the excuse to trim the excess staff.

Which do you think you are? Are you invested in your job? Do you care or is a job just a necessary evil that pays the bills?

4 Replies:

spotty	both? on Oct 21, 2009 @ 12:58 pm I'm a little bit of both and it comes and goes in fits and spurts. Or it even varies based on different projects I'm involved on. Generally, when I get something new I strive to really contribute meaningfully. If I really like the work, I remain an "untouchable." However, if the project just becomes a monkey on my back, I quickly turn into a direction taker and do the status quo.
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merri	clock puncher here on Oct 26, 2009 @ 04:41 pm I'm definitely a clock puncher. I like my bosses and some of my coworkers but my job is boring. Its just for paying bills, absolutely. But, in this economy, something that pays the bills is very important. In the end, im a pretty good worker regardless. :)
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misschickie	Curious on Oct 26, 2009 @ 07:06 pm Merri, do you like your job? I generally assume that clock punchers don't enjoy their work because if you are passionate, you get caught up in what you are doing and are less concerned about ensuring you don't work a second of overtime. Spotty, I think even dedicated Untouchables have moments where they are unmotivated, but they have more good moments than insufferable ones ;)
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mizzrobin	workaholic... on Oct 27, 2009 @ 02:47 am I am definitely a workaholic...people say when you work from home that it is hard to be disciplined etc but I find it to be the opposite, I need to constantly remind myself when I am not on the clock...I tend to always put in extra where work in concerned and anything else that I am passionate about in my personal life.
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General > Are you an Untouchable?
on Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:33 am

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General > Are you an Untouchable? on Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:33 am

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General > Are you an Untouchable?
on Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:33 am