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Find Out About Employee Handbook “Surprises” Before You Accept the Job
Things the company doesn’t tell you (maybe purposely) until you’re committed
At age 23, I sat down in a corporate conference room facing three managers. I had just wrapped up my final coursework for graduate school. That spring had been time to search for a job. After several swings and misses, I had found a company that liked me. They really liked me!
The most senior of the three managers pushed an offer sheet across the table. “Paul, I’m going to be frank with you,” he said. “That’s not a number we bat around with just anyone. But it’s the consensus among all of us is that you’re smarter than the average bear, and we really want you.”
He talked about the benefits package — health insurance, life insurance, and the like, as well as 401(k) matching and stock options. I listened intently. It all sounded very good, and no other company had come close to making me an offer. I signed on the dotted line.
“We’ve got you? We’re really got you?” the senior manager beamed.
“Sure, you’ve got me,” I replied.
“Well, I want to tell you, buddy, then you’ve got us too,” said the senior manager, reaching across the table to give me a firm, hearty handshake. “Tell…
