Senior Managers Aren’t Perfect

In a survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam, senior managers were asked to recount their most embarrassing moments at work.

Senior managers confess to falling asleep, ripping their pants and breaking the coffee machine in a survey from OfficeTeam that asks what are their most embarrassing moments at work.

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Survey responses included:

  • “I screamed because a coworker put a spider on me.”
  • “My swivel chair moved as I was sitting down and I ended up on the floor.”
  • “I turned to talk to someone and walked into the elevator door.”
  • “I fell and broke a tooth while running up the stairs.”
  • “I came out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to my shoe.”
  • “I vomited onstage while receiving an award.”
  • “I fell asleep during a meeting and had to be woken up.”
  • “I mistakenly went into the women’s restroom.”
  • “I swore after a phone call without realizing the person was still on the line.”
  • “I couldn’t find my car after happy hour.”
  • “I showed up for work on a Saturday because I thought it was Friday.”
  • “Everyone showed up for a meeting on the wrong day because I had incorrectly scheduled it.”
  • “I sent an email badmouthing a person to that individual.”
  • “I got caught hiding in the bathroom using my phone.”
  • “I broke the coffee machine, and it started spraying nonstop.”
  • “I gave an award to the wrong person during a recognition ceremony.”
  • “I greeted two clients who were sisters as mother and daughter.”
  • “I accidentally called a male customer ‘ma’am’ on the phone.”
  • “I ripped my pants while playing hacky sack and had to get a new pair.”
  • “I wore mismatched shoes to work.”
  • “I spilled food on my outfit during lunch with a client.”
  • “I didn’t realize until after a meeting that my zipper was down.”
  • “I sneezed while eating and food flew everywhere.”
  • “I made a cake to celebrate an employee’s birthday and found out she was allergic to it.”
  • “I ate the wrong lunch out of the refrigerator.”
The survey includes responses from more than 600 senior managers at companies in the U.S. and Canada with 20 or more employees.
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Facing Regret, Employees Value Retirement Savings Help From Employers

Perhaps since the first five years of their working lives is the time period respondents to an American Century survey have the most regret about saving for retirement, they find automatic retirement plan features important.

Regret continues to be the prevailing sentiment that employees express about their retirement savings habits, according to a national survey conducted by American Century Investments.

Respondents point to the first five years of their working lives as the period of time for which they have the most regret. Common barriers to saving remained consistent with previous surveys and included not earning enough, having to pay off debts and incurring unexpected expenses. More than 90% said it would be “at least somewhat important to tell their younger selves to save more.” About 75% said their early-career self would be “somewhat or very likely” to listen to that advice.

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Four out of 10 respondents credit their employer with playing a critical role in getting them to save for retirement. When offered the option of receiving either a 100% match on 3% of their retirement plan contributions or a 3% higher salary, 77% of pre-retirees chose the match over the higher salary; 75% of participants ages 25 to 54 would take the match. When asked the same question substituting 6% for 3%, 78% of pre-retirees and 69% of younger participants chose the match.

“The idea that employees would accept a higher match over higher salary may have implications for plan sponsors and their consultants in structuring compensation and benefit programs,” American Century Investments Vice President, Client Marketing, Diane Gallagher says. “It is certainly a perspective that is worth examining within a particular organization.”

Perhaps because the first five years of their working lives is the time period respondents have the most regret about saving for retirement, they find automatic retirement plan features important. Eight out of 10 employees want at least a “slight nudge” from their employers in helping to save and invest optimally for retirement. One out of 10 want “a kick in the pants” to encourage them to save more.

When asked if the company they worked for should offer automatic features, the vast majority agree. Seventy-five percent believe automatic enrollment at 6% is something their company should do. More than 60% feel automatic enrollment should be implemented retroactively. Eight in 10 show at least some interest in a regular, incremental automatic increase. The same number support plan investment re-enrollment into target-date solutions.

The fifth annual study includes responses from 1,500 full-time workers (grouped by ages 55 to 65 and 25 to 54) who currently participate in their employer’s retirement plan.

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