Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 17, 1994                   TAG: 9407180120
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: F3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Camille Wright Miller
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TIME OFF FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PAYS OFF PLENTY IN THE LONG RUN

A: Congratulate yourself for having a community service-oriented staff. Volunteers make our communities better places to live; the quality of life we enjoy would drop noticeably without the hours of service our citizens give.

James Plotts, regional vice president for Allstate Insurance, says supervisors needn't feel anxious about time away for community service. He has noticed that employees who volunteer get "greater reward for their efforts than the total amount of time given," and he contends that they return "more productive and with a wonderful attitude and appreciation of the company for allowing the opportunities. You get a great deal more back than the time spent."

For example, while not all of the 750 employees working for Plotts participated in the recent United Way Day of Caring, those who did returned excited and refreshed. Their enthusiasm was felt throughout the company.

While lack of community service should never be considered a negative in evaluations, Plotts has found that offering opportunities for community service is a valuable part of building a strong company culture. The company "benefits from enthusiastic and involved workers, the community benefits with an enhanced quality of life and the company again benefits by the long-term relationships established through service."

Reconsider your concerns. By encouraging community service, you improve where you live as well as the quality of life within your organization.

Q: My boss said I take too many personal calls during work. Why can't my boss understand that family and friends are important to me?

A: Personal phone calls are an emotional issue that divides employers and employees. Employees feel separated from family and friends during the work day and want to hear from them. Employers, on the other hand, are paying for work to be completed. Time spent on non-work calls results in unearned income.

Calls that must be made or taken concern your children's safe arrival from school, changes in child-care arrangements and immediate health problems of family members. Employees generally perform better knowing their families are secure and employers should be understanding about those calls.

Phone calls to discuss general family matters or to catch up with a friend should occur after work, during work breaks or over your lunch hour. Re-train your friends to call you only at home. When personal calls come in, tell friends you're in the middle of work and will return the call from home. Your friends will learn.

Initially you're sure to miss your calls, but consider your employer's point of view. Multiply a half hour of personal phone calls by the total number of employees and you'll see the high cost.

Q: I'm attracted to a co-worker and think the feeling is mutual. We don't have a company policy against dating, but friends warn against dating "in-house".

A: Consider the downside first. If you begin dating, you'll become fodder for the gossip mill. If you make an error in your work, it might be attributed to distractions caused by your romantic interest. Dating arguments, if they occur, could increase the tension level in your office.

Further, if you work on projects together, others may feel you have an unfair alliance that predetermines decisions. Finally, if the relationship doesn't work out, you'll have to continue to work with an "ex" on a daily basis.

The upside, of course, is dating an individual who has solid knowledge of your work environment and responsibilities. At the end of the day, you can compare notes. That you both work for the same company demonstrates some shared interests. Spending much of your work day and part of your evening with someone who shares your interests is an exciting prospect.

Consider your co-worker's and your own maturity level, analyze the receptiveness of your colleagues and give long thought to the downside. If you decide to date, monitor office behavior. Go out of your way to avoid subjecting colleagues to any intimacies or indication of your involvement and allegiance. You have a responsibility to your colleagues to ensure your actions don't have a negative effect on their work environment.