The Lost WorkerTed B works for an entrepreneurial healthcare concern in the area of business development and marketing. His company contracts with small colleges to operate their campus health clinics. Ted has recently developed several ideas as to how the company may be able to operate more efficiently as well as offer a higher quality product. Ted does not have significant experience in healthcare, but what he lacks in experience he makes up with the enthusiasm and hard work.
When Ted went to work with this organization, there was no job description for him. The owner told him it was a small concern and his job might change quite a bit to meet the needs of the market. As time has gone by, Ted has felt the need for more structure in his job and the need to know how his performance would be measured.
Ted works from his home, so he is in the office once every two weeks. He reports to a consultant who is developing plans for the organization. The consultant works out of Miami and Ted works in Dallas, Texas. Ted feels that he is somewhat detached from the organization. Often decisions are made, and Ted is “out of the loop” until he hears about the decision “third hand.”
Ted has sent emails and a memo to the CEO to arrange a meeting to discuss his idea for improving the clinic operations and to discuss creating a job description for his position. His memo and emails have been ignored.
Questions:
1.) What should Ted do at this point?
2.) How can Ted arrange a meeting with the CEO without being obnoxious?
3.) What risks are there for Ted?
4.) Should Ted have taken this position without a job description?