Monday, July 22, 2019

Buggish: Windows 10 Context Menu Does Not Disappear (right click)

Problem: Right click on any windows entity that creates a context menu (the menu that appears after right clicking), then click on any of the options. Once clicked, that option "never" disappears.

Trigger: I have not determined what triggers this problem. It is repeatable once it is triggered though.

Workaround: Lock screen and log back in. I think anything that will refresh the whole screen.

Fix:
1. In the Windows search, type in Performance and look for Adjust the appears and performance of Windows
2. Look for the option for Fade out menu items after clicking
2.a. For me, the Performance Options window was already open to the list of options under custom. By default it is under Performance Options > Visual Effects > Custom > Fade out menu items after clicking.
3. You may need to use the workaround one more time.

Once I logged back in, the error no longer occurred. I just fixed the issue and have not rebooted. Hoping this is a permanent fix.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Leadership Pitfalls: Corporate Town Halls Lacking Message

Many times I wonder why I even bother going to town halls. I never seem to get much out of them. They always just seem a waste of time. Smaller companies have been ok, but then they aren't really town halls.

Know Your Audience

When a CEO, President, or Sr VP hosts an all-employee town hall, do you even realize who they are talking to or what they are trying to say? I feel like this is just a task they are trying to fulfill. "Just say some stuff, fill the time, let everyone praise me, check."

The most common issue I have is all the talks about corporate numbers:
  • Double-digit growth
  • Increased revenue
  • New acquisitions
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Why should I care about these numbers? Oh, did you want to say that the company has hit record numbers, record profits, keeping all salaries stagnant so that I can maximize my year-end bonus? Seriously, how am I supposed to break down those numbers besides the only number that I know that matters to you?

Realize that I am at least 4 levels below you. I have a manager, then sometimes a director, then a vp, then maybe another senior vp. Or even structurally, I have my team, then application, then line of business, then department, then maybe a child-company. Is the growth in another group, another team, another app, just your wallet?

Drill Down

Fine, those numbers are important and you cannot drill it down. I do care about topics of training, compensation, social responsibility, retention but those are all too high level.

I do not expect you to provide the low level details that pertains directly to me. I do expect your directs to break it down appropriately, who then expects their directs to break it down, until it reaches me.


Fake Impacts or Real Impacts

Leadership never seems to hear my opinion. This makes me wonder if they even care about feedback. Personally, I do not think so. I also think this is 95% true. I write this blog for the 5% of those out there that are trying to understand and improve, hence why I gave up voicing my opinion.

I mean I am not surprised. I reached out. I tried. Basically if leadership's primary issue is communication, then no matter how loud my opinion is, it will never be heard until they are willing to open their mind by reading something like this blog.


At the Very Least

If you really do care, there is more appreciation when you reach out to the silent voices. There are many people who have opinions, not just me. Do not just listen, but also listen for the things they are not saying because they cannot say it.

Build trust by reaching out first. I feel that I stick my neck out. I am trying to help the company, but if leadership is the wrong type, I risk my job. That is why no one wants to say anything. The only reason I speak out is because I want to represent the people. But someday when I can no longer risk my employment, you will have another silent voice.

I have always been the last to leave. I know leadership in most corporate world do not care. I hope your smaller company will provide greater value. We really do not place a lot of value on salary. We really just want our fair share and know that our jobs are safe. People only say compensation is important when leadership is greedy, unfair, or ignorant/inexperienced. It is the safer and simpler method.

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Scammish: Verizon Wireless Fraudulent Charges

I noticed that I received a fraudulent charge on my credit card for Verizon Wireless for what appears to be a prepaid phone (or something related to prepaid). I could call my credit card first, but decided to call Verizon first.

First, the number on the charge is completely useless because you require a Verizon number to get through the automated system. There is no way around this. If you hit # or 0, you eventually just get kicked out the system. There is no way to get through the system if you are not a Verizon wireless customer which I am not.

So, I then looked up online for Verizon fraud department. This was not difficult (888-483-7200). This still asked for a number but does go to an agent eventually. I stated my problem and the operator easily responds that there is nothing he can do to track the charge. He says that I have to call my bank to dispute the charge.

Of all the data that Verizon collects, they are telling me that they cannot track a charge? Yet if I do not pay, they will go to the ends of the world to collect the payment. What a joke! And why do I need to go to my bank/CC when it was charged to them? I do not have any other fraud charges. Even returning products to any other store, the store can reverse the charge.

Just for this one charge, I have to get a new credit card which means I have to update all my auto payments. So yea, Verizon... I am going to give you hate for this. Not that you allowed the transaction because there is little that can be done on that front, but to tell me not only that you cannot track the fraudster, you cannot even tell me how it was charged or the phone it is attached to or EVEN CARE THAT IT HAPPENED... That's right, you do not even ask for any sort of information (my credit card, the charge amount, when it happened, etc)....... nothing.

Clearly the reason to me for not having this process is because this is part of your business revenue in hopes that people do not check so that you can collect the amount yet if someone catches it, you just blame the fraudster. I do not stand for this practice.

This perhaps may occur to other providers, but if you claim to be #1... well then it seems that you're just a better scammer.




Reference

https://community.verizonwireless.com/t5/My-Verizon/Fraudulent-charges-on-Verizon-bill/td-p/1110983