Working with Henrik
Rules & Expectations for New Employees
Hi, my name is Henrik, and I am your employer.
Before you start working with me, please read this document carefully. Every rule in here is non-negotiable. You need to confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to follow these rules.
The good news: If you follow these rules, I will be the best boss you have ever had. I pay well, I keep my team long-term, and I will always have your back.
Section 1: Working Hours & Punctuality
Your working hours
Your standard working hours are 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM Central European Time (CET), which is 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Philippine time.
If you need a 30-minute dinner break, that is completely fine – but your working day then becomes 1:00 PM – 9:30 PM Philippine time, with the break in the middle. You do not get paid for the break.
This is your only break. One break per shift.
Punctuality — no exceptions
Your shift starts at exactly 1:00 PM Philippine time. Not 1:05. Not 1:10. Exactly 1:00 PM.
I understand that in some cultures, a few minutes late is considered normal. In our workplace, it is not. Arriving late without prior notice is a breach of your employment agreement.
If something unexpected happens and you cannot start on time, contact me on Slack before your shift starts — not after.
When you meet in, simply send me a Slack, saying: Goodmorning Henrik, I am ready to work.
Section 2: Slack — Our Workplace Communication Tool
Slack is our office. Think of your Slack status the same way you would think about sitting at your desk in a physical office – it tells me and the team whether you are available or not.
Keep Slack open with sound on
During working hours, Slack must be open on your computer with sound notifications enabled. You must be able to hear when a message arrives. Set up a notification sound if you have not already.
Always update your Slack status
If your Slack status shows green (online), I expect you to respond within a few minutes. If you do not respond and your status shows online, you are wasting my time.
Every time you step away from your desk — even for a toilet break — you must update your Slack status. Every time. No exceptions.
Status rules:
- 🟢 Online = I am at my desk and will respond immediately
- 🟡 Away / Toilet break = I have stepped away briefly (update your status)
- 🍽️ Dinner break = I am on my 30-minute break (update your status)
- ⚫ Offline = My shift has ended
Acknowledge every message immediately
When I send you a task or instruction, I need to know you have received it. Do not go quiet and deliver the work 15 minutes later – I do not know if you have seen my message, if you are working on it, or if something went wrong.
The correct response when you receive a task is:
“Received. I’m on it – give me 45 minutes.”
Write this immediately – before you start working on the task.
Section 3: Time Estimates & Deadlines
For any task that takes longer than 10 minutes, you must give me a time estimate before you start working.
I do not expect you to always be exactly right. What I expect is that you give me your best estimate, and that you keep it. If you tell me 1 hour, I will check back in 1 hour. If you think it will take 3 hours, tell me 3 hours.
If you realize you cannot meet your estimate, update me before the deadline — not after. This is your responsibility, not mine.
❌ Never write: “I will update you when I am done.” That sentence is useless to me. Always give a specific time.
Section 4: This Is a Workplace
You work from home. That is convenient and I am happy for you to do so. But during your working hours, you are at work – not at home.
Imagine you are sitting in a physical office. Would you talk to family members, do laundry, cook dinner, or watch TV at your desk? No. The same applies when you work from home.
During work hours, the following is not acceptable:
- Talking to or entertaining family members
- Doing household chores (laundry, cooking, cleaning)
- Watching TV or videos unrelated to work
- Any other activity that takes your focus away from your work
Section 5: Payment & Hours
- You are paid for each hour you work. When you step away from Slack, update your status – you are not paid for time where you are unavailable.
- Sometimes you will need to work overtime. You will always be paid for these hours.
- If you experience downtime or power interruptions, it is your responsibility to work up the lost time – either after hours, or by deducting it from your reported hours.
Section 6: The 6 Rules for Working with Me
Rule 1 – Think for yourself
I hire you to save my time – not to use it. If you cannot solve simple problems independently or without detailed hand-holding for every small step, we will not be able to work together. I expect you to use your initiative, Google things, and figure out what you can before asking me.
Rule 2 – Do not waste my time
If I ask you to do something and you do not know what a term means, look it up. If I have already explained something in writing on Slack, do not ask me to repeat it. If you are asking me something you can easily find yourself in 30 seconds, you are wasting my time.
Rule 3 – Give time estimates and keep your deadlines
Already covered in Section 3. This rule is worth repeating: give me a time, and keep it. If you cannot keep it, contact me before the deadline — not after.
Rule 4 – Do not ask me to repeat what is already in writing
All instructions I give you are on Slack. You have a full chat history. If you ask me to repeat something that is already there, we will have a problem.
Rule 5 – Keep your Slack status updated and respond promptly
Already covered in Section 2. Green means available and responsive. If you are online and not responding, you are wasting my time.
Rule 6 – Make top-quality work
Always aim to be outstanding. Do not hand me something average. I would rather you take 30 minutes longer and deliver something excellent than deliver something mediocre on time.
What You Get in Return
If you follow these rules, here is what you can expect from me:
- A salary that is above average — and that grows as you prove yourself
- Long-term employment — I do not let good people go
- Direct, honest communication — you will always know where you stand
- A boss who has your back if you have mine
- Humor, good energy, and a workplace you will enjoy