What’s a ‘tickler’ file?
What exactly is a tickler file, and what’s the best way to use one? We liked the answer one administrative assistant, Bonnie, gave on our online forum, Admin Pro Forum.
Year: 2009
Finding the silver lining in a recession
In this recession, how can anyone feel upbeat? Experts say the secret is to stop trying to fill your days with moments of pleasure. For example, spend $20 on an experience rather than an item. Here are more tips for being happier:
Exiting a conversation with grace
We’ve all been put in situations where opinionated people force us to talk about something that we don’t care to discuss. What do you say in these awkward, challenging moments that allows you to speak your truth, yet leave another’s respect intact? Try out the following techniques:
Tired of covering for a late co-worker
Question: “One of our co-workers, “Bob,” regularly comes in quite late. Until he gets here, the rest of us have to answer his phone and deal with callers’ problems. Bob is taking advantage of a nice boss who is not a micromanager. Our boss knows that Bob is usually late, but he hasn’t said anything to him. What should we do?” — Tired of Bob
Handling an overly affectionate boss until you find another job
Question: “My boss recently confessed that he has “feelings” for me. I am happily married and definitely do not share these feelings. The situation is uncomfortable, because he is the owner of this very small business. Although I have handwritten notes documenting his "emotional attachment,” I have been told this is not sexual harassment. I began looking for a new job, but so far have had no luck. My boss says his feelings haven’t changed, and he wants to know whether I am still planning to leave. What should I do?” — Pursued
Court upholds observed urination for rail workers during drug tests
A federal appeals court in Washington has upheld a government rule that requires railroad and other transportation workers who have been treated for drug abuse to be observed while they urinate for drug tests. Any workers who refuse to be watched by a same-sex observer could lose their jobs.
New Hire Making You Feel Like Second String?
Question: “I’ve been my boss’s secretary for more than five years, even changing companies with him. He recently hired another secretary to help with my workload. The problem is that she shares all my responsibilities and seems to have most of the work. It feels as though she has become my replacement. How do I approach my boss about this without sounding like I’m whining?” — Feeling Useless
Maximizing business travel deductions: Use the easy way
Uncle Sam often examines deductible travel expenses through a magnifying glass. So both employers and employees must meet strict recordkeeping rules—or face the consequences. Fortunately, you can take a shortcut. Use IRS-approved per-diem allowance rates in lieu of accounting for every bagel and cab ride from an employee’s business trip.
Workers gone wild … and the lessons to be learned
Employees do the darnedest things, and HR and managers frequently wind up trying to undo the damage. Our newest webinar — Today’s Most Bizarre Recent Workplace Cases: How to Prevent Outrageous Workplace Behavior (May 28) — tells tales of outrageous employee behavior … and the lawsuit against the employer that followed. Here’s our take on the topic, with cases pulled from the pages of our HR Specialist newsletters.
Now’s the time to be bold — Show you’re a leader
Recently, workplace expert Tory Johnson was interviewed about how women can succeed in a challenging job market (smartblogs.com/workforce). She talked about what she believes is the biggest challenge for female managers, but the advice could easily apply to anyone. Here’s what she said: