Question: “Last year, our company celebrated the holiday season at a bar near our office building. This event was basically an “alcohol fest” that began after work and continued late into the evening. I never drink alcohol because my father died of alcoholism. Also, I really don’t care for the taste. However, I’ve found that when I decline a drink, people regard me as strange. Sometimes they become insistent and insulting, saying things like “What’s wrong with you?” or “Are you in recovery?” Apparently, I am the only person in this entire group who doesn’t drink. It hurts to be called an oddball, so I’d like to be less conspicuous. I was a new employee at last year’s party, but this time I want to be prepared.” —Abstainer
You have a job now, but times being as they are, you may one day find yourself without it. The time to prepare for—and hopefully prevent—that scenario is while you’re still employed. Here are four things to do now that will benefit you if you ever lose your job.
A co-worker makes Donna feel uncomfortable by spewing judgmental comments about her life choices. Donna wonders what to do about it. Is the HR department obligated to fix the problem? Or does this situation call for a frank co-worker-to-co-worker conversation?
Individual differences in our preferences for certain kinds of outcomes when we interact with other people strongly affect how we approach negotiation, according to Carnegie Mellon University professor Laurie Weingart. Weingart and other psychologists have pinpointed four basic negotiating personalities:
Fend off stress-induced eating by squeezing a stress ball. Available in office-supply stores, it’s about the size of a tennis ball but softer. Side benefits: You’ll strengthen your hand muscles and burn a few calories.