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:
Sometimes saying “yes” to a co-worker’s request for help is unavoidable. But don’t let such requests spin your schedule out of control. Here’s how to help a co-worker without making your own productivity suffer:
Attitudes have changed for the better in many offices, where the fear of layoffs still runs high. But what happens when employees become so busy kissing up to the boss that they stop pulling their weight at work? How are you supposed to deal with a kiss-up, do-nothing 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
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
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.
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
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.
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.