From the category archives:
Q: Is it appropriate to make a comment to a new-coworker about his lack of professionalism? I’m referring to his use of “slang” or “street talk” in the office. A: Be careful — you could be skating on very thin ice here. If the language in question isn’t explicitly foul, you’re better off leaving any [...]
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Q: My company sent a form for me to fill out and return. Because the return envelope had no postage, I ignored it. Six weeks later, I received a second notice. This time I sent the form back with a note: “You owe me 37 cents postage.” I was trying to make a point that [...]
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Q: At my office, one woman collects money from everyone on a monthly basis to “cover the cost of birthday cards.” While I think this is a nice gesture, recently the “fee” has doubled. What’s an appropriate way of objecting to this collection? A: Just say no politely, and without any judgment or accusation: “Thanks [...]
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Q: Is it acceptable to list an MBA degree on business cards? I received a master’s in business 10 years ago, and at that time it was never done. Now I see MBAs popping up everywhere, right next to MD, JD, CPA, CFA, and other professional designations. A: I wouldn’t put MBA on my card [...]
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Q: What is the proper protocol for job hunting while still at one’s current job? How do I handle taking time out for interviews, for example? A: Conducting phone interviews on a company telephone, writing your resume when you should be preparing that report, or meeting with interviewers on company time are all major mistakes. [...]
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Q: I work in an office full of cubicles, and my neighbors often have stand-up meetings right in the hallway between our cubes. I would understand if it were one or two folks, but they’ve had meetings with as many as seven people! Would it be rude to ask them to get a conference room [...]
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Q: Whenever I go looking for my stapler or scissors at work, I always find them on my neighbor’s desk. Shouldn’t she ask before she borrows? A: You’re right, asking before borrowing is always best. In first addressing the issue, try to use humor and a respectful tone when you ask your neighbor to return [...]
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Q: A regular client has offered to have me and two other employees in the firm go to lunch ‘on him’ as a holiday gift. He will not accompany us, but has told me to let him know when we are going, and he will make arrangements with the restaurant to pay the bill. I [...]
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Q: My office is holding a secret snowflake exchange. I’d like to participate, but my family’s holiday budget is already squeezed to the limit. Is it OK to opt out? A: Secret snowflake works best when everyone participates, so do try, if you possibly can. Choose an easy, economical gift- homemade cookies or a jar [...]
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Q: In a business situation is it every appropriate to uninvite someone to a luncheon? It is our holiday luncheon and at the luncheon we give out gifts to full time employees. We normally play a game of steal the gift as the mode of distribution. Student employees are usually not invited because they would [...]
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