Business

Q: I have a colleague in another department who is extremely pushy and rude toward me.  Not only can she be very short and abrasive, but I’m afraid she’s not even aware that she’s talking down to me.  We work together — I do not work for her.  How can I address this problem of [...]

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Q: When a man wears a necktie, shouldn’t a tie tack or tie clip be worn as well?  It looks so messy to see a tie flapping in the breeze. A: There is no rule that says men have to use a tie tack or tie clip when wearing a tie.  In fact, very few [...]

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Q: What are the rules regarding handshakes in business situations?  Should men stand when shaking hands with each other?  And are women required to shake hands? A: Everyone at a business gathering — men and women alike — should greet each other by shaking hands.  A proper handshake consists of four simple steps: 1) Stand.  [...]

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Q: I own a small business.  During the holiday season every year, I invite my employees to lunch at a restaurant.  In the past, I’ve let everyone go home early (with pay) afterward.  For several years now, a few people have skipped the lunch and gone straight home.  This has caused some ill will among [...]

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Q: I have been in business for over 25 years and have wonderful employees.  However, the newer and younger ones seem to come with their own set of rules.  For example, our office has a dress code, and jeans and halter tops aren’t allowed.  Still, some of my employees will show up in tight jeans [...]

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Q: My cubicle is adjacent to someone who reports directly to me.  A number of times, I’ve started to update her on something and she’s responded, “Oh, yeah, I overheard you talking to so and so about it.”  How should I deal with this? A: Your telephone voice may be the real culprit here.  In [...]

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Q: After applying for office manager at a small company, I found myself in a thank-you note dilemma.  I met all nine of the employees in the company, and everyone will be involved in the hiring decision.  Do I send a note to the president and the vice president, or should I send thank-you notes [...]

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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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