Friday the 13th: Office Terror
Mar 13, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ With a nod to the calendar, I’d like to share a workplace horror story, and invite you - through comments or links to your own blog posts - to share yours. I once was responsible for a team of people who handled first-line customer contact in a high-risk area for several clients. Our training was [...]Put Down the Manager Hat and Back Away Slowly
Mar 3, 2009 Employee Relations, Problem Behaviors
∞ A reader writes: A few weeks ago, I had to sit in on a written warning being delivered to one of my employees for sexual harassment. I supported this, because he really had gone over the top in trying to make the acquaintance of a woman on my team. After this was done, I started noticing [...]Amistad? I think not.
Mar 1, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ The Hiring Site blog over at CareerBuilder has a great post this week about excuses for tardiness. It features such gems as “My husband thinks it’s funny to hide my car keys before he goes to work,” and “I got locked in my trunk by my son.” All of which may be true, but if [...]How Not to Handle Sexual Harassment
Feb 28, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ I have a new theory for handling those who engage in sexual harassment. Rather than involving HR and investigations and disciplinary actions and zero tolerance policies, let’s introduce a “Long Walks on the Beach” section into our corporate newsletters. Those unfortunate lonely hearts who feel they need to make a pass at their co-workers [...]“Stimulus” Makes Me Laugh
Feb 25, 2009 Co-workers, Problem Behaviors
∞ Why yes, I am twelve. Thank you for asking. I had some issues today maintaining my compusure while the news and the economy were discussed in the office. Given that people higher up on the food chain than me were hanging around for this discussion, I eventually had to excuse myself on the pretext of [...]Drama Queen Can’t Wait for Homecoming
Feb 23, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ A reader writes, in part: I co-manage a group of 12 people in a small office. Our office hours extend beyond the normal business day so management shifts overlap somewhat and we each typically deal with our own ’set’ of employees. Normally things go off without a hitch - we’re all relatively mature, [...]Dropping Bombs: An Interviewing Case Study
Feb 18, 2009 Daily Performance, Problem Behaviors
∞ Continued from yesterday: hiring someone you just know won’t fit. Some years ago, I took over a group of “lazy, unmotivated, unmotivatable” people who “seemed to have many better things to do than work.” This is the synopsis I was given when they presented me with the challenge of turning this business unit around. I believe [...]Billy Brown-Noser
Feb 16, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ A reader (SEO seems to work… who’d have thunk?) writes: I found your blog searching for tips on how to handle bad employees. I have one I just cannot motivate and don’t think I’ll ever be able to. The problem is he’s connected to senior management. He plays golf with a couple of people a [...]Office Clown or Office Bully?
Feb 13, 2009 Dealing with Bosses, Problem Behaviors
∞ A freshly-promoted (congratulations!) reader writes: One of my employees is always out for a gag. Not a day goes by that he hasn’t taped someone’s mouse, removed a key from a keyboard, or left a surprise of some kind in someone’s desk drawer. We all thought it was kind of amusing for a while, but [...]The Business of Bodily Functions
Feb 10, 2009 Problem Behaviors
∞ What I have to say today, ladies and gentlemen - especially gentlemen - may well be the sagest piece of advice that is ever offered on this blog. Take note: Stand closer to the &%!@!#* urinal. Also, while I realize that appearances can be deceiving, the linoleum on the bathroom walls is not, in fact, made [...]
