How do I approach my boss about a raise?

I do not know how to approach my boss to discuss a raise. One more thing complicates things: My company is currently in the process of being bought out, and we are not financially sound... Timothy Johnson, Author and Consultant responds: “You have a very precarious situation with the company’s financial status and the current economic outlook. You’ve brought up some very good issues about managing your own economic worth in difficult times...”

How do I get my loudmouth coworkers to be quiet?

I work as a Graphic Designer and while I love my job, I hate my work environment. They scream constantly… Erika Andersen, Author responds: “I feel your pain! I was just sitting in a coffee shop today, working on my computer, and there were two people in the corner yukking it up and talking really loud. It was frustrating and hard to concentrate — and I wasn’t even at work! So, what to do?...

Vacation? Soaring Costs Keep Workers Home

Bosses act like I don’t have a life outside of work

Bullies Take Toll On Bottom Line

My Fortune in a Fast Food Job

Soaring Gas Prices Force Employers To Respond

Office-Politics Interview with Dan Pink

Change is so good, I never want to go back!

We were acquired last year and nobody wanted to change. Then we changed and I LIKED it. I liked it a LOT. I was excited to be part of the new company and play in a bigger sandbox and with a new director. Erika Andersen, Author responds: “OK, let me take a crack at helping you sort this out. To start with, I think you’re a lot clearer about this than you think. For instance, you say you don’t know what you “liked about the difference” between your original boss and the new director. But then you go on to say...”

Making the Jump from Summer Intern to Full-time

“With evidence that the slowing economy is prompting employers to put the brakes on hiring, the summer internship assumes a new level of importance as the most effective road to post-collegiate employment.” writes John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas...

Lost highly intelligent, motivated exec

Almost overnight, there seems to be little or no drive to move forward on a number of key initiatives she started... Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: “What a timely dilemma! Innovation versus so-called ‘Job security’. However since you’re stuck in the middle of it, you may not feel quite as enthusiastic...”

Resume Fraud Not Restricted To Lower Level

The revelation last year that Marilee Jones, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, falsified her educational credentials nearly 30 years ago is a timely lesson for this year’s crop of college graduates about to embark on their careers this spring: lies on resume may escape notice, but if discovered they can be devastating. writes John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc...”

The Scorpion and the Turtle

Was I wrong in speaking with the HR assistant? I would appreciate any thoughts. I can take any criticism. Dr. Greg Ketchum responds: “Now we don’t know what actions the HR assistant took or didn’t take so we can’t really get into blaming her. It reminds me in a way of the story of the scorpion and the turtle. The scorpion comes up to the side of a river and wants to get across, but can’t swim, so it sees the turtle in the water and asks if it can ride across on the turtle’s back...”

The new guy I hired is HATED

I recently received a promotion and hired my replacement; however, everyone who now reports to him hates him. Erika Andersen, Author responds: “This is a tough one. It’s always hard to let someone go; it’s much harder when you’ve hired the person – and harder yet when you’ve hired him or her to replace you. I can only imagine how deeply you want to make this work. And that’s all too likely to cloud your judgment about what’s happening...”

Rising star treated like trained monkey

I am a fresh, new female lawyer working under another female lawyer (a Partner in the firm). She gives me the most pathetic of jobs like ‘translating a one-line letter’, proof-reading letters and labeling files… Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: “At first glance your Senior boss’ actions do seem perplexing and confusing. From your perspective you are left wondering why she chose you, only to assign you menial tasks...”

I escaped but the snake is still loose

I mentioned to a co-worker how this director used to treat me, and now she insists she must do something. My concern is around whether or not his behavior is criminal or if he is just ‘not a nice person’ to work with. Co-authors Rick Brandon, Ph.D. and Marty Seldman, Ph.D. respond: “Well done to this point. You have handled an incredibly difficult situation in a mature, firm way and it seems to have been very effective. This does not mean that we would advise you to take it further...”

I am fighting an unfair dress code

I have worn jeans and a blouse with heels everyday to work. Up until today. Management now has a problem with this. I am very upset… Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: “As you’ve explained it, it doesn’t sound fair to be singled out about your choice of clothing. Unfortunately management holds the power in this situation. Are you being picked on unfairly by management? Quite possibly, but they’ve found a weak spot that will be difficult to argue against...”

Credit Stolen by a Backstabber!

Each day is hell and affects my health

I can hardly go into work every day… The resentment is affecting my health… The new team lead is more like a dictator than a leader. Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: "My observation of your workplace is that the political climate has changed dramatically. You already knew this, but perhaps coming from an objective...”

My coworker is hogging information…

I am fighting frustration and anger each day at work dealing with a colleague who hogs information on work related issues. Erika Andersen, Author responds: “Very frustrating! Being left out of the loop on important information can feel like an insult or a power play - and it definitely makes it harder to do your job. Let’s start with the why...”

Office baby boom elicits nasty jokes

I recently became pregnant… my supervisor joked that he was going to have new women employees sign a waiver stating that they would have their tubes tied before starting at our company. Jennifer Glueck Bezoza responds: “What is clear from your explanation is that you are a highly valued revenue-producing manager...”

Explosive coworker undermines bargaining talks

She is making negative comments at the bargaining table (about customers, management, co-workers, etc) and constantly bringing up “the way things were” 20+ years ago! Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: "The negotiation strategy you’re playing right now, whether you like it or not is Good guy/Bad guy. Your overly emotional coworker (we’ll call her Courtney) is the ‘bad guy’. She represents the hard-to-control, hard-to-negotiate faction of unionized workers...”

Law fellow excluded from inner circle

To be honest, I would rather spend time with my own friends than with these people (!), but worry that there are professional costs to being disliked and outside of this loop. Franke James, Inventor of the Office-Politics Game responds: “Why are you being excluded from the Director’s dinner party? It doesn’t sound fair does it...”

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