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What to Say When a Co-Worker Is Laid Off

SavvySugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:15:46 -0800

Watching a co-worker pack up after being laid off is saddening for those workers that made it through layoffs. Employees across most industries in the US are experiencing this solemn situation, and we should be prepared with what to say when someone we worked with gets a pink slip, so that we don't unintentionally come off as insensitive colleagues. See my tips for how to respond when you're told a co-worker will no longer be on payroll when you

I'm Asking: Do You Offer Career Advice to Co-Workers?

SavvySugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:00:44 -0700

Having friends and confidants at work offers many benefits — namely someone to vent to, have lunch with, and help you when you have a question or feel lost. Of course, if you are close enough your co-workers may start asking you advice on personal career-related matters like asking for a raise, how to impress the boss, their criticism of management, or even looking for a new job. Do you offer up advice when co-workers ask or do you prefer to let them fend for themselves?

Photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

Top 12 Platonic Work Couples on TV

SavvySugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:10:27 -0700

Maybe the person you spend all day with at the office has become close to you simply because you're forced to be around the person all day, but according to a recent Careerbuilder survey, there is a 20 percent chance your significant other is jealous. The survey discovered that out of more than 6,000 respondents, 10 percent said they have a work spouse, and of those people who feel they might as well be married to their co-worker, 20 percent said their actual significant other is jealous of that person. Workers were asked to rank platonic couples we see working together on TV, and below is the final ranked list. Do you feel like you have a work spouse?

Regis and Kelly
David Letterman and Paul Shaffer
Jay Leno and Kevin Eubanks
Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer
Howard Stern and Robin Quivers
Judge Judy and Petri Byrd

See the other six platonic couples when you

Should Workplaces Do Away With Secret Santas This Year?

SavvySugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:15:28 -0700

The tradition of participating in Secret Santa gift exchanges has existed in every office I've worked, and it can be a fun way to bring employees together for holiday cheer. There's always a price limit set for the gift (the most I've heard is $25), but I'm wondering if companies should skip the gift-giving games this year. Most people are cutting down on their gift budgets, and I'm not sure workers would be excited to allocate some of their whittled down holiday money for a co-worker's Secret Santa gift.
Source

Should Workplaces Do Away With Secret Santas This Year?

Yes, Secret Santa exchanges should be retired this holiday season.

No, it's an inexpensive way to bring employees together.

Something else. I'll tell you in the comments below.

Which Ugly Betty Character Would You Want as a Co-Worker?

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:30:00 -0700

Thursday night's TV lineup gives my DVR a hefty workout, and one of the shows always on my must-watch list is Ugly Betty. The Mode / Hot Flash / Player offices are completely dysfunctional, and it's the exact reason why the show works. Which of these characters would you want as a co-worker? Photo copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.

Which Ugly Betty Character Would You Want as a Co-Worker?

Betty

Marc

Amanda

None of them!

No Talking Politics at Work Mentality: So Last Election?

SavvySugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:30:50 -0700

Political conversations at work have been considered a no-no in the past, but Lisa Belkin of The New York Times says that mind-set is "so last election." In fact, she adds, "These days, you would think that political talk was a job requirement."According to several office workers Lisa spoke with, this election has everyone buzzing and voters are finding it's more acceptable to engage in political banter at the office. What do you think: Is keeping your politics to yourself while at work so last election? Source

No Talking Politics at Work Mentality: So Last Election?

Yes, it's more acceptable now to talk about politics at work.

Talking politics at the office is more acceptable, but I'm not comfortable with it.

No, discussing politics at work is still a no-no.

Something else. See my comments below.

Do You Pay Attention to Your Co-Workers' Tardiness?

SavvySugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:00:39 -0700

About 40 percent of you say you make judgments about your co-workers' food choices, but do you pay attention to their tardiness? A friend of mine recently confided that she's been tracking when her co-worker arrives in the office after she noticed he shows up nearly an hour late each day. Apparently, he stays at the office late and is paid on salary, but his tardiness bothers her because she too works hard and still arrives on (or before) the expected hour. Where do you stand on watching your co-workers' clock? Source

Do You Pay Attention to Your Co-Workers' Tardiness?

Yes — I notice who shows up for work on time or late.

Sometimes — I have a few co-workers who are late birds, but I don't pay close attention.

I have to pay attention —It's my job as a manager.

Something else. See my comment below.

Has Your Lunch Ever Been Stolen From the Fridge at Work?

SavvySugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:30:50 -0700

Source

Has Your Lunch Ever Been Stolen From the Fridge at Work?

Yes! My lunch has been swiped from the office refrigerator.

No, my lunch has never gone missing.

I don't bring my lunch to work.

Six Tips For Choosing a Job That's Right For You

SavvySugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:30:54 -0700

The ideal job hunting situation is when you're currently employed and looking for a new gig, not only for the obvious financial reasons, but because sudden job loss can render us panicked and decision-impaired. Frantically searching for a new job could sabotage what you've set out to achieve, and you could be back on the market for another position in no time.

Career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman explains why it's important to have a plan when you're job searching and says, "You don't want to walk into someone else's nightmare. You want to make a good choice - not just any choice, but the right one." She offers these tips to help job hunters make the best choice for them.

If you don't get along with a potential boss during an interview, you never will. "Use the interview to explore whether your prospective boss is interested in what you have to say and understands what's important to you in your career before you accept the offer."
If you don't have a good rapport with prospective co-workers, you never will. "If you sense there's a problem with someone you'll be working with, listen to what your intuition is telling you."

See four additional tips when you

Do Your Co-workers Respect Your Privacy?

SavvySugar — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:00:33 -0700

Spending hours surrounded by co-workers every day and sharing space means we only have a certain amount of privacy at work. Sometimes people will nosily look over your shoulder to get a glimpse of the action on your screen, and I've found that often co-workers are more guilty of this than bosses. Do you feel like your colleagues respect your privacy?Source

Do Your Co-workers Respect Your Privacy?

Yes, I feel like they respect my privacy.

Most of them do, but there are one or two who do not.

No, my co-workers are nosy.

My co-workers respect my privacy, but my boss does not.

Something else. I'll tell you in the comments.

Definition: Munchausen at Work

SavvySugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:30:46 -0700

Munchausen is a psychological disorder in which people seek attention for themselves by making up an illness or inducing sickness. Business professor Nathan Bennett coined the term "Munchausen at work" to describe people who fabricate problems to make themselves look better when they solve the issues they created in the first place.

For example, Bennett says the behavior was at work in the case of a manager who made up layoff rumors so he could be the hero a few weeks later and tell workers he'd saved their jobs. Another case involved an employee who told a co-worker she'd smoothed the strained team environment, when she was the one who caused problems by telling her team members they shouldn't trust her.

Source

Japan's Unmarried Employees Living Together in Dorms

SavvySugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:45 -0700

Mitsui & Co., one of Japan's largest companies, is revising the common conception of a work-life balance by reintroducing its old tradition of supplying dorms for unmarried employees. In Tokyo, the company's six dorms for men and two for women cost about $185 a month and provide private bedrooms but a shared cafeteria and bathhouse.

According to The Wall Street Journal, employee dorms were originally introduced in the 1950s and 60s to help establish a company culture of family. One 24-year old Mitsui employee said, "The dorm is a very successful system where you can build relationships with colleagues who we don't have access to otherwise."

The dorms are meant to reinforce a focus on the team over the individual by allowing workers to make friends and learn about each other outside the office. Would you be receptive to living in a dorm with co-workers during the first several years of your working life? Do you think this idea would ever fly in the US?

Source

I'm Asking: Do You Know Which Co-Workers Smoke?

SavvySugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Seventy percent of you think smoking isn't a work-related issue and that employees' private habits shouldn't be the business of their employers. The discussion about company policies trying to intervene in the smoking habits of workers is a far cry from the smoke-filled office on Mad Men. Cigarettes are permanent fixtures in the hands of employees on the show: They smoke in personal offices, during hallway conversations, and in meetings no matter how long or short.

Today's workplaces aren't exactly welcoming of smoking, particularly during work hours. The stigma around smoking has made it a habit employees keep to themselves, but there's no denying the scent of a recent cigarette. Do you know which co-workers smoke?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Would You Quit If a Co-Worker Earned More For the Same Job?

SavvySugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:30:02 -0700

Salary isn't a topic that typically comes up among co-workers and most of you would like to keep it that way. But if you discovered someone was being paid much more for doing a similar job, you may actually be happy the topic finally surfaced. It's rumored that Tori Spelling, aka Donna Martin, has backed away from reprising her role on the new 90210 because she found out that Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth's contracts were paying them more. Would you react like Tori and turn your back on your job if your employer was underpaying you compared to your co-workers?Source

Would You Quit If a Co-Worker Earned More For the Same Job?

Yes, I'd be job searching in a second. I wouldn't want to work for an unfair employer.

I'd only leave after making the best case for a raise.

No, I'd probably stay if my boss had a good argument to back-up the discrepancy.

No, I wouldn't say anything to my boss.

Something else. See my comments below.

Do You Attend Happy Hours For Your Co-Workers or Boss?

SavvySugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:45 -0700

A recent CareerBuilder survey found that 82 percent of employees go to happy hours to bond with co-workers, while 11 percent go to spend quality time with the boss. Which is a stronger factor in driving you to office happy hours?Source

Do You Attend Happy Hours For Your Co-Workers or Boss?

I mainly go to bond with co-workers.

I attend happy hours to try and get in better with the boss.

I don't go to happy hour with people from my office.

Something else. I'll tell you in the comments below.

Do You Make Judgments About Co-Workers' Food Choices?

SavvySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:20 -0700

The majority of you admitted to judging co-workers by the way they dress and after reading a recent article in the Guardian called "How to . . . eat at your desk," I'm wondering if your judgments stop at outward appearances. The article's author is of the opinion that "the food you consume, rather like the clothes you wear, says a lot about you."He says anything with the following characteristics is off-limits when eating at our desks: smelly food like burgers and kebabs, kiddy foods like sugary cereal, and noisy food like ripe fruit. And because eating is generally messy, he recommends simply stepping away from our desks for lunch. Source

Do You Make Judgments About Co-Workers' Food Choices?

No, I don't judge others by their lunch choices.

Sometimes, if the food has a particularly invasive odor or is especially loud.

Yes, I often judge my co-workers by their food choices.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments below.

Do You Judge Your Co-Workers by How They Dress?

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:30:23 -0700

Old adages may tell us to "dress for success" and "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," but 49 percent of you define your work dress code as "business casual." I happen to think business casual is perfectly appropriate for most professions and when it's not companies usually create a dress code; however, it seems pretty obvious that we all judge a book by its cover from time to time. Do you find yourself judging your co-workers based on their style? Photo courtesy of NBC

Do You Judge Your Co-Workers by How They Dress?

Yes — It's natural to cast judgment based on how co-workers present themselves.

Sometimes — When the outfit is especially goofy or standout.

No — I don't pay any attention to what my co-workers wear.

Something else. See my comment below.

I'm Asking: Would You Confront a Bigoted Boss?

SavvySugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:35:59 -0700

Most of us have had our fair share of issues with co-workers, ranging from petty annoyances to backstabbing antics. Confronting a colleague may have its own challenges but when it's the boss that needs talking to job security comes into play. A reader wrote to Slate's Dear Prudence asking for advice on whether to confront a boss (who has the charming tendency to "fly off the handle") about her constant anti-Semitic remarks.

Prudie recommends the employee mentions that she doesn't share the same beliefs and would appreciate if the boss didn't discuss them any longer. This is definitely an easier said than done type of response. While I don't think I'd last working under that boss more than the time it took me to find another job, I'd like to think I could muster up the courage to make my feelings known.

Source

Sex Ed Goes to the Office

SavvySugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:32:40 -0700

Sitting through a sex ed class is probably something you've never done with co-workers, though it could be offered during future lunch breaks. Mark Schuster's program, "Talking Parents, Healthy Teens," has already made its way to 13 workplaces and 569 parents. Together they discussed how to best communicate with teens about sex, including how to teach them to use a condom (with the condom-on-the-finger lesson).

Schuster began by contacting major employers in Los Angeles and most of them welcomed the idea of offering a lunchtime program. He points out that an evening class would attract few parents who need to get home after work, and notes one reason employers have been cooperative is they are paying health insurance for the kids, too. Parents that completed the eight-week program reported increased communication with their kids because of it.

Source

Woman Shows Off Almost-Bare Assets at Work

SavvySugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:03:15 -0700

Last I checked there wasn't a skins option for office attire — shirts are mandatory! And pants for that matter, unless you're the woman in this video! An offended worker wrote to Slate's Dear Prudence about her exhibitionist co-worker, and they appreciated the story so much her letter was brought to cartoon life. Would you handle the situation by taking it to your boss or confronting the woman yourself, or would a co-worker flashing her assets be no big deal?

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Do Supervisors Have Inherent, Unspoken Privileges?

SavvySugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:36:00 -0700

Waiting in line for delightful frozen yogurt the other day, I witnessed an interesting interaction between what was obviously two employees and their supervisor. The two employees were directly behind me and their more powerful colleague approached them from her spot at the back of the line. Find out what happened when you

Who's a Better Co-Worker: The Know-It-All or The Slacker?

SavvySugar — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:01:23 -0700

Offices are little social experiments that constantly highlight the challenges of working with other people, whose company you do not choose. Of course we'd love for our co-workers to be people we'd want to befriend, but we all know this isn't always the case. And even if they're great personality wise, that hardly means that they're good people to work with.If you had to choose: Would you rather work alongside a know-it-all — someone who's condescending, tries to make you look bad, and can't work as a team, or a slacker — someone who's unwilling to complete their share of the workload, makes you do more work than is fair, and takes credit for the end result of a team's efforts?

Who's a Better Co-Worker: The Know-It-All or The Slacker?

Know-it-all. I need my team members to be accountable for their work.

Slacker. I can't handle a controlling colleague.