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Archive for March, 2007

I am bored, overqualified, underpaid…

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I read this article Entry-level office aide is poisoning our office, with interest as I find myself somewhat 'on the other side'. While I am not being as disruptive as the girl described, her story and attitudes ring a slight bell. I too, would be looked down upon by ...

Helping a friend trapped in a dead-end position, got me in hot water

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I am a manager in a company. I am friends with another manager and one of his employees (though, closer to the manager). The employee had been there a number of years and felt that he was in a dead-end position. He confided in me and ...

My peers are envious as I climb the ladder…

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, If I may, I have a new challenge to share with you.... As a result of a Management shake-up, my new found leverage and exposure of my work, and a timely re-organization/business transformation under way, I now have been giving the opportunity to be "in" with the CEO and right-hand ...

Afraid my Boss is taking advantage of my success

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I am in a middle management position. My Boss takes care of me, and protects my best interests. But now I need to step out, and let others in Senior Management see what I'm capable of. I'm afraid my Boss is taking advantage of my success, yet taking all ...

My ‘chatter-box’ coworker is driving me crazy!

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, A co-worker that has his office next to mine spends most of his day talking to his wife and kids on the phone. It drives me crazy! Talking to my boss is out of the question, he is very old school and thinks "women" are below men. Mouse OFFICE-POLITICS REPLY BY ...

I’m holding onto the company key…

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I have had several jobs in which I made a suggestion for future direction, was fired or encouraged to leave, and later discovered the company followed the suggestion. This happened again recently and my employer has called me several times to hand in the company key. I still have the ...

This isn’t just office politics, it’s family politics…

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I work in an office with a boss, his mother is the "office manager" and his sister is support personnel. I am supposed to be directly responsible only to the boss. For some reason, the mom and sister seem jealous of anyone getting close to their family member, the ...

What would you do if Management won’t listen? Wait until the project explodes?

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, What would you do if 2nd line management won't listen? And 3rd line management won't interfere? Wait until the project explodes? (Problem is ineffective staff that needs to be replaced.) Assume writer has position of influence but no authority. Sincerely, Witness OFFICE-POLITICS REPLY BY FRANKE JAMES Dear Witness, It's the 'canary-in-the-coal-mine' syndrome. I ...

Coworker throws hysterical tantrums…

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I had a very bad experience with a “sister” director in my division (I’ll call her Sue). We both work for the same boss, and Sue is very controlling, to say the least; she is a CPA and is the “Payroll Director”, and I am the “Executive Director ...

Insulted by the Crummy Gift

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, For 14 months, I worked at an office, under two contracts. During my time there I worked on 2 different projects. My first contract expired, but then it was extended to complete my project. I also had a newly hired co-worker for this second project who was also under contract. ...

The 60-year old refuses to train interns

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I am a recent grad with an MBA and was recently hired as an accountant intern at a federal agency. My program included 3 week training rotation programs with different staff working in different areas in the accounting / fiscal service office. A 60-year old near ...

Bombarded by noise and frequent interruptions

Sunday, March 18th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I have a postgraduate degree and am a Teacher. I needed to get a full time job and as there was not one in my field I have taken up an admin job (my first career). It is very unusual in that it is in a large ...