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Archive for April, 2007

Power war is driving me and others crazy

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I work for an LLC. 4 partners and 4 sons of 2 of the partners. Three sons are in a power war and it is driving me and others crazy. They call me (and a coworker) after hours to talk about the others. They come ...

I want to put an “office princess” in her place…

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, Is there anything I can do to put an "office princess" in her place without hurting my reputation? I work at a newspaper and work with an "office princess" who really needs to be put in her place. She's 31, laughs very insincerely at anything people say, says things like ...

Training the Boss’ Pet

Friday, April 27th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, Please help! Since I started my new position as an accounting supervisor last May, I have had nothing but hard times to get my boss’ pet to get her work done and meet deadlines. Both my boss and the pet are always covering up for themselves. If an invoice ...

Still working at part-time job I had in college

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I'm 23 - still working a 20 hour week at the retail job I had while going to college, because of the economy. I have not advanced into an Assistant Manager even though I am the hardest worker, never absent or late, etc. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Overlooked OFFICE-POLITICS REPLY ...

Should I ask an ex-employee’s fiance back?

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007

Linda Kaplan Thaler, co-author of The Power of Nice, and CEO of The Kaplan Thaler Group has answered the letter below. Read the Office-Politics book review on The Power of Nice. Dear Office-Politics, I had an employee, Steven, that the previous manager, Bill, hired. After a short period, Bill hired Steven’s fiancé, ...

Power struggle with coworker

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I work with a woman who is threatened by me, therefore, she regularly tries to take over some of my responsibilities to make herself look good. She is the Chief’s assistant and I am the Deputy Chiefs’ assistant, so she thinks that I am beneath her. When I ...

The Office Princess likes to flirt all day

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, Recently one of the girls in our office has developed a princess attitude. She is constantly talking about herself and makes everything be about her. If she is not the center of attention, then the world is not right. She likes to float around all day and flirt with ...

Extremely hot looking contract worker

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, There is an extremely hot looking contract worker here. She has just been put in my Department. She wears mini skirts and loves coming by so I can smell her perfume. Dilemma ---> I'm married, but I think she is a player. Sorely Tempted OFFICE-POLITICS REPLY BY DR. JOHN BURTON Dear Sorely ...

How do I answer the following ‘rude’ questions?

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, Please tell me how to answer the following questions: 'Why Don't You Have Kids?' How do I answer when asked why I don't have children? I am a woman who does not want to go into details... I don't want to say that I can't have kids because then they ...

I am terribly inept when it comes to office politics

Wednesday, April 18th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, Let me first start by saying that I am terribly inept when it comes to office politics. I never seem to know the proper thing to do. Here is my situation... A department head was hired to replace the previous person who was promoted. He brought his assistant along with ...

Director of surgical department is a backstabber

Wednesday, April 18th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I recently found out that the director of my department has stabbed me in the back. I work in a small surgical hospital. The persons she talked to were the lead nurse and the main doctor at the facility. She has told them that I told her ...

My personality seems to sabotage every job

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007

Dear Office-Politics, I need help! I am a 50 something woman working in the real estate industry who is always being told I take things personally and feel that it is really jeopardizing my career. I am competent but my personality seems to sabotage my career in every job. I ...