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Franke James is Editor/Founder of Office-Politics.com and Inventor of the Office-Politics® Game. Peter R. Garber has worked as an HR professional for over 25 years and is the author of many business books including: Winning the Rat Race at Work and 100 Ways to Get on the Wrong Side of your Boss. Dina Beach Lynch, is an Ombudsman, Author and former attorney. An award-winning mediator, Dina served as the Corporate Ombudsman for the 7th largest bank in the US helping over 48,000 employees to resolve workplace issues. Dr. Rick Brandon is CEO of Brandon Partners. He has consulted and trained tens of thousands at corporations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Dr. Marty Seldman is one of America's most experienced executive coaches. His 35-year career includes expertise in executive coaching, group dynamics, cross-cultural studies, clinical psychology, and training. Arnie Herz, is a lawyer, mediator, speaker, author and consultant nationally recognized for his practical and inspired approach to conflict resolution and client counseling. Dr. John Burton LL.B. M.B.A. M.Div. Ph.D. is an ethicist, mediator, lawyer and theologian. John is currently located in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada, working with Canada's aboriginal communities. |
The women in my office hate me. I am an attorney and took a "temp" legal job at my firm 3 months ago via a headhunter...
June 2006 Dear
Office-Politics, Well, I stuck it out and after two months (when I hear that all other temps had left running out the door), the secretaries started getting VERY hostile in suble ways. All of a sudden, they won't even say hello to me. At the same time, I just got an offer of full employee status. I'm staying but the secretaries clearly HATE it and continue to give me the cold shoulder and withhold when I need something. (Mind you, I do all of my own typing and there is no risk of them being fired for lack of work). What can I do? I'm sure they won't change if I try to confront the issue or if I act all sweet amd humble. They clearly intend to be hostile in a very very small office. Hostile-Environment Dear Hostile-Environment, Brusque, demanding, unfriendly boss. Very hostile secretaries who hate you and don't even say hello. No chance of changing the environment. Wow. Sounds about as intense as it can get. You ask "What can I do?" Two Options. Option 1: Come in quietly, close the door and do your work in a proverbial cocoon. Leave the jail at the end of the day and pay no attention to the jail keepers. Repeat day after day. Option 2: Come in quietly, close the door and do your work in a proverbial cocoon. Leave the jail at the end of the day and don't come back. Find a new job. Either can work. Go with what resonates best for you. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics. Arnie Herz Arnie Herz, Esq.
The Ethics Letters that appears as a feature of this Website is an educational and discussion oriented column designed to help the reader better understand ethical issues. The matters discussed in the letter are reviewed in a summary/abbreviated way and are only meant to foster thinking on the part of the reader. If a person decides to adopt or implement suggestions, they do so at their own risk. No representation or warranty is provided in relation to suggestions or the contents of the letter. Neither the authors of the letter, Franke James, John W. Burton, Rick Brandon, Marty Seldman, Arnie Herz or the owners of this Website accept any liability whatsoever for any opinions expressed in the letter or for errors and omissions. Submission of letters to the Office-Politics Forum grants the Publisher, Nerdheaven Ltd. the right to reproduce, republish, repurpose and excerpt the submission in any and all other media, without compensation or contacting the author. Copyright Nerdheaven Ltd. 2002-2005
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