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"Our
new Manager requested that we no longer go out for
Dear Office-Politics, I work in a small government sub-office. Recently a new
manager has taken over the office. He was a manager in another office.
Within our Department our office has been noted to be one of the most
effective at doing our job. This is not hype, it is well known within
the Department. As far as any of us here can tell part of our success
can be owed to teamwork. We talk to other when we have work related
problems to solve. We constantly draw on each others varied experience.
Previous managers have recognized our cohesion and promoted our teamwork.
It has become tradition in this office to go out for coffee every morning.
There we discuss work and life. But most of all we talk and respect
each other which I feel helps build the effectiveness of the team. In
short, our work was rewarded with trust and schedule flexibility. Dear Teamwork, What a great team you've formed! It sounds terrific. Too bad about the new Boss... His decision to clamp down on your friendships is counter-productive in so many ways. The camaraderie you describe between your coworkers and yourself sounds very healthy and very productive. The fact that the Boss wants to put a damper on your friendships makes me think of two things: 1. He's in the camp that believes in keeping socializing separate from business (I don't agree, as you're spending 40+ hours a week with these folks) So the question is, 'Should you confront him about this?' This change in office culture sounds like it's really bothering you, so I think you should, but approach with caution! He's trying to make his mark as the new Manager, and he won't want to be seen as caving in to your demands. Therefore you need to approach him in a very strong way. Strength comes
from numbers. I suggest that you talk about this with the rest of your
team and write a letter that clearly states your position. All of you
should sign it. Request a group meeting and lay the issue on the table.
It's better to get it out in the open than let it fester into petty
retaliations. Franke James
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, 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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