Ask the Workplace Doctors

Before You Submit Your Question…….

March 1, 2019March 26, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

Ask the Workplace Doctors is a FREE resource to help you find solutions to workplace communication problems.

1. You may find the answer to your question in our archive of over 3,000 questions and responses in the categories on the right.

2. You will receive an email response. When your question is posted, it will be shown as anonymous.

3. Our expertise is workplace communication, not legal or medical. Under the “Useful Links” tab at the top, we list sites to which you might submit legal and medical questions.

Step Down and Train My Replacement! No.

August 26, 2019September 18, 2019 Bill Gorden

I have been working for a company for 6 months and have been receiving a lot of hostility from an employee that was overlooked for my position. The previous manager before me did not recommend him for the position due to his lack of experience. Since this, that said employee has been hostile towards me and creating a toxic work environment. He also makes the office uncomfortable due to his hostility and anger towards other office personnel within the department.

Should I Report What My Colleague Told Me?

August 26, 2019August 26, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about whether or not to report that a coworker
was asked to make a false accusation of sexual harassment.

Question: A work colleague told me that my boss asked her to fake a sexual harassment complaint against another manager. He told her he would give her $4,000 now and $4,000 later, for a total of $8,000.

I asked her what she said and she told me “Oh my gosh, I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to do!” I told her to report it to someone higher, but she said no.

Appology?

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019 Bill Gorden

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about dealing with a coworker that acts like she knows everything and can do everyone’s job better than them.

I sent an email to my co-workers asking for guidance on an email that I had to send out. Moreso for them to proof and to edit it if need be. The co-worker in question sent back a harsh email telling me that my email was incorrect. Instead of giving me advice on what it should say she just told me that it was incorrect and if I sent it out the employees would never trust our department again.

What About a Fragrance-Free Workplace?

August 20, 2019August 20, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

I’ve read several posts regarding perfumes and fragrances in the workplace. As far as I can tell, adopting a (reasonably) fragrance free environment is at the company’s discretion.

Coworker In Affair With My Husband and Making My Work Difficult.

August 18, 2019August 18, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question: I work with a woman who I have discovered is having an affair with my husband and assisted him in moving out of my house. I have filed divorce papers and he is hiding and living with her. She is making my work life horrible as well. We sit on the same team and she undermines and questions all my actions. What can I do?

Initiative Makes a Specific Feel Good

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 Bill Gorden

A specific incident at work that made me feel good at work was when I started a new job at the start of summer. It was my second day of working there. I was in the kitchen and it was very slow. Other employees were standing around talking to one another with nothing to do. I chose to start cleaning all the tables, sinks, and even the fryer! I was doing so as all the other employees were still standing around talking. My boss came in the back and saw that I was the only one working in the kitchen. He told the other employees to observe what I was doing. My boss said to me that day that I was manager material and it made me feel great that someone knew I was working harder than everyone else.

My Boss Thinks I Snitched On Him.

July 25, 2019July 26, 2019 Bill Gorden

My boss used to be great with me, but recently he has seemed to feel differently about me, as though he doesn’t trust me. He will talk to other employees about work, but not include me in any of it. I asked one of my colleagues about this change in attitude and she told me that he thinks I am snitching on him. She told me not to tell anyone that she gave me that information.

I tried to talk to him, to find out more about it, but he wouldn’t even talk to me or listen to me. .

What Can I Do About Excessive Fragrances at Work?

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question: I work in a pharmaceutical company that produces medications. I have an overly sensitive system in regards to smells and scents. I have severe allergies to many things and require an EpiPen to be carried at all times.

Is My Co-Worker Trying To Show Me Up?

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question: I was taking a vacation day and my boss wanted to make sure that the daily tasks I do were covered, so I showed my co-worker. She said it would be easy, but she wondered why she couldn’t do the project on her own computer. I told her, because the project is assigned to me and my computer.

Didn’t Abide by Severance Agreement

July 22, 2019July 25, 2019 Bill Gorden

I was “Laid Off” 3-4 months back and given severance. Included in the agreement were conditions that I wouldn’t sue and the organization would provide “Neutral ” references. Upon hiring a reference checking Agency, I found one manager giving a positive reference and another one giving an extremely negative one. How should I proceed and how much will this cost?

Signed–Severance Neutral