Before You Submit Your Question…….

Bill Gorden

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 concerns. Under the “Useful Links” tab at the top, we list sites to which you might submit legal and medical questions.

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Target Today Talk About Talk By An Employee

Bill Gorden

An Employee’s view of her workplace in a speech to inform she submitted because classes were cancelled

Now all of you have some kind of job, whether it is now or was in the past, correct?  *wait for head nod*

Nice me too! And I’m almost positive you’ve all gotten frustrated with the lack of communication and wish it were better right? *wait for head nods*

That’s what I thought and I have the same issue as well. I would like to inform all of you that for me, working in a place where most of you probably shop, a place called Target. Since working  there lately I’ve noticed a change in the communication amongst its employees. 

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New Manager Assigned Me an Unfavorable Schedule

Bill Gorden

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctor about a manager purposely assigning an unfavorable schedule:

My new manager saw how much I earn and is punishing me for it. He has changed my schedule and that is very unfavorable for me, what can I do?

Signed–Punished

Dear Punished:

Managers have a great latitude to determine employees’ schedules. Their reasons for changes might include performance, supplies, equipment, sales and personnel needs/desires. Do you have evidence that your new manager is changing you to an unfavorable because he thinks you are paid too much or too little? Might you think this is based on discrimination against your race, national origin, sex, religion, age, or another reason? 

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I Feel I am Being Pushed Out of My Subcontractor Job.

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question:
I joined my company 3 years ago as a subcontractor working 2 days a week. I stayed on after the project with other production tasks, as well to operate a new piece of equipment, and started working the full week.

Months later a part-time staff in a managerial position was leaving, and the boss asked if I wanted to take over their correspondence, bookkeeping, and database management tasks. I accepted the offer, and organized my roles accordingly. These tasks usually combine together into a full work week, while otherwise each task would only take half to one work day to do.

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Not Lucky in Love

Bill Gorden

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about dating a coworker:

I’m a young college student who isn’t very lucky when it comes to love. I got over my fears and ask out my co-worker. I have very strong feelings for her and decided to take the gamble of dating a co-worker. I sat down at the restaurant on my day off and she was my waitress. I gave her my contact information, a generous tip that I plan on never mentioning to her and asked her out to a local musical. She smiled and said ‘maybe’ since that’s the week of her mom’s birthday.

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What Might Happen after a Complaint to HR that I Raised my Voice to a Coworker?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question:
I had an argument with a coworker and he complained that I raised my voice. HR told me that numerous people said I raised it, but I know those people were actually friends of my coworker. Now HR is doing an investigation and has asked me to take a couple of days off and they will let me know what the next steps will be.

This is my first time ever meeting with HR. Do you think I could get fired? Any suggestions or ideas or experience would be appreciated to help me with this situation.

Response:
The decision about what will happen as a result of your loud argument will depend upon what it was about, what words you used, what was being said by your coworker, and how valuable you are to the company.

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How Can I Show My Coworker Didn’t Have My Best Interest at Heart?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question:
One day I did not turn up to work at the expected time. My co-worker, who I do not get on with, was stomping around the office asking other co-workers why I had not turned up, intermittently going into a shared office and asking “has she not turned up?”

Later he asked where I live and my phone number to contact me. He distracted quite a few people who were tying to get on with work. Basically he made a show of it.

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How Can I End an Affair with a Married Person at Work?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question:
I have been having an affair with my company’s HR manager off and on for over three years. It’s toxic because she is the one that is married and all actions are dependent on her marriage. If everything is OK at home for her, I’m just a friend. If she and her husband are at odds she wants to engage with me.

I care for her immensely but this has to end. I’m afraid that if I end it she will make sure that there is retaliation. I try to get her to end it but it just continues to be ongoing. It’s a game of cat and mouse. I’m not sure what to do but it has to end. It’s taking a toll on my work performance and my emotional state. What do I do? Please help.

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Feeling Unappreciated

Bill Gorden

I don’t know why, but I feel like I am very unappreciated for the amount of things I do at work. To give some context I work as a part-time stock and backup receiver at Discount Drug Mart. I’ve been there for almost 2 years and am contemplating on whether I should quit and get a new job where I can be appreciated for the amount of things I can do on my own. The list of things I do there are normal things for stock:

– Restock the shelves

– Get carts

– Make a bale (Cardboard boxes)

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I’m Attracted to My Boss and Getting Mixed Messages From Him.

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question:
I have an attraction to my boss. I can’t explain how it transpired but it did. And I get mixed signals from him. Like, at our annual staff party he told me, as he knew I was on a weight loss journey, that I’m such a beautiful woman and that when I’ve reached my goal he will introduce me to some people. He calls and sends me texts late at night. I’m just lost. Please help.

Response:
If you look at our archives you will find situations similar to yours. You’ll also see that we are consistent in saying it’s understandable that a coworkers at all levels in an organization might find a boss attractive and develop a crush (even to the point of obsession.) We also consistently say that such relationships nearly always lead to unhappiness for one or both.

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