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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Shunned by Coworker and Others

Bill Gorden

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors by an individual who feels she is a target of animosity:

I work in a department that has 4 people, including me. One day the news was predicting that we were going to have a lot of snow. We were talking about if it was too bad we would not come in. Jane said if any one needed a ride to let her know. She has a new Toyota Forerunner. I accepted and offered to give gas money on the next payday, and she said it was no problem. I took my laptop home just in case I could not get to work.

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Fired for Staring

Bill Gorden

I was fired from my job and one of the main reasons was for Inappropriate staring, Yes, I may have been staring but I stared out of the windows or at a wall. Someone may be in the area but I’m not looking at them. How do I stare appropriately? Signed–Not Looking

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Coworker Disclosed My Pay–I Feel Violated

Bill Gorden

A coworker has looked at my pay and paychecks and compared it to hers. After doing so she complained to our boss about my pay compared to what she gets paid. This coworker’s job title is Accounts Payable. I feel violated and need to know the next step of action to take. She complained to our boss that I am able to receive overtime and she is not. I have only worked in my current position for a little over a year and do not receive salary for that reason. She has been here as accounts payable for at least 6 years and receives salary where no overtime is given.–Feel Violated

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What Is Indirect Counseling?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question: What is the meaning of indirect counseling?

Is your question prompted by some incident in which you were told that you were being counseled this way? Our expertise is in communication-related work questions. We don’t claim psychological clinical certification; however, we have had considerable education in psychology. Based on that, the term indirect counseling dates back to the  work of Carl Rogers and others (1950’s) who advocated that those seeking personal advice are best served by not being told how to solve their problems but guided to reflect on causes and possible solutions to problems. 

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What Can I Do If I Think I’m Being Blackballed By An Employer?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors: I believe I’ve been blackballed by an employer. It stems from taking a test that I had to pass and I didn’t pass it. (Test taking anxiety. ) They wouldn’t let me take it again. I applied for another job with a company that is under the same contract as the manager of the first company, and they said I was not eligible for hire. Is there any course of action I can take? Or just make sure I avoid this employer?

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Micromanaged and Overworked: What Can I Do?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors: I am the Head of Operations at a hospital and the pressure is as imagined. This administrative role involves ensuring the business and process end of the Organization is in form. I am also in charge of business development for the Hospital.

I have been burdened with a checklist which the Medical Director demands to see everyday (this is because I have not been diligent with it). The problem is this checklist is not completed through a reported format. It involves me directly unearthing a thousand and one possible process errors committed by any of our medical and non-medical staff in the previous day – from billing to drug request process errors. By the time, I get through correcting things and informing Department Heads, the day is almost gone.

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How Can I Stop an Affair With My Boss?

Tina Lewis Rowe

Note: This was a very complex situation. We have changed and condensed the question considerably, to protect the identity of the person asking the question. However, we thought our response would be helpful to others.

Question: Several years ago, as a very young employee, I was going through some personal issues and my boss, who is twice my age, helped me work through them. The result was that we became close and have been in an affair since then. Now, however, I want to end it so I can start having a normal life with friends and people my own age. I’m also tired of juggling my schedule to have stolen moments.

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