Author: Bill Gorden

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors: How do you put up with working with someone you don’t get along with?

I work at a small grocery store. I have worked here for about 8 months now and I have never gotten along with my one manager, who is always mean and rude to me for no reason. She does petty things like always putting me on the busiest register, yelling at me for dumb things, and not sticking up for me when there have been rude costumers. It got to the point where I had to change my whole work schedule to not have to work with her. But I still end up working with her for a little bit or always seeing her at work.  –Signed  Don’t Get Along

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about music on personal devices:

I recently started a new job making more money and everything is great! I work in a warehouse in charge of shipping and receiving trailers. The work can be hectic at times, but the environment is very calm, and they have a great way of keeping it like that. So far I have been working the warehouse for about 6 weeks and I’m already beginning to feel singled out. I can’t combat the hectic work as employees do to drown their sorrows into various music on portable speakers since the warehouse restrictions have a no earbuds policy due to the traffic of heavy machinery.

One of the top things that makes me feel good is making people smile or knowing that I could make their day just a little bit better by doing something for them. Anyone that has worked in a restaurant probably has a story or two about things that really brighten their day. One specific instance stands out to me. It was probably around a year ago and I was working as a host at the time so I was in charge of carrying out orders. This little sweet old man had come in to place a takeout order. We were not busy at the time so him and I began to make small talk while he waited. He told me that his wife had just been put into a nursing home and that he had just recovered from knee surgery, so he wasn’t walking very well. We continued to talk for around ten more minutes about his life and then when his food was up I offered to help him take it out to his car because I knew he was having trouble walking.

My boss is jealous of me, she is not allowing me to grow, not giving much work and want to prove that I m useless.
Signed–Not Useless

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.

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

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

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about safety:
My daughter is required to clean the public restrooms at her place of business. Today, there was blood all over the bathroom. Isn’t this bio-hazard? Is she required to clean blood? Thanks!
Signed–Mother