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Category: Whats Your Best Advice – Current Dilemma

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Current Dilemma:What happened to the dress code?

Current Dilemma:
What happened to the dress code?

We have a business-casual dress code in our organization, with casual day on Friday. However, a colleague dresses a little too casually on a daily basis. We’ve asked her to turn it up a notch, but she still wears shorts on Friday instead of jeans like most folks, short skirts or low-cut blouses that reveal too much. How can we encourage her to dress appropriately, especially since our first attempt to convince her failed? Or should we leave it alone and hope karma does its job?

— Team Lead

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Current Dilemma:How do I handle requests for raises?

Current Dilemma:
How do I handle requests for raises?

Doing more with less is the norm. In my opinion, employees should be thankful they have a job with decent pay. Yet, my staff continues to insist on raises even though we can’t afford them. Should I cave in and give the raises, putting my business at risk? Or should I hold firm, and let them find a better job if they want more money?

— Manager

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Current Dilemma:Um … how do I tell an employee he has bad breath?

Current Dilemma:
Um … how do I tell an employee he has bad breath?

One of my employees, let’s say Brad, has bad breath. Unfortunately, it’s not a temporary issue. I’ve tried all the subtle ways to adapt and change, but nothing works, and the idea of talking to Brad about his breath makes me uncomfortable.

Yet, I have to do something since I’m his manager. Should I give him a never-ending supply of chewing gum or is there a more tactful way to handle this?

— Manager

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Previous Issue’s Dilemma:How do I thwart a thunder-stealing coworker?

Previous Issue’s Dilemma:
How do I thwart a thunder-stealing coworker?

Recently, I worked hard on a project alone. The only help I received was from my coworker, Ed — but it was with resentment and, believe me, very minimal. The manager asked Ed who worked on the project. Ed said that I did it with his help. How can I get sole credit? Should I leave this situation alone or do something about it?

— Christine

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Current Dilemma:How do I thwart a thunder-stealing coworker?

Current Dilemma:
How do I thwart a thunder-stealing coworker?

Recently, I worked hard on a project alone. The only help I received was from my coworker, Ed — but it was with resentment and, believe me, very minimal. The manager asked Ed who worked on the project. Ed said that I did it with his help. How can I get sole credit? Should I leave this situation alone or do something about it?

— Christine

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Previous Issue’s Dilemma:Am I too strict with our Internet policy?

Previous Issue’s Dilemma:
Am I too strict with our Internet policy?

At our company, most employees have Internet access at their workstations. Ordinarily, I don’t mind a few minutes of web browsing here and there for a break or even a little personal business. It’s the same as a quick water cooler conversation.

Yet as social media has grown and become a business necessity, more employees have started to hang out on these sites — and not always for work. Am I going overboard in wanting to control the amount of time employees spend online for personal surfing? How can I trust them to get the work done without curtailing this personal web browsing? Or does it really save productivity since they get the mental break they need?

— Nathan

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I Need More Time

Previous Issue’s Dilemma:
Help! I need more time!

Since it’s impossible to add another hour to the 24-hour day, I need an alternative. How can I find time to do all the things I need to complete at work? No doubt, many managers/supervisors deal with this challenge. How have you overcome the “I can’t get everything done” syndrome?

— Ed, Manager

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Current Dilemma:Am I too strict with our Internet policy?

Current Dilemma:
Am I too strict with our Internet policy?

At our company, most employees have Internet access at their workstations. Ordinarily, I don’t mind a few minutes of web browsing here and there for a break or even a little personal business. It’s the same as a quick water cooler conversation.

Yet as social media has grown and become a business necessity, more employees have started to hang out on these sites — and not always for work. Am I going overboard in wanting to control the amount of time employees spend online for personal surfing? How can I trust them to get the work done without curtailing this personal web browsing? Or does it really save productivity since they get the mental break they need?

— Nathan

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I Need More Time

Current Dilemma:
Help! I need more time!

Since it’s impossible to add another hour to the 24-hour day, I need an alternative. How can I find time to do all the things I need to complete at work? No doubt, many managers/supervisors deal with this challenge. How have you overcome the “I can’t get everything done” syndrome?

— Ed, Manager

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Burning on the Inside

Previous Dilemma:
Burning inside instead of burning bridges

After over five years of service, I recently “retired” from a company to manage my own business full-time. I gave the standard two-week notice and started preparing to help with the transition. The company cut my two weeks short, and my manager was disrespectful to me during the process.

Since then, I’ve been furious with the manager and the situation. I did the best I could to serve the company and was loyal and honest. Having never received closure, I’ve been careful because I don’t believe in burning bridges.

The company did nothing illegal, so this doesn’t call for a lawsuit. And I might need a good recommendation from my manager someday. I think some action will help me get over this, but what? Should I talk to the director or someone else? I’m still burning inside despite trying to forget about the company. Nothing works. How do you work past these nasty feelings?

— Gone, but not forgotten

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Burning on the Inside

Current Dilemma:
Burning inside instead of burning bridges

Since then, I’ve been furious with the manager and the situation. I did the best I could to serve the company and was loyal and honest. Having never received closure, I’ve been careful because I don’t believe in burning bridges.

The company did nothing illegal, so this doesn’t call for a lawsuit. And I might need a good recommendation from my manager someday. I think some action will help me get over this, but what? Should I talk to the director or someone else? I’m still burning inside despite trying to forget about the company. Nothing works. How do you work past these nasty feelings?

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Performance Review

Previous Dilemma:
How can I make a difference with my performance reviews?

In my 20 years in the workforce, it’s surprising that performance reviews haven’t made a difference for my staff. I’m trying to turn this around, so I’ve read up on how to make the most of performance reviews. Yet, I struggle with finding an effective process that benefits the employee, employer and manager.

Do you use the performance review tool or do you do your own thing? What’s the best way to do a constructive performance review that benefits both employees and management?

— Perplexed about performance

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Scaring Off Sales

Previous Dilemma:
Scaring off sales

My company hired me as its first marketing executive. I have a designer and a copywriter who have been here for years. We work together well.

My sales counterpart and I also got along GREAT at first, until I suggested interviewing the sales team to better understand how their customers might react to a social media initiative. Since then, she has found excuse after excuse for me not to speak with them, and our relationship is a bit strained. Is there a way to fix this relationship, or should I try another approach to reach sales?

— Flailing in sales

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Scaring off Sales

Scaring off sales

My company hired me as its first marketing executive. I have a designer and a copywriter that have been there for years. We work together well. My sales counterpart and I also got along GREAT at first, until I suggested interviewing the sales team to better understand how their customers might react to a social [...]

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Social Media is Everywhere!

Social Media is Everywhere!

Where do we start? I’m pushing my sales team to add social media to its repertoire. We started with Twitter and tried to train the sales staff; however, they aren’t taking it seriously. They continue to use the hard-sell approach.

Help!

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