Posted in:
August 26, 2008 2:51 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
One of my coworkers makes racist jokes — and seems to think I won't be offended because we're in the same ethnic group. I don't want to be a scold, but how do I get this to stop?
Answer:
Speak up. "You know, Ivan, just because we're both Bulgarian doesn't mean I think the one about the rabbi, the priest, the traveling Bulgarian lightbulb salesman, and the farmer's daughter is funny" is a good start. When you remind him that "jokes" like this go down about as smooth as cherry Kaopectate with the good folks in HR, he'll be thanking you for the job-saving heads-up.
Posted in:
August 26, 2008 4:15 AM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I've been with my current company for seven years but am now moving on. How do I leave on a good note for everyone?
Dear Leaving Your Job
Things in life rarely end as we want them to, and leaving a job is no different. If it goes smoothly and without rancor, consider yourself the exception. There's no mandate about how much notice you should give—two weeks is merely customary, no more set in stone than the third-date rule when it comes to sexual congress. Assuming that you respect your employer and care on what terms you leave, you should offer to finish any projects you reasonably can and get past any looming deadlines, whether that takes 10 days or three weeks. More than that is pushing it, as you're walking dead to them soon enough. Conversely, if you're headed to a major competitor, they may ask you to leave as soon as possible, even that day. CC has never witnessed seized Rolodexes or armed guards escorting anyone from the building, but it happens.
Posted in:
August 22, 2008 12:03 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
When we're on deadline, our manager often makes the work of those with young kids a higher priority so they can be the first ones to leave. I get that juggling parenting responsibilities and work is tough, but I shouldn't have to pick up the slack for my overextended colleagues, should I?
Dear Non-Breeder:
It's not about who's a breeder and who isn't. It's about who has earned the perk — through great work, seniority, ass-kissing, or whatever your particular office values. CC's experience is that those with kids use the workday more efficiently than most. Gone are the lunchtime shopping expeditions, the visits to the gym, the gabfests around the coffeepot about the meaning of last night's "very special" episode of Big Love. And remember, young thang, the day may come when you need your officemates to spell you now and then on account of kids, a sick parent, a rehabbing spouse, or just those Tuesday and Thursday night MBA courses. Here's hoping that you've accrued sufficient good karma with the breeders by then.
Posted in:
August 22, 2008 3:06 AM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I'm a new boss with a hiring quandary: The internal candidate is competent but ordinary, while the other choice is a wild card — could be great, could be a nightmare. Do I play it safe and go with the one I've already worked with?
Dear New Boss:
Commit to memory CC's Corollary, which states that when choosing between the known mediocrity and the unknown candidate, one should always pick the unknown. You have a 66.7 percent chance of a positive result. Yes, the unknown could flop, but she could also a) do as well as the known, or b) actually be a star. Make this rule number one and you will become recognized and maybe even celebrated for your genius hires. And, CC promises, no more math for a while.
Posted in:
August 19, 2008 11:40 AM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
My company says they like me but can't afford my salary anymore-they need me to take a 25 percent pay cut. Can they do this? Am I nuts to consider it?
Dear Slashed Salary:
Yes, they can do it, although CC questions why they'd want someone on the staff spineless enough to accept such a deal. First, try to negotiate a four-day workweek to compensate for the cut. If that fails, well, what's your level of financial peril? Daddy still "helping out"? Could your sock-puppet collection bring a nice sum on eBay? How quickly can you line up another job (always easier when you still have one)? Do you need to suck it up for a while? Listen to CC and listen to CC now: If you do stick around and take the cut, there's only one person in the universe you'll hate more than the boss, and you can guess who it is.
Posted in:
August 18, 2008 12:25 PM by Jihan Thompson | COMMENTS
Recently, I moved from my very cozy (read: very tiny) studio in Harlem to a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. All told, the move should be saving me at least $200 a month but I'm already starting to miss my old digs. And it was the sound of my roomie's alarm this morning that reminded me why. We've all got our morning routines and I prefer to carry mine out in complete and total silence. And this morning's disruption put me in an instant bad mood. Getting used to living with someone else's schedule and lifestyle is no doubt an adjustment-one I decided I was willing to make to save a little cash. Living alone, for all its perks and quiet, is pricey, and one place I could easily cut back. But is the $200 a month ($2,400 a year) I'm saving, really worth it? I think so. For starters, I can think of more than a few ways to spend that extra $200. Plus, I've essentially upgraded to bigger spot with a real bedroom (with a door!).
So what's your living arrangement like?
Roommates or living single?
Did you give up some things in your ideal apartment situation to save a little money?
Posted in:
August 15, 2008 4:06 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
Things got a little out of hand at an office party yesterday, and I ended up making out with a colleague. He's a nice enough guy, but we're both in relationships, and I don't think either of us is thinking future. Do we talk about what happened? Do we tell our respective partners?
Dear Kissy Face:
You're kidding, right? Forget it. It happened. The seductive scent of the office is powerful. You're at your most intense, seeing each other at your best and your worst, both of which can definitely be turn-ons. No need to belabor it (unless you really want more), nor any need to blab to your partners (unless that's some kind of little thing you both like to tantalize each other with). But that's beyond my purview. I am CC, Cubicle Coach, not BC, Booty Coach.
Posted in:
August 13, 2008 4:00 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I just got a great job offer, but I'm two-and-a-half months pregnant. Is it ethical not to tell them?
Dear Preggers:
At two-and-a-half months, you're probably not even telling close friends and family. CC doesn't think it's wise to reveal the pregnancy too early-do you tell prospective suitors on the first date that legumes make you gassy? Once things get serious or an offer is made, you're still under no legal obligation to spill, but it's time to consider it. While an employer can't rescind the offer because you're pregnant, if the job entails heavy travel every week or, say, baling hay, you may not be able to perform the duties, which means they do have an out. Not a bad idea to come clean. Nobody wants to feel like someone tried to pull a fast one on them. But don't be shocked if the new boss offers congrats through clenched teeth.
Posted in:
August 8, 2008 2:44 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
Several colleagues bring their kids to the office, either to show them off or because preschool's not in session that day. It's disruptive — partly because we're all expected to rush over and coo. Am I being bitchy?
Dear Annoyed:
What, you're not charmed by the way little Elroy says he wants "thicken nuggets"? When preening new mothers bring in their babies, you can remain coo-less, especially if Elroy comes near you with the stuff he just excavated from his nostril. Have pity, though: This is Mom's new accessory to show off, the genomic version of a Tory Burch riding boot. If she has to bring the kid because school is out, it's her responsibility — not yours — to make sure he's fed and entertained ... though CC does keep a stash of Benadryl and peppermint schnapps on hand. Seems to quiet them down for some reason.
Posted in:
August 7, 2008 3:30 PM by Jihan Thompson | COMMENTS
Startling fact: 51,000 jobs were cut in July, according to the Labor Department. There's no denying or avoiding this harrowing layoff trend. Are you pocketing extra savings in case the dreaded pink slip comes your way?
Some people are resorting to some pretty crazy tactics. CNN recently reported that reproductive centers are witnessing a spike in women wanting to donate their eggs. When I was in college, the ad section (neatly tucked around the crossword puzzle) was chock full of requests luring cash-strapped college students to donate their eggs in exchange for $10,000 or more. Ladies, tempting as it may sound, donating eggs is no walk in the park. It's an invasive procedure that can be rife with potential health problems. It's certainly an extreme way to earn an extra buck. A friend of mine went the more conventional route and signed up as a mystery shopper, testing out new restaurants and writing reviews for some quick cash.
How are you getting by? Applying for a second job? Asking for more hours at the office?
Posted in:
August 6, 2008 6:00 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
My best friend's dad gave me my first job out of college. Thing is, it's been a few months, and I hate it. It's simply not what I want to do with my life. How do I move on without seeming ungrateful and burning bridges?
Dear Stuck:
If you tell your best friend about your unhappiness, chances are she'll hint as much to her dad. But don't make your friend do your dirty work for you (although it's okay to solicit her advice on dealing with the old man — like, is the Fred MacMurray, cardigan-wearing, pipe-smoking softie really a vengeful screamer when crossed?). A few months seems awfully soon to go running, but if it's been at least six and you really see no end in sight — and this isn't just, "Holy shit, I'm not in college anymore, and have to show up on time every day, not stoned" — approach the dad properly. Thank him profusely, grovel in apology, be honest with him, and tell him you'll stay put while he finds a replacement. A bottle of his favorite scotch upon departure wouldn't hurt, either.
Posted in:
August 5, 2008 1:46 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I'm dreading the two-day company retreat next month. What really happens at these things? Are we going to climb ropes and try to bond? Be scrutinized as we play Pictionary?
Dear Dreadful:
You can learn a lot about your colleagues — good and bad — in a non-office setting. Which dormouse leads the way to the dive blues bar? Which actuary does a mean Worm? Which married guy suddenly has a bare ring finger? If this is your first corporate getaway and you're not scheduled to present or do anything else in the spotlight, lay low and soak up the scene. CC has advised you before not to drink more than you can very safely handle (not easy, since you'll be nervous) or to hook up with anyone — people will know and will remember everything. As for the team-building exercises, CC once was blindfolded and tied up with 10 other staffers, who were then told to find their way to the exit. Believe me, teamwork would have been better encouraged with $50 raises and proper office ventilation. All that this closeness revealed was who had the garlic chicken the night before and that it was, indeed, time to find the exit.
Posted in:
August 4, 2008 1:08 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I'm friends with someone at the office on the same level. I know I'm about to get promoted and that she won't take it well. How should I handle this?
Answer:
It's really her issue to deal with, not yours, but you're smart to be thinking about it. In a perfect world, she'll come to you and say, "Lindsay, I wanted to congratulate you. It's a great job, and you're going to be fabulous in it." Sure. And Dane Cook might win an Oscar. Give her a week or so to come to you. If she doesn't and relations seem strained, take her out for coffee or a drink. Don't be apologetic. None of this "It could have been either one of us; I got lucky" stuff. But, rather, "Look, I know this may be uncomfortable, but I'm hoping it won't affect our friendship, which means a lot to me." You haven't mentioned if you'll be supervising your old friend in your new role. If so, keep it cordial but cool. If she really steps up, you can always get cozier later.
Posted in:
August 1, 2008 1:05 PM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I recently let a colleague's secret slip to the office gossip. Any way to undo the damage?
Dear Loose Lips:
Did this happen after a third mojito, or did you do it intentionally as some kind of manipulative power play? Sure, there's nothing more delicious than knowing something your peers don't, and sharing is sometimes irresistible. But don't you feel sick to your stomach about 10 minutes later? CC believes that when someone tells you something and you agree to keep it secret, you keep it secret. Not just for Spider-Man does great power come with great responsibility. Putting morality aside for a second (no problem for you), realize that if you're discreet, people will tell you many more secrets, and you will gain even more info and thus power. In this case, I'll assume it was the mojitos talking. You can ask your coworker not to repeat the salacious gossip you shared (yeah, right), but be prepared to beg for forgiveness when the source of the leak gets traced back to you. You may have burned a bridge there, sweetheart.
Posted in:
July 30, 2008 2:17 PM by Jihan Thompson | COMMENTS
Last week, I blogged about signing up for my company's transportation reimbursement program-a major office perk I didn't take advantage of when I was first hired. Living in Brooklyn, the train is by far the easiest and fastest way to get to work-the subway literally leads right up to my office's front door! No gridlock, no road rage for parking spaces, no tickets. It's the ultimate big city money-saver, though I shell out $81 a month for it. But many 9-to-5ers don't work in places as subway-friendly as the big metropolises like New York City. Yet, it seems we are all getting more creative about how we're getting to work. Americans drove 9.6 billion miles less in May compared to last year, says the Federal Highway Administration's latest report.
How are you commuting to work these days? Has it saved you money?
Posted in:
July 30, 2008 1:02 AM by Cubicle Coach | COMMENTS
Dear Cubicle Coach:
I lent my boss $80 in cash for a last-minute gift. A week later, she hasn't repaid me. I make one-fifth her salary, but I don't want to nag her.
Dear Strapped for Cash:
Chances are it just slipped her mind (bosses often live in a world of their own, starring themselves, directed by themselves, produced by themselves). How about, "This is embarrassing, but my cable bill is due and I'm a little strapped this month, but that $80 I lent you for Dana's waffle iron would just about cover it. When you get a chance."
Subscribe
NEWER
Print
Email
Kaboodle
Pop Sugar
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook