Question: What do you do when you have a highly responsible position working for a company
that has very limited internal structure or rules and a boss who is sometimes
deceitful and difficult to work for?
I have no internal resources such as a human resources
department (I'm the person who handles that function), and I work in an "at
will" state, where an employee can be fired for any reason at any time. When I
voice my opinions on improvements that can be made within the company, they are
usually rejected. When I request assistance with my position (which is a
catch-all of office management, hr, receptionist, admin. assistant), it falls on
deaf ears.
My boss has never been straightforward with the employees and
behaves in a somewhat deceptive manner. I have co-workers who would rather
"back stab" than attempt to have productive working relationships with each
other. I can't rely on what I have been told and never know what to expect on a
daily basis.
The biggest problem is that I desperately need the job for the
money. I realize that resignation is always an option, but I haven't been able
to find another job with comparable duties or pay.
The latest event is that I have been advised my position is
being restructured, yet somehow, that really meant I was being demoted.
Recently, I received a raise, but got even less respect due to a lower job
title. I really think I'm being kept around only for my skills and knowledge,
and I feel I'm being used. Now what do I do, or what recourse do I have? -- Anonymous
Question: I have been working as an HR and admin coordinator for more than a year and
have been much appreciated for my dedication and commitment, to the extent that
I am up for a promotion.
Recently, a new employee joined the company in the same position and,
although I have gone out of my way to make her feel welcome and shared all my
tips and so much of my experience, when I spoke to her regarding a small issue,
she responded in a rude and loud manner. I tried to talk it over with her and
make it work, but she continued shouting and acting obscene. I approached my
manager about the new person’s behavior, but my manager told me that I have to
be more polite, since I may have come across as rude to the new person, who is
probably sensitive.
Hello!! I was the one being shouted at while trying to be diplomatic and
polite!!
I need advice urgently because I would hate to ruin the relationship I have
with my manager, and I also don’t want to be falling over myself to be nice. I
am, after all, the senior one here! -- Anonymous
Question: Two of my managers come to my desk frequently and
read my computer screen and anything else within view of my desk. I do not
report to either one. They both report to my boss, who is the department
head.
One manager is somewhat harmless, and overly
friendly; the other is often looking for information to either use to someone's
disadvantage or he is trying to stay in the loop where he used to occupy a more
prominent position. He was seen rummaging through other people's trash some time
ago, and I suspect he checks over my desk when he is in the office alone.
How can I stop the trash-rummaging manager, and what can I do about the
overly friendly manager? -- Anonymous
Question: How can I think on my feet when talking to the boss, without
looking rather inept? -- Anonymous
Question: Our problem is that, when various offices have items that need to be surplused,
many times, they end up in the basement entry-level alcove right in front of the
elevator area. It doesn't block the walkway except on rare occasions when too
many items are left there.
These items should be surplused by individual
offices, but it just seems convenient to roll them to this area. I usually end
up having to fill out surplus forms for each item to have them picked
up. They've been told but they eventually start again. How would you handle a
problem like this? Thanks. -- Annette
Question: As a young person
in a demanding and competitive industry, what is the best way to stop
co-workers from being angry as I succeed in my career? -- Anonymous
Question: Not really a problem; more of a call for advice. Starting
with the August issue, I’ll be the new editor of Personal Report for the Administrative Professional.
I’d like to hear from you as to what you’d like to see more of — and less
of — in the newsletter each month. What tough issues would you like me to tackle
in the coming months? In the coming year?
Thanks, in advance, for your guidance. -- Alice Bumgarner
Question: I have a co-worker who does very little work and is constantly
on the phone (personal calls). When this co-worker took medical leave, I did
both my job AND the co-worker’s job, with extra time left over.
The owners are aware of this and have commented that they need
to do something with this person but, to this day (it’s been two years), they
have done nothing. The owners’ answer is to just add more work to my job, which
I feel is unfair since this other person just does nothing.
I think I have intimidated this co-worker, because we no
longer have the friendly relationship we had before the medical leave.
How do I keep from getting so frustrated?
HELP! -- Anonymous
Question: For the second time, my department has lost its office
manager. Being the AA for that position, I have stepped up, above and beyond, to
fill the void as much as possible. This time, I decided to ask for the position.
I was pretty much denied the opportunity. I feel like I've been cheated because
I've taken on a lot more responsibility — HR, office management and supervising
roles — and am not compensated or respected for it. What should I
do? -- Anonymous
Question: I am in charge of archiving documents
within our office. I use storage boxes for the papers, but what is the best way
to group them by appropriate topic (i.e. financial reports, board members’
backgrounds, etc.)?
I now have them in closed manila envelopes, some in hanging folders (which hinders closing the lids) and others
in plain flat file folders. Suggestions? -- Terri L. Michael
