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I’ve started a new job at a small, private company. It is a very dog-friendly environment and I do not like pets or animals of any kind. My co-worker’s dog is allowed to walk around the office freely, as if it is a human being. The dog has no concept of personal space and gets extremely close to me after we have an awkward staring match. I overheard other co-workers discussing how they may bring their dogs to the office, too, and it’s honestly making me feel super uncomfortable. Should I just suck it up or say something?
Most dogs are very people-oriented and affectionate, so it’s hard to expect them to adhere to human concepts of personal space.
Saying something about disliking the dog isn’t going to go over well with your colleagues. If, however, you’re frightened of animals, there will be enough empathy on your co-workers’ part that they might try to keep their pets away from you.
Barring some way of closing off your workspace so that the dog cannot get near you while you’re working, you’re going to have to either say something to your co-worker or an HR representative about being scared, or steel yourself and try to tolerate your extreme discomfort when in the office. You can try saying the dog is distracting-which it might very well be, even and especially for animal lovers.
Late last year, I left my job with nothing lined up due to an incredibly toxic boss. I was given a generous severance and had to sign a non-disclosure agreement saying I would not “disparage” my former workplace. I landed a new job in the same field recently but now have to explain my sudden departure and employment gap. Is there is a way to subtly communicate that was leaving a bad situation?
This is a complicated question with a relatively simple answer: Just tell people, if they ask, that your former job was not the right fit for you.
People take breaks in between jobs all the time, often for personal reasons, and you won’t raise eyebrows if you explain the pause in your employment that way.
You may also want to use this as an opportunity to convey your excitement about your new job. This keeps things focused on the present, not the past. If pressed by people on the reasons for your departure from your previous job, you can repeat that the job was not the right fit for you and that as part of your departure package, you agreed not to talk about your time there.
I work closely with a colleague on a major project every year, and we need to collaborate daily throughout its duration. The problem is that this individual tends to be overly obsequious toward me (he is 20 years younger) and sometimes can come across as patronising. His work is solid, but I dread being in his company. Any tips for handling this situation?
Obsequiousness can be cringe-inducing but there’s nothing you can do. You can’t have your colleague moved off the project and, besides, a person’s communication style, unless it’s truly toxic or offensive, does not justify speaking with HR about it. The question is whether you can say something directly to him. You can’t and you shouldn’t. Try to tolerate the situation as much as you’re able, and perhaps come up with some strategies to limit your direct interactions.
A woman who works for me dresses in a provocative fashion. I get complaints from co-workers that her flesh- baring outfits are distracting and unprofessional. I contacted HR and their response was for me to handle it. How should I approach this?
Discuss it with her directly. Find a neutral space where you can chat with your employee-not your office, which could feel disempowering for her. Start the conversation by acknowledging that though she is within her rights to dress how she wishes, her colleagues are commenting on her attire, which is taking away from their perception or understanding of the quality of her work.
The important thing when speaking to an employee about an unprofessional appearance at work is to avoid addressing any immutable characteristics, like hair or body type. You can say, “You are absolutely entitled to have your own style, but for this office, we prefer to be a little more covered up, and that’s true for all of our colleagues.”
Source: GWFM Research & Study
