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is it bad that I use a chat program to talk to my friends throughout the workday?

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wouldn’t trade that away just to be able to shoot the breeze with friends during the workday. two of my employees had a shouting match about PDA and social media when your coworkers won’t stop talking is it bad that I use a chat program to talk to my friends throughout the workday? A reader writes: I work in an administrative position at a university, and I almost always have Google Chat open throughout the day, both to talk to coworkers and friends outside of work. Gchat feels different to me, but should it? Does it all just come down to workplace culture? work habits

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manager leaves to get her hair done during the workday, should I sing a song at my interview, and more

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My manager leaves to get her hair done during the workday. One of my bosses regularly schedules her multi-hour hair appointments for workday afternoons. manager leaves to get her hair done during the workday, should I sing a song at my interview, and more was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. work for a small firm with a fairly laid-back environment. Every other month or so, she leaves work at 3 and comes to work the next day with freshly styled hair. Is this appropriate? She very well may be.).

is 8-6 the new 9-5?

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A reader writes: I wanted to get a perspective from you and your readers on whether you think a majority of businesses and industries are now expecting longer workdays from their employees. Is the 10-hour workday and 50-hour work week the new normal? Colloquially, “the 9 to 5″ has been a phrase to discribe full-time jobs conducted during normal business hours. Obviously all individual offices will vary, but based on my own experience and the experiences of people I know, it seems like “the 8 to 6″ would now be a better descriptor. For some people.

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my coworker complained about my burping and farting, my manager gave away my project, and more

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See previous feelings of humiliation.) It’s now much into the workday of the second day at the new place, and no news. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My coworker complained about my burping and farting. have a work situation I have no idea how to deal with. found out yesterday that my coworker who works in the cubicle next to mine is incredibly offended by the fact that my body makes sounds a lot. belch pretty constantly throughout the day, with some farts as well. I say “excuse me” frequently, and I’ve been to the doctor and it just happens.

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my boss is verbally abusive and won’t pay me

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My coworker and I are planning to give him an ultimatum this week — pay us for the last two months, bring our salaries up to minimum wage, make the sixth workday optional with overtime, and employee status with stock options, in writing. A reader writes: I started as an intern for a small startup about a year ago along with another person. We were both given three-month internships with the promise of full-time employment if we made it past the internship period. It’s been months since he promised, and none of it has materialized. We’re still independent contractors.

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HR stole my parking space, asking colleagues to say I’m out when my abusive mother calls, and more

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Because of this need to find somewhere else on a daily basis, I’ve experienced threats of tickets, annoyed coworkers whose spaces I’ve inadvertently taken, and had to move my car multiple times during the workday. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Asking employees to say I’m out when my abusive mother calls. Is it ever okay to ask an employee to “cover” for you? I am the director of a small, nonprofit county agency. have two staff and three volunteers. The problem is my 74-year-old mentally ill mother. to no avail. HR stole my parking space. ” 5.

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our meetings are being ruined by dogs and a toddler

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A reader writes: I serve on a nonprofit board of directors and am actively involved in a number of committees that frequently meet during the workday. While the organization tries to make a good effort at keeping meetings short and succinct, there are two main problems that keep this from happening: toddlers and dogs. One employee frequently brings her toddler to work — which, good on the organization for bring flexible, but having a small human in a meeting is distracting and disruptive. Would it be appropriate to bring this up with the organization’s executive director?

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why do the extroverts run the show at work — at the expense of introverts?

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It’s gotten to the point where several of us schedule conference rooms during the workday just so we can have some peace and quiet and get work done. A reader writes: I work in the dreaded open-plan/high-density seating arrangement (but thankfully am able to work a couple of days a week from home, which makes it survivable). have been told I am friendly and pleasant at work, but I limit my socializing, as I regard work as work and my personal life is my own, outside of work. later dealing with emails and other work stuff, and say they spend a weekend day working.

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my coworker obsessively checks my calendar all day long

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A reader writes: I have a coworker who recently got reprimanded for wasting excessive time during the workday. Since this happened, I can see that she has been checking my calendar multiple times a day (the email client we use provides a feature where you can see who recently viewed your calendar) to see what I have scheduled. She sometimes looks through the next 15 to 20 days on my schedule. She is not responsible for scheduling anything that I need to attend. Why not ask her about it? ” I’d bet that that might put a stop to it. What do you need?”

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having a boyfriend meet you at work for lunch, dealing with Boss’s Day, and more

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If he were joining you constantly, it could come across as a little immature (like you couldn’t get through the workday without boyfriend contact), but on occasion, like once a week or less? It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Do I have to organize a Boss’s Day gift? That time of the year is coming up again: Boss’ Day. I am a huge proponent of the “gifts flow down” mentality and usually don’t contribute to a gift, but I have a particular dilemma this year. recently took over as Administrative Assistant for my department, and our old A.A. wouldn’t worry about this.

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office party will increase my workload, my wife’s company party makes me uneasy, and more

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Our department’s holiday party is going to be during the workday, for four hours. It’s seven holiday-related questions, and seven answers. Here we go…. 1. Attending my office holiday party will seriously raise my workload. What should you do if attending your office holiday party will result in an increased workload? Do I go and just accept I’ll be working very late that day? Should I show up for a limited time? Or should I skip the whole thing altogether? I’d make a brief appearance (seriously brief, like 20 minutes) and then return to work. Thanks for your insights!).

my coworker keeps making snide comments about my hours

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There are typically only three of us who are in the office during the entire workday (myself included). A reader writes: I work in a small office (less than 10 people), with several colleagues being out in the field during the day. typically get in 10 minutes before I am supposed to be in, and leave within 10 minutes of my day being “done.” ” I stay past that if I need to wrap something up or if I am working on something with colleagues. However, every day without fail, another office worker, Jane, will make a comment about how “It’s barely afternoon!”

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do you feel tele-pressure when you work from home?

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That leads to people doing things like interrupting evenings and weekends to respond to emails that aren’t actually urgent, or even neglecting their biggest priorities during the workday itself in order to remain continuously responsive to a never-ending stream of emails and other communications. At Intuit QuickBase’s Fast track blog today, I talk more about tele-pressure and offer six steps you can take to minimize it. You can read it here. do you feel tele-pressure when you work from home? was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. work habits

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ask the readers: my office is keeping me painfully isolated at work

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It feels trivial to complain about, but ever since the move I find myself feeling extremely isolated throughout the day, often going the full workday without having more than the briefest social interaction. I’m throwing this one out to readers to weigh in on. reader writes: A year ago, I jumped at the opportunity to take a promotion and move to a new business unit in my organization. It was a fantastic move for me: I’m happier all around, I’m doing more engaging work, and am by far the youngest manager in the new unit. Our relationship is great but strictly professional.

when an employee is consumed by news of mass tragedies

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If it were within driving distance, I’d be on alert, but if it’s hundreds or thousands of miles away, I don’t think we should let it affect our workday. A reader writes: I supervise someone who subscribes to news alerts on his cell phone and via email, and he kind of obsesses about news when it’s something like the California shooting. While it’s a tragedy, especially considering it’s workplace violence that could affect any of us, I don’t think it’s worth dropping everything to follow. Is that unreasonable? Oooof. excepted).

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when your boss is at the next table during your dinner interview, employee is taking too much time off, and more

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It’s now Tuesday nearing the end of the workday, and I think I’ve been forgotten. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Talking to an employee who’s requesting too much time off and seems disengaged. have an employee who’s been requesting a lot of time off, especially on weekends. We work in hospitality, and so weekends are a crucial time for us. She’s been with us for a over a year (a very long time in our industry, as we only have one year-round position). As a very small business, we try hard to treat our employees well. But what do I say?

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happy hours and religious restrictions, our graphic designer is color blind, and more

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However, the only interview time she gave me was less than 24 hours away, would have required me to miss nearly four hours of work (with drive time included) because it was in the middle of the workday, and conflicted with unmissable meetings at my current job (we had a big event in three days, which I had discussed in a previous interview). It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Happy hours and religious restrictions. have a question regarding religious dietary restrictions, and this is something our team at work has been “debating” back and forth for a while.

I lose my motivation when my boss is out of the office

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While I get the essential tasks of my role done, from January to April alone my boss was gone for 25/79 workdays, and I am afraid that I am getting too accustomed to dawdling at work (I am way too comfortable using my work computer for Youtube and a host of other non-work tasks). A reader writes: I’m excited to be sending in my first question! love your blog and find it both informative and thoroughly entertaining. would love to tell you that I am a diligent worker bee and don’t take advantage of my freedom, but that would be a pretty bold lie. Two very different things!)

a sketchy assistant with a fancy watch, wearing lots of wigs, and more

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The first workday after Thanksgiving, I was up, getting dressed when I received a call at 7 a.m. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Assistant might have bought himself a fancy watch on the company credit card. recently took over Operations at a small applied engineering company. In the time between when the old operations manager left and I started, the owner’s assistant took over some of the operational and financial responsibility. When it arrived, he implied that the company bought the watch “as a birthday present.” No response. workers don’t.

is there a best time of day to fire someone?

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At the end of the workday, another manager ushered everyone else who was around (we’re a small office) into a fake meeting so that the employee would be able to pack up his desk in peace. A reader writes: I know there have been a lot of discussions on your blog about the kindest ways to fire someone. I was wondering what your opinion is on the time of day it’s done. Recently one of my coworkers was let go. This is how I have seen several other firings happen, and I thought that it seemed fair. and the poor employee has to pack up and leave with everyone staring. firing

we have a mandatory all-staff jamboree on Election Day

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In your case, she points out that you have a two-hour window available for voting before your workday starts that morning: “If the polls open at 6 a.m. (as I believe they do in Illinois) and your work day starts at 8 a.m., A reader writes: I work for a small company (under 20 employees, plus approximately 50 independent contractors over 30 states). The big boss has decreed that this year we shall have a mandatory all-staff (and all-contractor) jamboree, hosted here in my city where the head office is located, on November 7, 8, and 9. November 8th is Election Day. Thus, two questions: 1.

discouraging friends from applying for a job on my team, coworkers won’t stop texting at night, and more

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Even my boss texts me after hours about payroll, which I feel should have been taken care of during the workday. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Can I discourage friends from applying for a job in my department? just finished grad school in a field where work is hard to come by. I did find a job after graduating and have been there about six months. It’s actually not in the field I studied, but there are lots of transferable skills, and I really love it. One of my coworkers is leaving, so we’ll have a vacancy soon in my department. They may not.).

should I tell a new employee that her facial piercings are limiting the work we’ll give her?

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She might choose to take out her piercings during the workday in order to get the types of projects she wants there. A reader writes: We have a new employee at our small office with multiple facial piercings. It’s not a problem in our daily office environment and we hired this employee with the facial piercings in place. The employee had applied to the job with the original description and multiple times during the interview process inquired why the client-facing part was removed. For better or worse, the answer was that another employee took it on and we reorganized the office.

my team’s holiday parties are rather feeble

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There have been complaints and lackluster attendance at previous ones, apparently no real push to schedule something the last three years when there wasn’t anything, and a general lack of interest. I don’t think it’s reasonable to call people sticks-in-the-mud because they don’t want to play games at a department potluck in the middle of the workday; that’s not everyone’s bag. A reader writes: Am I reacting unreasonably? have been at my job for about 10 years now with the same department head. attended, but about half of the department did not.

giving a gift to your boss, missing Christmas bonuses, ass-grabbers at the holiday party, and other holiday questions and answers

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Second, this party is during your workday, so it’s additionally reasonable that it’s employees-only. 6. Wondering whether to get a holiday gift for your boss? Or to give holiday gifts to your employees? What about how to handle an ass-grabbing coworker at the company Christmas party? Here’s a round-up of 10 holiday-related questions I’ve received recently — and answers. 1. Should I get my boss a gift for the holidays? just started a new job and I am working in a team of three. Should I get my boss a gift for the holidays? What would you suggest? See above.

who you sit next to can impact your performance, what happens when you give up multi-tasking for a week, and more

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You may also like: is it bad that I use a chat program to talk to my friends throughout the workday? Over at QuickBase’s Fast Track blog today, I take a look at several interesting work-related stories in the news right now, including how the person you sit next to at work can impact your performance, what happens when you give up multi-tasking for a week, and more. You can read it here. live where I work, and now there’s a haunted house next to me is it unprofessional to put your feet up on your desk? work habits

when you want to cook but not do all the work: Blue Apron

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But when I have busy workdays, the last thing I want to do is spend half the evening figuring out what to cook for dinner, rounding up ingredients, and then cooking something that doesn’t turn out quite right. And now a break to talk about a sponsor…. like to cook – and more to the point, I like to eat. So I order take-out way too much. Everything is pre-measured and ready! Give them a try.

using Facebook for work without looking like I’m goofing off, forwarding business calls to a personal phone, and more

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In other words, assume that you’ll be reimbursed and ask them about the logistics for making that happen — because any reasonable employer will reimburse you if this incurs extra charges. I can’t tell from the way your letter is worded if this is just when you’re away from your desk (meaning still during the workday) or if it’s outside of work hours too. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Using Using Facebook for work without looking like I’m goofing off. work in a large nonprofit, on a team of two that manages one program. sign on my cube?

my new coworker noisily sucks on candy all day, wearing company-branded items after a buy-out, and more

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expect that I should be better by (next scheduled workday), but if that’s looking unlikely by (day before next scheduled workday), I’ll let you know right away.” It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My new coworker noisily sucks on candy all day. woman who recently joined our office sucks on candies all day long and makes terrible, loud sucking noises. Is there a way to politely ask her to be quiet? It is driving me absolutely bananas. Well, are you comfortable being pretty direct about it? Not all, certainly, but most.). 2. Thoughts?

Workday Launches Learning: Brings Video to the Enterprise

Josh Bersin

Enterprise Learning workday workday learningThe Learning Management Systems (LMS) marketplace is over $3 billion in size, and includes hundreds of platforms to help companies manage all aspects of their employee training. The problem is that. Bersin & Associates, Leading Research and Advisory Services in Enterprise Learning and Talent Management.

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Customers Share Favorite Workday Rising Moments

Workday

At Workday Rising this week, you told us you loved reconnecting with longtime friends. And you told us you were very excited to hear the news about Workday Learning , Workday Planning , Workday Student , Workday’s strategic partnership with Microsoft , and more. We look forward to seeing our customers and partners again in Chicago for Workday Rising, Oct.

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Introducing Workday Next: A Spotlight on Workday’s Tech Advancements and Investments

Workday

Today we launched  Workday Next , a new initiative that serves as the hub for information and stories about our technology advancements, as well as the experts and up-and-comers behind them. Here’s a little background on what Workday Next is and why we decided to roll out this initiative. Workday Labs. Christen Penny, Product Designer, Workday. Workday Sigma.

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Workday to Acquire Platfora

Workday

We’re excited to announce that today Workday signed a definitive agreement to acquire Platfora , a leading provider of operational analytics and data discovery tools that enable companies to visually interact with and analyze petabyte-scale data in seconds. With the Platfora team and its technology unified within Workday, we will continue enriching the analytics in Workday Financial Management and Workday Human Capital Management so our customers can be even more prepared to tackle business problems and seize opportunities today and into the future. Who is Platfora?

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Video: Workday Community Reflects on Favorite Moments from Workday Rising 2015

Workday

A big thank you to our customers and the rest of the Workday community who joined us in Las Vegas last week for Workday Rising 2015! Our intrepid Workday film crew was everywhere during the event and asked attendees what they thought about the conference—watch the video below to get a feel for the Workday Rising experience. 26-29, 2016.

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Talking Vertical: Workday’s Approach to Industries

Workday

John Webb, VP of industry strategy and alliances at Workday, leads a team that works with customers and product teams to develop industry-specific features and applications. Customers chose Workday because they recognized our applications could help them adapt to change more quickly than legacy systems. What are you most excited about in regards to Workday’s industry strategy?

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The Best Workday Integration You Never Knew About

Globoforce

Are you a Workday customer or currently going through a Workday implementation? Did you know you can quickly and easily launch a recognition solution that integrates seamlessly with your Workday HCM solution? Globoforce is the only certified Workday partner offering pre-packed integration for social recognition. What value does the Globoforce/Workday integration bring?

Workday Community Voices: Rolls-Royce Deploys Global HR System Overnight

Workday

But that’s exactly what Workday customer Rolls-Royce did in October 2015, when the business deployed a cloud-based HR system covering employees across 46 countries. “In all honesty, Workday didn’t sell to us, the other customers did. ” You clearly did your homework—why did Workday come out on top? It is a differentiator in the quality of the Workday concept.

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