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The workplace dilemmas that plagued you in 2023
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The workplace dilemmas that plagued you in 2023

From bugged cars to bad bosses, these are the ‘Got a Minute?’ columns that had everyone talking.

9 stories

Half the office gets free lunch, we fight for scraps. Is that normal?

This workplace sounds like it’s stuck in the Jurassic era. Time for the dinosaurs to leave, Dr Kirstin Ferguson writes.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
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After many years of service, it’s not unreasonable to expect a farewell card.

I was let go after 20 years. Am I wrong for expecting a ‘thank you’?

Human decency suggests a token of appreciation from the company to a former employee isn’t too much to ask, Dr Kirstin Ferguson writes.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
There is suspicion in the office.

The smokers in the office are questioning me working from home

It sounds like your office has too much suspicion floating about. It’s time for your manager to lay down the rules.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
At work, it’s often helpful to come across eager to understand instead of hurt and upset.

I’m not on my company’s executive succession plan. How upset can I be?

Rather than be disappointed or even accusatory, I would focus on being curious, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
Tracking someone without their knowledge is covert surveillance.

My boss put a tracker on my car without consent. Can I remove it?

Even if this surveillance was consensual, what your boss did next was reprehensible, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
Before deciding to quit, it can be helpful to consider all options to salvage the situation.

I’m being managed out. Do I give up and quit? Or fight for my job?

It seems trust has completely broken down between you and your employer, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
When your confidence has been shaken, focus on what you can bring to a new team in a new environment.

I got fired without warning. How do I explain what happened in job interviews?

Whether it feels fair or not, being dismissed can signal red flags to future employers, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
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I never know the ‘right’ thing to say in meetings, but wish I could contribute

It’s time to talk about the word-to-wisdom ratio, says Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson
It’s an awkward conversation but it needs to happen.

My colleague stinks. How do we tell them they smell?

It’s an awkward one but they deserve to know they are being talked about and avoided, Dr Kirstin Ferguson writes.

  • by Kirstin Ferguson

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/the-workplace-dilemmas-that-plagued-you-in-2023-20240116-p5exll.html