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Work therapy

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In a meeting where someone is told they’re losing their job, it’s not unusual for management to err on the side of tact and diplomacy

My colleague was fired for being ‘too nice’. Is that fair?

This conduct from your employer appears unprofessional and frankly schoolyardish. It also seems risky.

  • Jonathan Rivett

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The fact this email turned out to be important seems like something you should have been warned about in advance.

I accidentally ignored an important email. Did I deserve to be yelled at?

The fact this email turned out to be important seems like something you should have been warned about in advance.

  • Jonathan Rivett
With bank transfers for gifts increasingly common, slyly avoiding contributing for a colleague you don’t like is a difficult prospect.

Can I refuse to contribute to a gift for a colleague I dislike?

With bank transfers for gifts increasingly common, slyly avoiding contributing to a colleague you don’t like is a sensitive and difficult prospect.

  • Jonathan Rivett
Commuters wait at a Sydney train station.

Why doesn’t my boss agree that commuting is a waste of time?

For too long, the time and cost associated with lengthy commutes was waved away as a necessary evil. That era is over.

  • Jonathan Rivett
It could be good-natured but inept, a genuine attempt to have some fun at your expense by playing a prank nobody else gets or finds funny.

Why does my boss keep asking me to tidy my immaculate desk?

Being asked over and over again to tidy up your workspace sounds like a frustrating and confusing scenario.

  • Jonathan Rivett
Healthy snack at office workplace. Businesswoman eating organic vegan meals from take away lunch box at wooden working table with computer keyboard and smartphone with empty screen for copy space Desk salad, lunch at work iStock

Why is my demanding boss telling me not to eat lunch at my desk?

It’s possible they have no concept of the strain you’re under at work – or they genuinely care about your wellbeing. There are a few ways to approach this.

  • Jonathan Rivett
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Some employment contracts may allow your workplace to deduct certain types of leave, but it’s a different story when it comes to your legal entitlements.

Is my employer allowed to ‘cull’ my leave?

Some contracts may allow your workplace to deduct certain types of leave, but it’s a different story when it comes to your legal entitlements.

  • Jonathan Rivett
You’re right in thinking this person is not the corporate mastermind they think they are. But convincing others of this will be far more difficult.

My workmates think our boss is a genius. How do I convince them otherwise?

You’re right in thinking this person is not the corporate mastermind they think they are. But convincing others of this will be far more difficult.

  • Jonathan Rivett
This kind of unsubtle micromanagement is unfortunately extremely common in the workplace, and can be difficult to combat.

My boss literally looks over my shoulder at work. How do I make them stop?

This kind of unsubtle micromanagement is unfortunately extremely common in the workplace, and can be difficult to combat.

  • Jonathan Rivett
While being rostered on to work on a public holiday can feel like a tough gig, if your work has given you enough notice, there may not be much you can do.

How come I have to pay tax every year but some companies pay none?

The list of ways companies can avoid paying tax is as long as your arm, but there are a few simple explanations for this harrowing quandary.

  • Jonathan Rivett

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/work-therapy-1mor