Questions tagged [work-environment]
Use this tag if the question is related to the work environment, such as an issue with your boss, your coworkers, or someone you have authority over.
54 questions
181
votes
10
answers
43k
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How to ask a vegan to stop telling me about veganism because I am not interested in it?
I work in an office with a couple of vegan coworkers. If I bring any animal products to lunch (even cheese, which they can smell), I'm likely to get a long earful about it. In the past, I've listened ...
- 1,898
74
votes
9
answers
17k
views
How to redirect a real-life help vampire to an alternate source of food... um... assistance?
I've recently had some troubles with a help-vampire in the office. She's about my age (late twenties), from India and she doesn't speak Dutch. She works in the same office as me, but not on the same ...
- 34k
40
votes
12
answers
14k
views
Colleague thinks that he is too slow
Background
I am frequently working with a colleague who is a little bit junior to me (but not particularly "fresh" - he has been in the company for over 10 years in a lead developer/expert ...
- 3,352
17
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How do I tell certain customers they're not my number one priority?
Background
I work for a very small company that's been around a long time, we do a mix of processing customer products and consultancy work. We have a reasonable mix of customers, working for ...
user2356
14
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How to signify to a coworker I'd like to become friends?
TL;DR
I'd like to befriend a coworker with similar hobbies and values but I'm afraid I'd either sound awkward or flirty. How can I make him understand I'd like to become friends?
Situation
I've ...
- 14.3k
133
votes
13
answers
31k
views
How can I explain to people that a programmer isn't a computer technician?
In Italy, a lot of people keep thinking that programmers are computer technicians.
A programmer does completely different things, and in a company, I'm not the guy who should assemble your computer ...
- 1,785
56
votes
6
answers
14k
views
Dealing with / extricating yourself from having to listen to a superior's xenophobic rants
This could very well be on the workplace, but I'm looking for a IPS solution that will help me deal with this since the usual workplace advice ("Look for a new job") won't help me in this case.
I ...
- 10.7k
37
votes
6
answers
7k
views
How to react when someone makes a racially charged joke about their own heritage [closed]
I have a friend who is a research scientist of Mexican descent. Before a work meeting, as he was wiping off the whiteboards to begin a presentation, he joked "This is the part that my people are best ...
- 481
23
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How to tactfully respond to compliments when I don't feel I deserve them?
I'm the most senior developer on my current team, and I often get asked for help by my teammates. Sometimes when they ask for help, it's with something that I think is fairly obvious or easy to do. ...
- 9,002
20
votes
8
answers
4k
views
How to make sure I understood a work assignment correctly?
Due to my conditions as Aspie, I noticed quite a few times, in working environments, that I have a big communication barrier when it comes to task assignments. Most of the time, I have to work on a ...
- 2,532
10
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How to handle office chitchat [closed]
I'm 30 years old, this is not my first job, and every time I start a new job, I promise myself to be more social and talk more with people.
But what is happening is that I start disliking almost ...
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to ask a co-worker to sneeze into their elbow?
My co-worker has been sneezing about 8 times a day for the last two weeks. Like clock-work, I will hear him loudly sneeze out into the air every hour. He is not covering his mouth when he sneezes (and ...
- 211
124
votes
12
answers
28k
views
How do I tell a co-worker that just because something is a hobby doesn't mean I want to do it for free?
I enjoy baking, and on a number of occasions have baked cakes or other desserts for people in the office to celebrate their birthday or a work-related milestone. I've done this of my own accord, ...
- 2,447
84
votes
9
answers
20k
views
Responding to people questioning my single status?
Background
I am a computer programmer working as a graduate student under a biochemistry department in a university affiliated hospital. So far I have had a very successful career, having written ...
- 1,518
62
votes
11
answers
23k
views
How to quickly remove yourself from a homophobic conversation?
My problem arises with the fact that I grew up in a very homophobic environment. I'm personally bi (so most people just take me as straight). Yet, I have homosexual friends with whom I'm very close, ...
- 931
54
votes
16
answers
19k
views
How to act when people bring a baby to work?
I am uncomfortable interacting with babies because I personally don't find them cute or interesting to interact with. I also am not good at faking positive interactions with babies, because I really ...
- 4,386
51
votes
16
answers
25k
views
How to communicate to my co-workers that they don't have to say "bless you" when I sneeze?
I am slightly annoyed by my co-workers who say "bless you" everytime I sneeze. It feels awkward to me to reply with a "thank you". I usually only thank people when they really ...
- 1,246
47
votes
10
answers
12k
views
How to communicate to a new coworker that I am not comfortable being touched?
Last week a new coworker joined our team, and yesterday we were both invited to eat lunch in the work cafeteria with some other colleagues that I have known for around a year and a half. As he, ...
- 917
45
votes
16
answers
15k
views
How to explain to coworkers that being vegan does not mean I know everything about it?
The other day, I was in a company meal with ~20 coworkers and someone offered me wine before adding: "At least you know this is vegan." (because I'm vegan). I don't like alcohol so I ...
- 17.2k
44
votes
7
answers
12k
views
Can my sister convey to her womanizer boss by her body language and general behavior that she is not 'available' for an 'office romance'?
My sister recently accepted a high-paying job offer as office administrator in a local firm in our hometown in India, run by a divorced middle aged financial consultant. She is due to join next week ...
- 10.5k
36
votes
6
answers
11k
views
How to politely decline painting requests from co-workers?
Update: Someone recently requested I paint something, and I said that I'm short on time.
It was really painless
Thank you guys!
I paint to relax.
During the office lunch break, I paint in my ...
- 1,025
36
votes
6
answers
9k
views
How to deal with avoiding someone I don't like
Currently, as part of my work, I come into proximity with a lot of people (via getting food, to being at some company-wide meeting, or just at a mutual work friend's party), some of whom I do not like ...
- 6,948
31
votes
7
answers
11k
views
How to tell someone not to start a business?
My Tae Kwon-Do instructor is looking to make a little extra money on the side. He's hired me to do some graphics work for him, which I'm more than happy to do, but now I'm beginning to wonder if he's ...
27
votes
8
answers
6k
views
How do I tell someone that I need to fire him for lack of talent?
I messed up. Hiring good programmers is a hard problem, and I failed. A few weeks have passed since the new replacement for the junior developer position started, and it is becoming increasingly ...
- 281
24
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How can I use a cell phone at work for work purposes without appearing to be slacking off?
Where I work, it is frequently mentioned by both co-workers and managers that many people find it rude when staff use cell phones while on duty because it is seen as attending to personal items while ...
- 448
24
votes
6
answers
8k
views
As an intern, how do I make friends with full timers?
I am doing my internship right now. My office has a large number of full timers. They are also much older than me, therefore our age group is not the same. Our job duties are also different, therefore ...
- 571
21
votes
11
answers
15k
views
How to tell a colleague to take care of how he looks
I am working in a software consultancy company, and our job has a good deal of direct interaction with clients. We are a very international bunch of people, but we are based in Germany, and all our ...
- 735
18
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How to have a talk with a coworker I'm scared of?
First off: I tagged this as Asperger since having Asperger's makes me have trouble understanding others' motivations, thoughts, and interests, as long as they differ from mine. That means, to ...
- 2,532
16
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Dismissing questions about shameful disease at work
Soooo.... This week I'm quite sick, but not the kind of sickness that could prevent me from working, at least if it doesn't worsen at some point. It is not contagious at all, by the way. So I can ...
- 1,500
14
votes
4
answers
14k
views
How to deal with high tempered and angry people
Recently I faced a problem, My colleague is high tempered and we were discussing something on some topic.
Suddenly he started shouting after that I realize that whatever I was explaining, he is ...
- 401
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Friendly co worker suddenly distant/rude because of different views
There is a very nice co worker at my office. Every morning he comes to my desk and we chat for about fifteen minutes about how our kids are doing and whatnot. I really enjoy these morning ...
- 240
13
votes
8
answers
2k
views
How to tell other people that my job is only a job to me?
I don't know if this question may be confusing to some of you; so I will try to explain myself as well as I can.
I have been interested in informatics and technology all my life. When I was young I ...
Xeng Garcia
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is a senior prohibited from asking for help from a junior level employee? [closed]
Background
I am 32 years old. My background is in Physics and a bit in Computer Science.
My previous experience was on ERP consultant business. I started my software engineering career when I was 29.
...
- 289
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How to tell a coworker to dress more appropriately for the office
One of my co-workers transitioned a year ago and she's really happy to be a woman, to finally being herself.
However, she's putting too short skirt and short... I know that she's going through a ...
- 121
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to approach the owner's handicapped son about him distracting our work?
For the last two weeks, our owner's son has been coming to our office daily to "work". However, he can't work. There's no work that can be assigned to him, and he is constantly distracting us by ...
- 8,468
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to avoid lack of respect due to perceived youth / lack of experience
Background
I'm a woman of small build (1,60m) and have a rather high pitched voice.
If asked to estimate my age, people guess me at least 5 years, usually 10 years younger. I am 31, so people guess ...
- 6,037
10
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How to not be "this annoying nitpicking Quality Engineer"?
I am a 23-year-old woman who was hired 2 weeks ago.
As a Q&A engineer, I have to ask developers to change the way they are coding in order to improve the code's quality, maintainability, and ...
- 17.2k
9
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How to avoid participating in a team-building trip without causing bad feelings for coworkers?
I've been in this company (and team) for almost 10 months now. Everything was O.K.: project, team, team-leader etc. But our TL (team leader) got a better offer from another company and of course, he ...
- 1,324
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How to stop colleague from talking so much when subtle hints are not working?
Explanation
Pronoun Game: "Using pronouns in dialogue to force other characters to ask for an explanation or conceal info." source
The story:
Every day I go to lunch with two of my colleagues (we ...
- 477
8
votes
3
answers
943
views
Explaining to my boss that I didn't attend a company social event due to tiredness issues
TL;DR: I didn't participate in the Christmas work meal, how to say that it was because I have tiredness issues without sounding like a bad recruit?
I'm newly hired in a company and I'm still on ...
- 17.2k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to avoid shaking hands?
I recently developed dyshidrosis, which makes my palms look disgusting. So I don't want to show my hands to anybody to see.
People often do not looking at the hands when shaking, and this eczema ...
- 203
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to avoid endless corporate evening pubs but still have nice relationship with the colleagues?
Imagine yourself working in a company which has a team building tradition of going together to the pub on average two evenings a week and this is almost compulsory. But you do not get any pleasure ...
- 149
7
votes
1
answer
424
views
How can I correct text of another person during a chat without being pedant or making fun of the other person?
A written chat is not a good channel of communication for no verbal language, hence, is quite easy to make mistakes because each side might add different context to the sentences. This might cause ...
- 1,342
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to communicate to someone at work that they are overstepping boundaries
My manager at work will frequently ask personal questions that I feel are none of his business as my manager. The questions are of a very personal nature. Asking about my parents, or what I am doing ...
- 181
6
votes
4
answers
9k
views
How to approach someone about stepping down from their position?
A rather unfortunate situation has been developing at my workplace, which doesn't directly affect me but I would like to get involved because it looks like people are about to get hurt.
A dispute ...
- 2,279
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to politely ask someone to repeat themselves
I work at a restaurant and have to take orders over the phone all the time. My hearing isn't the best, and a lot of times I have trouble understanding what the customer is saying. I often have to ask ...
- 163
6
votes
2
answers
559
views
How do I respectfully ask my co-worker if he had received false negative feedback made on my account?
Recently I have noticed that the relationship I had built with a co-worker seemed to be eroding. One of the possible reasons might be my manager giving false negative feedback to him on my account. ...
- 973
4
votes
1
answer
775
views
How to get coworker to stop saying clearly offensive stories when I can hear
I have a coworker (call him Tim) who says disgusting things and tells disturbing stories. I'm trying to think of a non-confrontational way to get him to stop. Often times he's not talking to me, but I ...
- 143
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to address a Korean co-worker?
My current employer is a global software company with offices in several continents. The company tries to maintain a culture of conviviality.
Our main communication medium is text chat in English ; ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
305
views
How do I reduce noise in a co-working space? [closed]
I work in a co-working space, and one of the other workers talks a lot, which is distracting and aggravating. What is the usual way to solve this problem? Should I directly ask him to use a meeting ...
- 289