SavvySugar

Ask Savvy: Should I Tell My Co-Worker She Can't Spell?

SavvySugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:39 -0800

Dear Savvy,

There's something that's driving me totally nuts. One of the supervisors in the small company where I work keeps sending mass emails with a huge spelling error. The first time it happened, I thought it was an honest mistake and the result of writing the email too quickly. When it happened again, I realized she really doesn't know how to spell this one particular word.

If I were the one making such an obvious spelling error I'd want to know so I could stop making a fool of myself. Since the person is a level above me, I'm just not sure whether or not telling her would be an appropriate move. Help please?

Savvy says: When it comes down to it, you're asking if you'd be considered a pal or too nitpicky if you told your co-worker about her word blooper. Find out my advice when you read more.

It's always a challenge to bite your tongue when you're bothered by someone else's mistake, and you know that you'd be doing your co-worker a favor by letting her know she's making a glaring error. But is it your place to display your spelling prowess? Not necessarily.

Your decision to proceed in tipping off your spelling challenged co-worker should depend on how friendly you are with her. If you're the type of colleagues who have never said more than hello, then it would be inappropriate for you to point out her error.

Chances are, if you noticed her repeated mistake, someone else noticed it as well. Give her a heads up if the two of you share regular, friendly interactions, but leave it to her friends in the office to get her on the right track if your relationship is barely there.

Have You Ever Left a Good Job Because of Company Culture?

SavvySugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:45:23 -0800

There are a ton of factors that contribute to whether you’re happy at work: Is your job challenging enough? Are you paid well? Do you enjoy your actual daily responsibilities? But sometimes, all those factors can be overshadowed if you don’t mesh well with your co-workers.

CNN Money asked readers to weigh in on experiences they’ve had with good jobs but bad co-workers, and the resulting stories were pretty funny and relatable. So I want to know: have you ever left an otherwise good job because of difficult co-workers or a bad company culture? Share your stories below!

How-To: Show Your Gratitude at the Office

SavvySugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:29 -0800

Showing appreciation for co-workers should be as easy as saying, "Thanks, buddy!" But somehow, those two words can sneak through the cracks or come off as disingenuous if they are uttered too often. Office politics, nonstop schedules and confusing etiquette can make thanking your co-workers and boss nerve-racking. Use this simple guide to give gracias to your office mates and when in doubt, just say thanks.

View Slideshow ›

Ask Savvy: How Should I Critique My Co-Worker?

SavvySugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:38 -0800

Dear Savvy,

Today, my manager called me asking me to write up a report about a fellow co-worker. I had mentioned that she was having some difficulties adjusting to the workplace, that she was rude to us, and where she was getting better but that she still often isn't on task. I told her that I would, but I just sat down to write it and have no idea what to say, how to say it, etc. Any suggestions?

Savvy says: Your manager is essentially asking you to put your spoken criticism in writing. See my thoughts on this situation when you read more.

Your manager is taking your co-worker concerns seriously which means they need to be added to her employee file. It's not a test for you; it's simply your manager's job to make sure that all complaints are recorded appropriately, and it's more legitimate to have the report coming from the person that has witnessed reportable behavior.

You obviously had enough to say about the situation when you originally presented the complaints, so just expand on what you've already told the manager. You say that she's having difficulties adjusting to the workplace, so you should state that along with a deeper explanation of why you feel that way. Each judgment should be paired with a real-office observation to illustrate what's going on with your co-worker - this will keep your report sounding professional.

You don't need to go off on tangents about the co-worker, just write enough to get your point across. Also keep in mind that you don't have to include every little imperfection you've seen in the individual. It's better to focus on the big things (like the fact that she's often off-task) rather than her habit of taking an extra five minutes at lunch (or something equally minimal).

Have a question for me? Ask away by posting your questions in my Ask Savvy group and I may answer it on the site!

Ask Savvy: I Don't Want to Share My Office With a Co-Worker

SavvySugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:21 -0700

Dear Savvy,

A few months ago I was asked by one of the company's directors if I would be willing to share my office with my direct co-worker/teammate and I declined and said I did not feel comfortable with it. My company complied with my request, and I shared with another person.

The situation has come up again, but this time my boss will be asking. Our team is small: boss, me, teammate. My reasons for not wanting to share an office with my teammate are personal - she is horribly messy, she smells funny, and overall she is not overly friendly. I am not the only person in our company who has noticed all of these things. I tolerate her as a teammate, but that's about it, and I don't feel comfortable at all sharing my personal space with her.

How do I tell my boss that I am not comfortable with this without making it seem like I am not a team player? I don't feel I should have to work in conditions that I'm not comfortable with. Any advice?

Savvy says: Work is one of those places where personal space is inevitably compromised - like a college dorm, except you get to leave at the end of each day. See my tips for handling your dilemma when you read more.

Be aware of the way you criticize your co-worker when talking to your boss. Pointing out that she isn't "overly friendly" won't convince your boss that you and this person are a bad match - you don't have to be best friends. Instead of saying that she "smells funny," you can suggest that she has questionable personal hygiene, but this is a really sensitive issue, so you better be confident in your accusation.

You'll have the most success by asking your boss if you can work together to find another solution. Go into the meeting with your own ideas to show your boss you've thought this through; that's evidence of how important it is that you don't end up sharing an office with this person. Along with your alternate solutions, go into the meeting with handful of reasons why this work arrangement would negatively affect not only your work environment but your performance as well.

If there's simply no other way to pair you up with someone else or find you a desk somewhere else in the office, you might just have to deal with it for now. Try to make the best of this potential situation by making your own area as pleasant as possible - and by giving this co-worker a chance. Give her the benefit of the doubt, and if she fails to live up to good co-worker standards, revisit the issue with your boss after a reasonable chunk of time.

Have a question for me? Ask away by posting your questions in my Ask Savvy group.

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:30:27 -0700

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:30:15 -0700

How Would You Handle It: Co-Worker Gives TMI About Sex Life

SavvySugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:30:12 -0700

Help a fellow Sugar reader out! This working girl is sick of hearing about her co-worker's sex life. What advice do you have for her? Read her question below and then leave your words of wisdom in the comments.

I work in an office where there's a small group of women my age. We eat lunch together a couple times a week and chit chat mostly about work stuff, though as we spend more time together it's only natural that the personal stuff has started to surface more often. Most of the girls are in serious relationships and I'm just starting to get more involved with one guy, and there's one girl who's all over the dating scene and is constantly over-sharing the intimate details of her nights out. She gets really raunchy.

She's only been working here for a couple months and the other girls are all ears when she dishes about her sex life, but it makes me really uncomfortable. I don't want to exclude myself from the group lunches, but I'm also getting sick of losing my appetite every time that girl opens her mouth. What should I do?

Your Two Cents: Which Bad Office Behavior Is Worse?

SavvySugar — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:30:41 -0700

Hiring Managers Share the 20 Strangest Employee Complaints

SavvySugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:30:22 -0700

Complaining about your co-workers to your office's or department's hiring manager is only acceptable when the issue is actually intrusive and hinders your ability to be an effective employee. Some workers have interesting ideas of what managers care to spend their time deliberating, and CareerBuilder gave these office referees a chance to vent by asking them about the strangest employee complaints they'd received.

I'm convinced that some employees are just bored, and some are really meant to work by themselves at home. Check out the top 20 complaints below; which do you think are the strangest?

Employee is too suntanned.
Employee has big hair.
Employee eats all the good cookies.
Employee is so polite, it’s infuriating.
Employee suspected co-worker is a pimp.
Employee is trying to poison me.
Employee’s body is magnetic and keeps de-activating my magnetic access card.
Employee is personally responsible for a federally mandated tax increase.
Employee was annoyed the company didn’t provide a place for naps during break time.
Employee only wears slippers or socks at work.

See 10 more complaints when you read more.

Employee’s aura is wrong.
Employee smells like road ramps.
Employee breathes too loudly.
Employee wants to check a co-worker for ticks.
8:00 a.m. is too early to get up for work.
Employee wore pajamas to work.
Employee has bells on her shoes, and it’s not the holidays.
Co-worker reminded the employee too much of Bambi.
Employee spends too much time caring for stray cats around the building.
A male employee keeps using the ladies’ room because the men’s room is not as tidy.