Tag Archives: stop

Hey! Stop Complaining About Former Employees!

complaining about ex employeeStarting a new job may take some time to get accustomed to. A common concern new employees can face is being compared to a previous hot-shot employee, but sometimes you can be compared to the opposite. You could find that you have trouble shaking others’ frustrations of a former employee who wasn’t favored or left on bad terms.

If you have siblings, you probably know all too well what it’s like to be compared to somebody else. The feeling can be even worse when it happens in the workplace. Here are some ways to handle a boss or co-worker complaining about the former, less than desired employee.

Let it Roll
If you’ve just started, let some of the comments roll off your back. You may have only had a few days to a few months to work at your company and you haven’t had much of a chance to make the job your own. It’s important to be patient and let your work do the talking before you make a big deal out of it.

You are trying to figure out your work environment as much as your work environment is trying to figure you out. Your new co-workers don’t have much to base a working relationship off of yet, so it’s easy for them to fall back on the familiar. Give it some time and strive to build strong working relationships with those around you.

Share Concerns Respectfully
If the months go by and you still hear constant complaints and stories about the former employee, it’s apparent that there could be a problem. Maybe it’s a signal that your manager has some significant holes in his or her interpersonal skills, or maybe it’s a clue that your co-workers are projecting burnout of their job onto the former employee. Either way, it might be the time to have a conversation with your manager.

Schedule some time with your leader or co-worker and address the issue, share how the comments make you feel like the ex-employee is still in the room. Stay calm and avoid getting emotional. Use specific quotes others have said and refrain from using inflammatory phrases like “You always…” or “You’re not being fair…”

Ask for Feedback
One of the best ways to separate yourself from the previous employee and add positive conversation among your peers is to ask for some direct feedback. Regularly asking for feedback takes the focus off the annoying ex-employee and puts a positive light onto you. Not only will it keep things positive toward you, but it will also make you become a better employee by getting feedback on what you’re doing right and what you need to do to improve. If you keep improving, it won’t be long before you make the job your own.

It’s easy to complain, especially when a former employee is gone. You may find yourself in that trap of everyone talking about the person you replaced and not on what you can contribute to the organization. That’s why you need to make a name for yourself by doing a good job first, then address the issue if it persists. What have you done to keep others from talking about former bad employees?

Stop Swearing at Work with These Questions

How to Stop Swearing at WorkA recent survey by CareerBuilder shows that 64% of employers said they would think less of an employee who repeatedly uses curse words, and 57% said they’d be less likely to promote someone who swears at work.

Half of the employees surveyed reported that they swear in the office. With such a large percentage of employees swearing at work, it seems like this habit is not only a hard one to break, but also one that can hinder a career. Here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you break the habit and flush away your potty mouth.

Why do you Swear?
For some, swearing is almost unconscious. And because swearing can be naturally ingrained into their vocabulary, words can slip without you even realizing it. It’s important to be aware of how many times inappropriate language is used while at work.

The common trick has always been putting money in a “curse jar.” But, consider keeping a jar at your workplace that’s not for money, but placing inexpensive tokens, trinkets, or other knickknacks that can be found at hobby stores into the jar every time you swear. When your shift ends, you can see how many times you’ve cussed throughout the day. It may surprise you to know how often it occurs. You could make it a game for other co-workers to put their color token in the jar if they hear you swear and you don’t realize it.

If you’ve noticed that your profane language comes from moments of extreme stress or dealing with difficult co-workers/management, then it may not be so much your swearing problem as it is work environment issues.

What Are Your Alternatives?
If you want to break your cursing problem, you’ll have to treat it like any other bad habit that you’ve broken over the years. It’s going to take a behavioral change, which won’t happen overnight. Keep a thesaurus at your desk or workstation, and when you have some free time, look up some alternate words for the curses you have been using.

Swearing often occurs out of negativity, which can dampen the mood for other co-workers. Instead, embrace positivity and strive to change your problems instead of complaining. Consider even the smallest annoyance a challenge, and feel proud of yourself for taking care of it cheerfully and efficiently.

Are Co-Workers Crutches or Cheerers?
Research suggests that sometimes environment can cause people to perform certain behaviors, even if they’re actively trying to stop. Try limiting your interactions with co-workers who encourage your bad habit. If you can’t alter these interactions, try changing the social configurations like taking breaks at different times than those who tempt your bad behavior.

Your co-workers can also help encourage you. The typical curse jar may be clichéd, but you can give it your own spin to get your co-workers involved. Try bringing popcorn kernels to work, and have you and your co-workers put one in a jar every time you avoid using a bad work or your colleagues help you avoid swearing. Once the jar is full, you can have a popcorn party when you’re on break.

Breaking a bad habit like cursing is all about training your conscious mind to eventually implement it in the subconscious. What have you done to curb bad habits like swearing while on the job?

Warning Signs an Employer May Not be For You

Warning SignsJob competition in the market is still high. The economy is slowly recovering, but there still aren’t as many jobs available as there were a decade ago. But just because the competition is tough, it doesn’t mean you should take the first job offer you receive. It’s okay to pass on a potential employee if you don’t think it’s the right company.

There are several companies out there willing to take advantage of the increased amount of people looking for work. That’s why it’s important to research a potential employer, not only to prepare your résumé and interview readiness, but also to make sure the organization is a good fit. Here are some warning signs to steer clear of a job offer.

Hiring Process is a “Rough Road”

If you are having an interview and you get the impression that you might not enjoy the environment or culture of the workplace, you should pay attention. Notice how well you communicate and interact with your interviewer, especially if the interviewer will be your supervisor. If you have trouble seeing eye to eye or getting your point across with your interviewer, it could improve over time, but it may be something to consider before accepting a job offer.

You “Stop” Asking Questions

When it comes to interviewing, it’s always good to ask specific questions to get a better understanding of your employer, while helping you look prepared and engaged. But if you feel like your potential employer is being reluctant to answer your questions, it should be a warning sign. Some employers may feel like a position isn’t attractive to job candidates and could try to sidestep or obscure certain specifics.

Your Paperwork is “Under Construction”

If you are offered a job, but the employer doesn’t provide you with any written information or a contract to sign, you should be cautious. If you receive a legitimate offer, it should be in writing. Some companies are struggling and may offer verbal contracts in hopes of renegotiating it later. If you have your job description on paper, it could help keep your job from being altered to the organization’s desire. The more that is in writing, the more there can be to protect you.

It’s a “Speed Zone”

If you feel an employer is too quick to offer, you may want to consider passing. Being too eager to hire new employees could be a sign that the company has lots of turnover, which could mean the company isn’t being handled well or the work environment isn’t friendly.

Your Pay and Benefits Take a Huge “Dip”

You may feel like the salary you desire is out the question because of the recovering economy,  but if a potential employer is asking you to work for a very low-ball salary, it should be a big warning sign. If you’re not making the money you feel you deserve, you will probably be miserable at work.

If you have some experience, be careful of accepting a position that’s too far below your most recent position. It will be very difficult to get back to the higher positions, and when looking for a new job, employers will look at your résumé and wonder why you accepted such a low-level position. It will look better if you take less pay, but keep your title in the same range.

Just because the job competition is stiff, that doesn’t mean you should jump at every job offered to you. If you keep these warning signs in mind, you’ll be able to avoid the bad apples and find an employer that’s right for you.