http://creators.com/ Creators Syndicate is an international syndication company that represents cartoonists and columnists of the highest caliber. en Tue, 13 May 2008 19:21:53 -0700 15ee64c2d52324cca82afd60102002e2 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employee-faces-own-anger-head-on.html Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I am a very emotional person, and I have trouble verbalizing my thoughts when I have strong opinions on a subject. The stronger I feel about something, the angrier I get. Because I don't do well expressing myself, I start to say things that are not polite, and I begin to argue. I want to know how to control my anger and express myself clearly. I would like to show that I respect other people ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Dec 27, 2007<br/><br/>]]> 2e4d15f991121fdbf251d304f7f57137 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/working-attending-college-and-replacing-mom-too-much-to-ask-of-child.html Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I just started my freshman year in college using student loans, but I need to get a part-time job and help my mom take care of my little brother by baby-sitting in the evening. My classes are during the day, and I am struggling to find a job to fit in between everything else. How do I schedule myself and find a job for extra money?</p> <p>A: Part-time jobs, even those that pay minimum wage, ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jan 03, 2008<br/><br/>]]> f082460d0f74079da950a80c375cab91 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/full-time-job-part-time-job-and-school-oh-my.html Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I took a full-time job four months ago. It didn't pay enough, so I also found a part-time job to supplement my income. Neither job interfered with the other. I also am going to nursing school, and both jobs were aware of that and approved my periodically taking time off when exams came up. Recently, my boss changed my shift for my full-time job, so it now conflicts with my part-time job and ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jan 10, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 575210ba01d0dffe9d38f4f7895f6686 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/3-tries-and-it-s-time-to-change-fields.html Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I am smart and sharp, but I was never a good student because I was (and, of course, still am) dyslexic. I also have a good personality and was always liked, so I was a natural at sales. I went to work for a real estate developer and did very well selling condos. Once all of the units started closing and people began to move in, I didn't like the way our boss was handling certain situations, ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jan 17, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 1ad057d42d41443f0ea6e2bb9152d600 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/manager-causes-music-wars-to-rage-in-the-workplace.html Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: We have a different kind of noise problem in our office: music. We have a huge floor space with many cubicles. The manager's &quot;cubie&quot; is directly behind me. We all are allowed to play music. The manager is older and listens to love songs and elevator music. I find her music so boring that it puts me to sleep. I turn on my music to keep me awake, but then she turns her music even lou ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jan 24, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 1c08059f98d4249126edc656388dbb8f http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/violating-bathroom-code-puts-employee-on-the-outs.html Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I just started at a new job. The women's restroom has two stalls. There are two women who will not go in when another person is in there. Each of them wants to be alone when going to the bathroom. If a person walks in, even just to wash her hands, both of them will huff, puff, sigh and stamp their feet in anger. Neither of them asked others never to go in; their wishes were made known by wor ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jan 31, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 9d13ee035255f6038f332d2cd471838b http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/reference-letter-not-worth-the-paper-it-s-on.html Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I worked for a company for five years and was let go. My boss gave me a reference letter so I could show it to potential employers. The problem is that even though I show the letter, they call the company and want a verbal confirmation. He wouldn't give that OK on the phone. Could something be in my file that doesn't agree with the recommendation letter? Should I ask the human resources depa ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Feb 07, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 95d77163314ff4d9410ce75946dfad47 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/boss-wants-yes-man-to-drop-the-facade-and-contribute.html Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I have managed a small department for about three years now. The company has been undergoing a lot of changes, and I have had five bosses in three years. They all have been removed for failing to increase sales. I've been a go-along-with guy and tried to make each of the new bosses happy. Each boss gave me good reviews, but now the vice president of sales has demoted me, saying I don't have ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Feb 14, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 946cca78870a24b098be67200ffa7968 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/sudden-merger-renews-unemployment-fears.html Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I have been interviewing for a new position since I was let go because of a merger. Before this merger, I had experienced two other mergers after which I lost my jobs. I usually have many interviews right away, but my unemployed period between my previous two jobs lasted a year. I was at this recent job for a year, and I emotionally and financially can't take another year of unemployment.</p ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Feb 21, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 0c297b78449cd1e62ba645d5a54e9f76 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/seasoned-employee-needs-to-market-his-expertise.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: I'm a 63-year-old retired executive with 40 years' experience in telecommunications. During my career, I've received certification in project and process management, and I've established, staffed and run call centers, marketing groups, contract management and sales. I have applied for more than 100 management jobs in those categories and was unable to land a job. When I used a chronological, ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Feb 28, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 290664461b03790a5c6f3d03da661be9 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/co-workers-fear-contact-with-sick-worker.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800 <p>Q: My co-worker in the cubicle next to me is a nonbeliever in modern medicine, hasn't been to a doctor in years, and refuses to go to one. She will only go to an herbalist. Another co-worker and I are diabetics and because of that, have compromised immune systems. Our anti-medicine employee also refuses to stay home when she is sick. She comes in sick and likes to talk about her illness. She to ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Mar 06, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 1ee414a05554d1f4c592b34bf3ee6ee6 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/larger-city-or-bigger-employer-may-be-needed-to-escape-hotbed-of-gossip.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have been employed as a medical receptionist for a year at a multi-doctor clinic. Before that I worked for 20 years as an assistant to a vice president at a large company but got tired of my 90-mile commute. I like working with the doctor and the patients, and I do a pretty good job. My first 90-day review was excellent. Recently, though, something is just not right. My nice raincoat was s ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Mar 13, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 4a3e03988e0122af4ff7a32b7cff0529 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/great-job-ruined-who-is-at-fault.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I got a great job about eight months ago and a great boss &mdash; or so I thought. At first, she gave me unexpected time off, bought lunch, and asked for my input. But after a while, she started insulting my staff, and I felt as if I had to defend them. She responded by putting more responsibility on them and calling them a &quot;bunch of whiny babies.&quot; The added work meant overtime, wh ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Mar 20, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 8da95682dce5b9bb852b42e6f81ad58a http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/many-job-openings-at-the-same-company.html Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My husband has a bachelor's degree in engineering, a master's degree in business administration, and has been working for five years as a sales engineer. He has done very well in this position despite his quiet, more introverted personality that is typical of engineers; the others in his position are the boisterous sales type. Since beginning the job, he has known it is not his niche and wou ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Mar 27, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 9cf82e059c47076278a0229f690727a8 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employee-holds-grudges-instead-of-talking-it-out.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have been working in the same job for eight years. Last year, I overheard my supervisor tell her boss about me messing up some forms. Since then, I do what she tells me, but I ignore her. I should have known I couldn't trust her because she has told me things about other employees. She hired another woman, who talks about her husband and family life, and I don't care about it or want to he ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 03, 2008<br/><br/>]]> a8b9a54c3753775418e2491d1c4de3d7 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/how-a-right-to-work-state-affects-employees.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I was considering moving to another state (Florida) and looking for work when I got there. I know different states have different employment laws and heard some states are pro-employee, while others are pro-employer. I was told Florida is a &quot;right-to-work&quot; state and never had heard of that. Would you explain what that means for employees?</p> <p>A: According to board-certified labo ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 10, 2008<br/><br/>]]> adef2e68c1fb0435469ae914caba6581 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/prim-image-at-work-and-sexual-image-outside-collide.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I am a married 31-year-old secretary at a school. My female boss, the school's principal, has treated me differently ever since she saw my husband and me at the movies. Here is what happened: Outside of work, my husband asks me to go braless, which I do for him. I was wearing a fairly low-cut dress, and I am fairly well-endowed. My breasts bounce slightly, but they do not sag or flop. I thin ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 17, 2008<br/><br/>]]> f9a84985918d861a6faf75e9f49a6d43 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/getting-back-in-the-game-after-having-kids.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have some college experience in the accounting field, and I worked in accounting for seven years. I then took 12 years off to be a stay-at-home mom because I wanted to be with my children while they were young. I am ready to look for a job now, but I feel I will be overlooked because of the gap in employment. How do I explain the 12-year gap? During those years, I handled the bookkeeping f ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 24, 2008<br/><br/>]]> ae6c234f34f7d9aadbd1d01fc2e31baf http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/when-one-workplace-mess-leads-to-another-bail-out.html Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My boss and I were close friends until we had a falling out, which spilled over into work. We ended the friendship, and I looked for and found another job in the same department, but not directly under my former friend. She told me that during the transition, I would work for her on a limited basis until she was able to find my replacement. I did my best to meet her needs, but the new job wa ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 01, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 048ca4dc279d85c3339f4676eecbd250 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/recipe-for-success-prepare-before-opening-catering-business.html Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My boyfriend wants to open his own small catering company. He has a positive and charismatic personality, so I know he will do well on the customer relations side. The problem is that he doesn't have a business or accounting background and doesn't quite know how to go about setting it up. He has a tight group of friends, who are willing to lend him money without any formal papers, so he does ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 08, 2008<br/><br/>]]>