There are a lot of people in this world with a lot of different beliefs, and we would do well to seek to understand and accept them. Still, there are some things in this world that just don't seem to add up to any rational sort of thinking. It's all well and good to follow a belief structure that carries a sense of morality and ethics. But what do you do when that structure prohibits you from using the tools of your trade? Is it your organization's responsibility to cater to these needs? Or is…

If you haven't heard the word: It's 2023, and we're reinstating the law that entitles your lord to anything you own. How dare you own something nicer than your boss? From now on, if they want your stuff, they get it…. That 10-year-old BMW you're driving? Hand it over. Your new smartwatch? Just put it on their wrist right now. Oh—and they wouldn't mind if you re-homed your family's corgi, Mr. Pickle, to them either. Just imagine the frailty of this boss's ego. It's pretty hard to imagine what a…

At what point are health and safety more important than opening in the middle of a blizzard?

Idiots can become a huge problem in the workplace when the “Peter Principle” takes effect and elevates them into positions they should never have held in the first place. From their positions of authority, they wreak havoc with their wider-reaching idiocy, making ill-advised decisions and unleashing their stupid wrath on competent workers. Luckily, that same double-edged sword of dimwitted confidence that got them in the position in the first place can also be their downfall; all it takes is th…

The boomers who raised many of us in the workforce now were taught that if you try your hardest and show the higher ups that you can go above and beyond, then you will be rewarded for your hard work. The boomers worked up their nepotism work chain, so why can't you? The funny thing about advice from boomer as that it is dated and matter of factly, expired. As us millennials and Gen Z start to take over the workforce, we see more and more that no, your hard work does not get rewarded unless you…

Customers are easily the worst part of any customer service job, followed closely by arrogant unqualified managers. The two make a dynamic duo when you're unfortunate enough to endure them simultaneously. The Karen, an unstoppable force of rage and fury, and the manager, an unmovable brick wall of utter density. Like Batman and the Joker, they are eternally locked in an endless struggle—and you're stuck in the middle. (It's no wonder that, in these industries, you spend most of your time off ju…

Ew, ew, and more ew

There's this thing that occasionally happens in workplaces, universally, across every industry, when management takes a look at their books and realizes how much they're paying workers in overtime. Commence initiative: Overtime approval—requiring workers to endure ridiculous approval processes to beat them into submission until they don't bother reporting overtime that they're working. The extra work still gets done, and costs don't increase. Job done. The perplexingly confounding thing about o…

There's nothing like building up a small business with your boss only to have them sell it… leaving your job in the hands of a greedy egomaniac who cares about nothing except making good on their investment. This new owner will often think that they know how to run your business better than you and manage your clients better than you—all while downplaying your experience and contributions to “put you in your place.” This often results in an incredibly predictable outcome; without knowing the nu…

The ability to listen and follow directions is often important when it comes to your performance in the workplace. The last thing an employer wants is someone who is going to go rogue and take matters and process into their own hands. Of course, if your job is to be creative and think of new ideas, you'll usually be encouraged to do so, but I'm willing to bet there are still processes and guidelines to follow. The problem is that process is never ironclad unless you're building something like a…

The sure sign of a bad rule is utter and complete inflexibility; on the flip side, flexibility is something that is naturally worked into organizations by leaders who want to see and promote mutual success. If you're being overly tyrannical and micromanaging one particular aspect of your employee's work without considering things like their actual output and contribution, you're probably doing something wrong. Are you trying to contribute to everyone's success or trying to pump up your own ego…

We've probably uttered this same phrase hundreds of times, but it's important to reiterate: "HR departments aren't there to help you… They're to help the company manage YOU , the ‘human resource.’ Awareness of this brutal truth has led workers to be weary of anything posted online from the perspective of an HR worker.

If someone is going out of their way to do your job for you, it would probably pay to be kind and appreciative towards that person. Alas, the types of managers who are putting their subordinates in this position probably also lack the basic people skills necessary to make this realization. The thing is, there are all kinds of clever ways that you can “delegate” your own tasks to subordinate workers; as a manager, I've worked for certain organizations in the past that would dangle the carrot of…

New year, new me!.. — new job? If your employer is pushing out tone-deaf policy changes like this to start off 2023, then this might be the year that you look for a fresh start to your employment. Let's be real; it's been a rough few years; if you had told me that it had been three years since the start of the hot mess that was 2020 — I just simply wouldn't believe you. Two years? Maybe. But three years!.. What has happened in that time? Not much to speak of… that's why we all need a win in 202…

Sometimes enough is enough, and you simply cannot take anymore… It sounds like this is exactly what happened with this guy's niece with her job at the accounting firm. These sorts of workplaces have a reputation for being "old boy's clubs," so it's no surprise that they continue to harbor relics of a past age who continue to live their lives as if they're within the pages of a "Mad Men" script. It's honestly disappointing how prevalent these types of attitudes are. This guy's niece absolutely s…

In any relationship, if you're not appreciated for your efforts, there's no better time to walk away than now. Of course, when it comes to employment, there are always considerations to be made for maintaining a source of income, but if an opportunity has presented itself for something better, you really should just go for it. That's what this worker decided to do when they had had enough of their terrible job. They received an offer for a big increase in salary and more flexible working condit…