Find out how to deal with problems at your workplace
Handle a co-worker with personal problems and deal with office humour
A co-worker and I were entrusted with an important assignment. I have worked with her in the past and she is great to work with. However, this time, she hardly pays any attention and is falling behind. Her friends told me that she recently broke up with her partner. While I do sympathise, I can’t afford to mess up the assignment. What can I do to make her work better?
— Alisha Parab, Malad
While you may feel weird asking to her to keep her personal life separate and concentrate on work, keep in mind that her job is at stake. So, do away with the embarrassment and have a chat with her. Tell her that you do understand what she is going through but the assignment is important for the both of you. Suggest that if she is not up for work she should make use of her paid leave. Hopefully she will see your point and pull herself together.
This may sound funny but someone keeps changing the desktop background on my PC! My co-workers and I have laughed about this in the past but what if someone accidently deletes important files or accesses my personal documents? I don’t want to be a spoilsport but is there anything I can do?
— Khushi Verma, Andheri
Okay, you were right. This is a little funny. However, don’t get so worried. We are sure this is just a little office humour and that no one will intentionally do something to your PC. Keep your important and personal files in a secure location, preferably with a password lock. Play it cool, we’re sure this pastime of changing backgrounds will eventually pass.