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Must Love Dogs Was Not in the Job Description Must Love Dogs Was Not in the Job Description
(29 days later)
Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited.Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited.
As someone with a (perfect, adorable) dog, I know how unhinged I must sound when talking to him. I make sounds I did not know existed within me, but I can’t help it. He’s just very cute and very good. Fortunately, I work from home mostly, so I don’t have to subject anyone to this excessive display of adoration.
Bringing dogs into the workplace only works if the dogs are well behaved and well managed by their humans. One or two or more people bringing their dogs to work shouldn’t mean they become everyone’s problem, because not everyone loves dogs! And even if you do love dogs, you don’t necessarily love having your workday interrupted by baby-talking humans or a dog (obviously a good boy) that barks too much and roams the office to share its vocal enthusiasm.
There should be clear, reasonable guidelines for bringing pets to work, if it is allowed. These guidelines should respect everyone’s needs and also set the dogs up for success in a professional workplace. Is there a way to broach developing such guidelines with your manager? I’m afraid the baby talking is an incurable condition, but can you speak with your colleagues about managing their dogs’ barking? I firmly believe there’s a solution here that will improve the situation. It just takes a little patience, a little kindness and having an honest but well-intended conversation or two.
I can’t really imagine what kind of power play this man would be making by offering blessings or benedictions, which are not, strictly, religious terms. A benediction is an offering of good wishes, though it can also be a prayer offered in, well, blessing. And he could be offering blessings in the Southern tradition that connotes quite the opposite, like a well-timed “Bless your heart.”I can’t really imagine what kind of power play this man would be making by offering blessings or benedictions, which are not, strictly, religious terms. A benediction is an offering of good wishes, though it can also be a prayer offered in, well, blessing. And he could be offering blessings in the Southern tradition that connotes quite the opposite, like a well-timed “Bless your heart.”
Now, your colleague is probably a Christian and is either suffused with the spirit at all times or trying to spread the good word (according to his beliefs). I can see how this would be grating in a workplace because if it’s not inappropriate, it’s certainly adjacent. It’s fine to be petty and annoyed. If his blessings and benedictions escalate into proselytizing, which is an entirely different and unacceptable thing, it’s time for you to engage in some professional escalation, too.Now, your colleague is probably a Christian and is either suffused with the spirit at all times or trying to spread the good word (according to his beliefs). I can see how this would be grating in a workplace because if it’s not inappropriate, it’s certainly adjacent. It’s fine to be petty and annoyed. If his blessings and benedictions escalate into proselytizing, which is an entirely different and unacceptable thing, it’s time for you to engage in some professional escalation, too.
One of the more unpalatable aspects of capitalism is having to choose between equally crappy professional options. What do you value more — a great boss and working environment but intense workload or a terrible boss and a reasonable workload? Downtime is incredibly important. It’s challenging to sustain great performance at work if you never have the opportunity to recharge, spend time with loved ones and pursue personal interests. At the same time, how much will you enjoy that downtime if you’re constantly aggravated by a terrible boss? Have you considered a third option — a position at a different company entirely?One of the more unpalatable aspects of capitalism is having to choose between equally crappy professional options. What do you value more — a great boss and working environment but intense workload or a terrible boss and a reasonable workload? Downtime is incredibly important. It’s challenging to sustain great performance at work if you never have the opportunity to recharge, spend time with loved ones and pursue personal interests. At the same time, how much will you enjoy that downtime if you’re constantly aggravated by a terrible boss? Have you considered a third option — a position at a different company entirely?
When you’re employed in an at-will state, anything can be a fireable offense so long as the firing is not discrimination based. Your employer didn’t need a pretext. That said, it is quite strange to be fired over an email signature, particularly when you recently received glowing reviews and a raise. Unless the brand is poor morale, how could one person’s email signature undermine the brand? Being fired for a single, minor offense that isn’t particularly offensive is overkill, at best.When you’re employed in an at-will state, anything can be a fireable offense so long as the firing is not discrimination based. Your employer didn’t need a pretext. That said, it is quite strange to be fired over an email signature, particularly when you recently received glowing reviews and a raise. Unless the brand is poor morale, how could one person’s email signature undermine the brand? Being fired for a single, minor offense that isn’t particularly offensive is overkill, at best.
I’m not sure how company managers can possibly justify this without a pattern of behavior. If they were planning layoffs and were looking to save costs, yes, they may have done this to avoid paying you severance which is deeply unfair. I’d consult an employment lawyer to see what your options may be. Something is definitely off here.I’m not sure how company managers can possibly justify this without a pattern of behavior. If they were planning layoffs and were looking to save costs, yes, they may have done this to avoid paying you severance which is deeply unfair. I’d consult an employment lawyer to see what your options may be. Something is definitely off here.
Roxane Gay is the author, most recently, of “Hunger” and a contributing opinion writer. Write to her at workfriend@nytimes.com.Roxane Gay is the author, most recently, of “Hunger” and a contributing opinion writer. Write to her at workfriend@nytimes.com.