More Tips For How To Be Happy At Work
Find balance. Take pride. Don't sweat the small stuff.
How to be happy at work? DO YOUR JOB!
In the last column, I cited three means to higher happiness at work – intimacy w...
How can I have a higher level of happiness at work?
Make God your best work friend, accept responsibility and stay virtuous.
How can I keep God in my workday?
From prayer and patience to carrying a small cross, simple ways you can sanctify your workday.
My procrastination is affecting my job performance
Look to God to help you swiftly conquer your tasks.
Our new hire expects a promotion right away
Our new hire has been with us for just a month and is already expecting to be promoted.
Can I find true happiness in my career?
To find happiness in your career, love God, know yourself, dream big and work hard.
Do I have a loyalty problem if I'm always job-hopping?
How can I balance wanting to continually change jobs to advance my career with a...
My co-worker won't stop talking about marriage problems
Help your colleague stop venting.
How can I negotiate more time off for the holidays?
Since everyone wants more time off at the holidays, first consider why you should be given special consideration.
I don’t have the tools and materials I need to get my work done
I don’t have the tools I need to get my work done. Nor can I meet my deadlines. ...
How do I manage my classmates as their supervisor?
I am a senior in high school, and I’ve just been promoted to supervisor at my jo...
My boss is demanding and unpredictable
I love my job and earn a great living, but my new boss is demanding and unpredic...
How do I juggle the demands of two bosses?
I’m an administrative assistant for two attorneys who are both partners in a law...
For Brig and Fran, Legatus is an opportunity to 'really listen to God's voice'
Business leaders strengthen their faith at work and in the community with Legatus.
I'm overwhelmed with personal invitations from employees
My staff invites me to their personal, family functions, but I prefer not to go
Do I have to hire my boss' nephew?
My supervisor wants me to hire his nephew for the summer. We have other, more-qu...
I don't have any friends at work
I’ve been at my job for a few months now, and I haven’t made any friends yet. I ...
How can I avoid forced overtime?
I am regularly working more than 50 hours per week, even though I’m only supposed to be working 40.
My boss’ poor planning makes my job harder
You’ve seen that meme that says, “Lack of planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on my part.”
I’m stuck in a dead-end job
There are four levels of satisfaction you can mindfully appreciate, in ascending...
My coworker won’t share crucial information
Apply the four cardinal virtues. You might remember them from the catechism (180...
How can I make the most of my internship?
Be determined. If you are willing, my son, you will be taught, and if you apply ...
Who decides to update the menu at the family restaurant?
Our family owns a restaurant and my siblings and I would like to update the menu...
Is it OK to take a ‘mental health’ day?
What a great idea! I was just dragging myself to write this column. Where have y...
Do I have to get all my retail staff together for meetings?
There is a phrase called “death by meetings,” but there’s also a kind of “death ...
Should I blow the whistle on safety violations?
My workplace has several machines where safety guards have been removed, plus a ...
Do I have to invite the whole office to my wedding?
I am getting married soon. Do if I have to invite the entire office to my weddin...
My employer won't let me take Good Friday off
I want to take time off for Good Friday, and my employer won’t let me. Don’t I h...
How should I handle a co-worker's same-sex wedding invitation?
My co-worker invited me to her wedding to another woman. Do I explain why I'm no...
I love Christmas, but not the office parties that come with it
I love Jesus’ birthday – but I hate Christmas in the office. There is an endless...
How should I prepare for a Skype interview?
I have a job interview coming up on Skype. What are some tips for interviewing w...
I want to vent about my job on Facebook
I am having a bit of a hard time at work, and I want to chat about it with my Fa...
My Employee can't make a decision
Q: We recently hired someone who came highly recommended, but he seems unable to...
My co-worker is interested in Catholicism
Q: One of my co-workers has indicated some interest in Catholicism. How can I ev...
I can’t get a job because of a felony conviction
Q: I have a felony conviction for possession of marijuana—I was 18 at the time. ...
How long do I have to do my co-worker’s job as well as my own?
Q: My co-worker has been diagnosed with a nebulous-sounding ailment that involve...
I think my co-worker is living out of his car
Q: One of my co-workers has had a few financial setbacks, and I think he’s livin...
Can I ask people to put their phones away at meetings?
Q: I am responsible for running a weekly workflow meeting in our office. During ...
I'm out of the lunch clique
Q: I work in a small office, where all of the “old-timers” go to lunch every day...
Should I look for a new job?
Q: Am I still in the right job? How can I discern when it’s time to move on?
...
I’m swamped by too much email
Q: I have hundreds of emails to wade through every day – which is not helped by ...
Less pay and less respect; How much do I have to take?
Q: I am being paid less than I was before, but being asked to do more. It f...
Gossip and Fundraising: How much is too much?
Q: My supervisor has banned office gossip. Is that even possible? How do we...
Oops ... I hit “reply all”
Q: I mistakenly hit “reply all” on an email in which I made a remark about ...
I can’t manage when my boss undermines me
Q: My boss criticizes me in front of my subordinates, which makes it harder...
My two employees don’t like each other what do I do?
Q: I have two employees who really dislike each other. I know I can’t make every...
Trouble with naptime at the office, and not just with my co-worker's kids
Q: I have a co-worker who falls asleep at her desk every afternoon. I’d like a l...
I'm short and I think it's affecting my career
Q: I am a 5-foot-4-inch man and I really feel as if my height is having a negati...
My co-worker drinks on the job. Should I do something about it?
Q. My office mate sometimes appears drunk at work, and I’ve smelled the distinct...
Does my right to free speech end at my workplace?
Q. Our employer has told us that we are not to voice our political opinions at w...
I don’t get the good assignments because I’m not young and pretty
Q. I feel as if one of my co-workers gets all the “plum” assignments. I am pret...
Why doesn’t my boss respect me?
Menial tasks can make you feel you're not valued
How do I handle an employee who stole from the company?
One of the employees I manage stole some office supplies from the company. I tal...
How can I get my boss to stop looking over my shoulder?
Q. My boss is a complete micromanager – I feel as if I might as well not even be...
One team member’s sloppy work is making us ALL look bad
Q. I work on a lot of projects in a group. One of my colleagues is always late w...
I am the victim of office gossip. What can I do about the co-worker who started the rumor?
Q. One of my co-workers is always gossiping, and it borders on slander. She told...
I shouldn’t have to walk through a toxic cloud to get to work
Q. Although the state mandates smoke-free workplaces, several of my co-workers s...
I thought I was a guest at the company party, not the butler!
Q. Our office invited clients and all of the workers to a party to celebrate the...
My boss won’t let me be friends with the people I manage
Q. I used to go out to lunch with a co-worker, but I’ve been promoted to manager...
I flunked my mock interview! 5 tips to get it right for the real one
Q. We just went through a round of mock interviews at school, and nobody wanted ...
Chatty Cathy coworker
Q: One of my co-workers does nothing but chat all day. She comes to my office do...
I am sick of cleaning up my co-worker’s dirty dishes – I am not the office maid
Q: One of my coworkers keeps leaving dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink ...
My friend lied on his resume I don’t want to recommend him for a job
A. You probably won’t confront him, because you haven’t already. I’m guessing it...
Why do my co-workers insult soldiers?
A.You’re to be commended for your loyalty, both to your husband and to his colle...
My coworker's lunch stinks!
A.You can’t tell her to do anything. You don’t have the authority. That’s the ba...
I am being 'guilt-tripped' into giving up my sick time
A. Let’s be clear about something. You are by no means obligated to donate your ...
Will an office crush ruin my life?
A.Feelings of attraction are commonplace and we all sometimes experience unruly ...
Can I be penalized for using a benefit?
A. Some organizations have policies and a culture that anticipate each employee ...
Other employees can telecommute I’m resentful of that privilege
A. Every work situation has positives and negatives. I think the mistake you are...
How can I make myself fire-proof?
A. What does “fire-proof” mean? In the workplace, it refers to what an employee ...
I suspect an office scandal. Do I tell the boss?
A. Joining in on office gossip, reading tabloid magazines, or listening to the l...
How can I avoid recommending my friend for a job?
A. I understand your natural reluctance to say something to your friend. Preserv...
How can I stop crying in front of my boss?
A. Your tears are the result of your emotions unexpectedly overwhelming you; the...
I’m afraid my boss has dementia
A: As many of us continue to work into our senior years, due to economic challen...
My boss canot spell - can I fix his erers without embaresing him?
A. Your question reminds me of one of my favorite Mark Twain quotes, “I have no ...
I got laid off – now what?
A: As a career coach, I have spoken with people in their 20s who think they are ...
My daughter wants to be a poet! How can I change her mind?
A: Although I understand your concern, don’t overreact to her news. Your daughte...
No raise is really a pay cut
A: In my experience, there are situations where an organization will make an exc...
I lied on my resume should I come clean?
A: Your employer may or may not find out; however, it is evident from your quest...
I’ve been offered a job do I take it or stay on unemployment?
A. Working as a career coach, I often hear similar questions. Should I relocate ...
Shouldn’t my employer mind his own business?
A: I agree – if you were at lunch on your own time, using your own computer and ...
Should I take a risk on my own business?
A: The last word in your question, “dream,” is worthy of consideration. The word...
How do I survive survivor’s guilt?
A. Your question comes immediately after I have read several articles about achi...
My company is illegally dumping toxic waste. Do I report them?
A: You are in a difficult position with a serious subject that entails moral, et...
Always the package schlepper – never the driver
A. If you are new to your job, begin by asking your supervisor for general guida...
My job or my daughter's soccer game? How do I choose?
Ah, as Catholics we joke so much about “guilt.” But that is what you may have. T...
I am in pain I just can’t do this job anymore
A. Before replacing both hips, I lived with arthritis pain for years; therefore,...
I caught a coworker stealing – am I a tattletale if I report her?
A. Your discomfort about being a “tattletale” is understandable. However, if you...
I lost my job – now what?
A. What does the mechanical engineer do when he comes to understand his engineer...
I always get stuck with the worst assignments – am I being punished for being single?
A. Those bells you hear ringing in your head probably aren’t wedding bells – the...
Should I pass up a promotion? How do we ensure that we’re using our potential?
A. On the surface, Frank sounds like a humble man who is content where he is, an...
Get off my turf! How to work better together
A. In order for an enterprise to prosper, it is necessary for all elements of th...
Discovering kindness and faith among co-workers
The expert says: We are often confused, as Catholics, as to how we should approa...
How to deal with a cranky customer
A. This approach in dealing with people is, at its root, an act of love. This wa...
My wife is a stay-at-home mom – I’m jealous
The expert says: Catholic social teaching emphasizes that the family is the cent...
Playing the blame game
A. We’ve all heard it before and, to some extent, we’re all guilty of it. Becaus...
Estoy abrumado con invitaciones personales de los empleados
Dirijo una empresa pequeña y a menudo me invitan a fiestas de empleados para los...
Mi jefe es exigente e impredecible
P: Adoro mi trabajo y gano bien, pero mi nuevo jefe es exigente e impredecible. ...
¿Tengo que contratar al sobrino de mi jefe?
P: Mi supervisor quiere que contrate a su sobrino durante el verano. Tenemos otr...
No tengo amigos en el trabajo
P: He estado en mi trabajo durante unos meses y aún no he hecho ningún amigo. Si...
¿Cómo atiendo las demandas de dos jefes?
Soy asistente administrativo de dos abogados que son socios en un bufete de abog...