Protect Yourself From Bullying in the Workplace

Protect Yourself From Bullying in the WorkplaceProtect Yourself From Bullying in the WorkplaceBullying can take many forms, but its generally considered to be any behavior that is unwelcome, offensive, unsolicited, or objectionable. It can be physical, psychological, or verbal. Although its commonly associated with the playground and sometimes with the Internet among older youths, it can happen in the workplace as well. It typically manifests in some specific ways, and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Threats to Personal Standing Common forms of workplace bullying can take the form of personal attacks that seem to have little to do with your job or the workplace environment. It can involve spreadingrumors about someone, or hurtful gossip or innuendo about a coworker. It can include yelling, name-calling, mocking, insulting, or ridicule In face-to-face confrontations. The abuse can become physical when it involves unwanted contact or gestures intended to intimidat e or threaten an individual. It can also involve offensive photos or objects that might be placed on the victims desk, in his locker, or anywhere else where hes likely to come across it. What to Do? Start by Stand Your Ground First, know that the bully will most likely continue with her behavior as long as she knows she can do so without reprisal. It might be difficult, particularly if youre not the assertive type, but you have to draw a line in the sand. Let her know clearly that you dont appreciate what shes doing and youre not going to tolerate it. This might not stop her, but it could. Youre not easy prey anymore. Do it every time she approaches you in a negative manner. You might also throw in a threat of your own If she doesnt stop, youll report her behavior to your supervisor. Document the Behavior You dont want the situation to turn into a he-said-she-said scenario if you do report your bullys behavior, so take care to document his every action. What time did it occu r? When did it occur? Who was nearby and might have seen or heard the incident? Keep a journal or a log so you have documented proof. Take the Matter to Your Supervisor You can take the matter to your supervisor if youre being tormented by a co-worker, but this might make the situation worse if your supervisor reprimands or otherwise imposes some type of punishment against the instigator. Theres also the risk that the bully is just so valuable to the company that no one is going to take steps against him. Your supervisor might be his best friend off the job. But in either case, you should at least try. The situation probably wont be resolved without their cooperation if you cant make the bully back down on your own. If Your Supervisor Is the Problem Its also possible that your supervisor is the problem. Go over his head if possible. In this case, it can be particularly important to keep notes and documentation of the incidents, including the names of those who witnessed them . Those your supervisor reports to are probably not going to be happy to hear this information. They might want it to just go away so they dont have to deal with it...and youll make it easier for them to do that if you jump in with unsubstantiated allegations. They might also take an unfavorable view of you for causing problems- unless you can back up what youre telling them with that documentation and cooperative witnesses. If your supervisor is the owner of the company, or if you get no satisfaction when speaking to his supervisor, speak to a lawyer about possibly filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You might have grounds to do this, but you must report the incidents before you file a lawsuit. You then have only six months to act after notifying your employer of the problem or asking your boss to stop his abusive behavior. Federal Law Theres no specific law against bullying in the workplace unless it occurs due to discriminatory factors, so its important that you know your rights. Many bullying behaviors mirror the definition of a hostile work environment or workplace discrimination. If theyre directed at you by a superior, this might be considered harassment and if your superiors actions are based on discriminatory factors, you might have grounds for legal action. Many areas have free local legal clinics for this type of problem. Spend some time with an attorney and explain whats been happening to you. Find out if the bullys behavior legally crosses a line and where you stand. Ask about other options you might have under the circumstances of your own unique situation. Bullying vs. aHostile Work Environment Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal for an employer,manager, or supervisor to take certain actions against employees based on their sex, religion, race, national origin, or color. An employer can be held responsible for the actions of management and supervisory staff. Harassment becomes illeg al when tolerating it becomes a condition of your employment- you either put up with it or youre out of a job. Bullying rises to the level of harassment when any reasonable employee would consider the behavior uncomfortable, offensive, or hostile. Some examples and warning signs of bullying crossing over the threshold into discrimination and a hostile work environmentinclude Denying an employee access to resources, assignments, projects, or opportunitiesLittle or no feedback on performanceWithholding information thats essential to performing your jobFailing to invite you or let you know about an essential meetingThreatening job lossExcessive monitoring or micro-managementAssigning tasks that cannot be completed by the deadline and setting unrealistic and impossible goalsInterference or sabotageTreating you differently than your peers and co-workers are treatedExcessive, impossible, conflicting work expectations or demands Inequitable and harsh treatmentInvalid or baseless criticism, faultfinding, and unwarranted blameAccusatory or threatening statementsHumiliation, public reprimands, or obscene language This type of behavior must be repetitive and pervasive to rise to the level of a hostile work environment. It cant be something that just happens now and again. Something that happens sporadically might just be bullying. But bullying by a co-worker can be considered as creating a hostile work environment if your employer or supervisor is aware of the situation and does nothing to stop it. Moving Forward Bullies dont usually just zoom in on one person so its likely that one or more of your coworkers might be experiencing ill-treatment as well. It can help you and them if you offer your assistance based on your own experiences, and particularly if you all band together to push back against the bully. Be a mentor. Consider getting involved to help protect others. And remember, workplaces will be workplaces. In most cases, you have a lot of different personalit ies thrown into one cauldron during working hours. Drama, power struggles, and office politics are often inevitable, at least to some extent. Try to keep yourself as far removed from all this as possible. Concentrate on your own work and excellence, and let people be people.

3 Times When You Must Confront Your Boss

3 Times When You Must Confront Your Boss3 Times When You Must Confront Your BossNo one likes to put themselves at risk of losing their job. Yet, there are times when you, the employee, must confront your boss. The trick is not coming off looking like a combative and insubordinate know-it-all.You also want to protect your relationships for your careers sake, too. We explain the times when confronting the boss is a must. We also explain some ways to handle it, wisely.1. When the boss is dangerously wrong and you know itIn todays business climate, the wrong social media post or actions of a boss can damage a companys reputation for years. This is a time when it is important to confront a boss. You are positive he/she is about to do something that will impact everyones job and the success of the company. For example, expressing an opinion towards a loyal customer in the community that is both public and discriminatory.How does someone know who is right or wrong?Easy. Try the followingGet the facts.Investigate both sides of the story before confronting the boss.Avoid being cocky or self-righteous.Ask yourself if your argument is emotional or logical. Logical arguments are tough to disagree with.It is ok to help your boss see another perspective, as long as you remain supportive and cooperative. Do not become argumentative. Say things like, Let me show you why I am thinking this way.Your argument has got to involve numbers and logic in bestellung to show the true damage that can be done by the boss actions.2. When your workload is too much tohandleNo one likes to feel like a quitter or whiner. However, if things get to be a little too much you have to keep your boss aware of your dilemma. After all, if you cannot achieve goals, the boss needs to know.To avoid sounding like someone just having a bad day, try key phrases to open up a dialogue with your boss like theseMy current workload is demanding so much attention, I may not be able to insert dilemmaWould you help m e prioritize my tasks?Above all, remind yourself you are not complaining. You are trying to achieve a form of balance that is better for the company.3. When your boss is dragging his/her feet and you need resourcesThe boss gave you a deadline, but then at some point stopped providing the resources required to achieve it. The boss believes in taking the initiative and out-of-the-box thinking, but deciding to try something new (or against company policy) will not make the boss happy. You need your boss on this one.The situation is delicate and you obviously do not want to sound like the boss of your boss. You do, after all, have to think about who is really in charge. Right? Try these statements to ease the tension when you are a step away from saying, Hey Boss A little help here, please?I realize you are busy. Do you have a moment to insert?Do you think I can complete the project by this date without insert?Confronting your boss is never an easy thing to do, especially if you know yo ur boss will not take it well. Trying the phrases and ideas mentioned above should assist you in reducing tension and protecting your relationship with your boss.

Ten Common Spelling Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Career

Ten Common Spelling Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Career Ten Common Spelling Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Career By making common spelling errors in your everyday writing, you may be inadvertently leaving employers and co-workers with a negative perception about your intelligence, your attention to detail, or your ability to do the job.However, a quick review of some common spelling errors can go far in redeeming youThere/Their/TheyreThe misuse of these three ja genaus is one of the most common mistakes in the English language. The stimmt there describes a place or an idea. The word their means theres possession or ownership of something. The contraction theyre is just a combination of the words, they are.Example If theyre planning on driving through the storm in their familienkutsche tonight, it might be a good idea to set the extra windshield wiper fluid over there in the back seat.Lose/LooseLose is the opposite of win, so sports teams may occasionally lose a game. The word loos e is used, for example, when a person drops a significant amount of weight and their pants seem larger than normal.A good tip to use for remembering the difference Adding an additional o makes the word physically bigger much like the pants that become physically bigger during weight loss.DefinitelyFor some reason, many people want to add the letter a to this word. Remember this phrase to stay on track There is definitely no a in definitelyEffect/AffectIn most cases, the word effect is used as a noun, which is a person, place, or thing. Affect is a verb, which is an action word. If you are unsure on which way to spell this word, simply replace it with another verb to see if the sentence still makes sense, if it does, the word affect should be used.A Lot/AlotMany people make the mistake of combining two separate words, a and lot, into one word, alot. Keep in mind that there is always a lot of space between an a and its lot.Whos/WhoseWhos is simply an abbreviation for who is. The word whose is defined as a possessive adjective, meaning it is used to establish ownership.Example Whose telephone are we going to use for the conference call?Weather /WhetherWeather includes all things related to the outdoor elements like the sun, rain, and snow. The word whether is a conjunction, and its used to combine one or more alternatives.Example Whether or not something is completed will determine the outcome of all of our projects.WeirdAs confusing as it may be, the age-old phrase, I-before-E, except after C does not apply with this word. Weird, right?Quite/QuietQuiet describes when little noise or activity is occurring. Quite, on the other hand, is an adverb that describes something thats of a measurable extent.Example The break room in back is quiet, but I also noticed it is quite clean today.MisspellTheres likely no other word that is more embarrassing to get caught misspelling than the actual word, misspell.The good news about learning these rules is that once you understa nd them, its likely that it will become second nature to use them correctly. However, as the old saying goes, If you dont use your skills, you lose your skills.Or is it loose your skills?

Past President Played Role in Key Environmental Study

Past President Played Role in Key Environmental Study Past President Played Role in Key Environmental Study Past President Played Role in Key Environmental StudyIn the 1970s, as mora and more municipal waste combustion plants came online in the U.S. and Europe, environmental scientists on both continents began looking at the production of airborne dioxin from the facilities and the potential threat to human health. The dioxin, these scientists concluded, are released from the flues of the waste combustors when waste products made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, or PVC, is incinerated.At the time, Charles O. Velzy was president of anenvironmental engineeringconsulting firm providing technical services to one of the businesses most impacted by the spate of dioxin reports solid waste processing. He was also serving in the leadership of the Societys Solid Waste Processing Division and Research Committee on Industrial and Municipal Waste.Velzy is one of several former ASME president s who gave an oral history to the ASME History and Heritage Committee.View a video clip from ASMEs Oral History with Charles O. VelzyThe dioxin issue first became of concern to ASME at the 1980 Biannual Conference of the division, recalled Velzy, who nine years later was elected the 108th president of the Society. Many members in the division believed the issue warranted in-depth technical discussion. Charles O. Velzy, ASME Past PresidentWhile operators of the facilities were aware of the presence of dioxin emissions during combustion, many were not convinced that increases in the volume of PVC in the waste stream necessarily produced increases in emissions of the toxin.People in the industry were, of course, extremely concerned, as the initial reports lacked a research foundation and supporting technical data to carry out a comprehensive analysis and assessment, said Velzy.Velzy in 1980 chaired an ad hoc committee under the auspices of the Research Committee on Indus trial and Municipal Waste, which was tasked to provide the scope and framework for a comprehensive, science-based study into the dioxin issue. Subsequently, the consulting firm Arthur D. Little was contracted to do a survey designed to gauge the level of knowledge in the engineering community regarding dioxin, resulting in a report titled State of the Art of Dioxin from Combustion Sources.The ASME Research Committee on Industrial and Municipal Waste believed that the Society could provide a service by bringing together all pertinent information scientists understood about dioxin what it is, how it forms, how it is destroyed, said Velzy. This foundational basis would then enable the scientific community to arrive at critical decisions, including how to control the dioxin emissions.In 1995, ASME publishedThe Relationship Between Chlorine in Waste Streams and Dioxin Emissions From Waste Combustor Stacks, an exhaustive technical evaluation compiling more than 1,900 tests of dioxin emis sions from 169 waste-to-energy plants, cement kilns, biomass combustors, and medical waste incinerators from diverse locations around the world.In carrying out the tests, engineers fed chlorine in the waste stream, and then measured the combustion emissions to determine a possible causative link between the chlorine content and the formation of dioxin in the flue gases. Eighty percent of the facilities in the study showed no statistically significant relationship between chlorine input and dioxin the authors stated The hypothesis that fuel chlorine content and combustor flue gas dioxin emissions are related was not confirmed by the data analyzed in this study.While the study was issued five years after Velzys term as ASME president, the engineer from Illinois played a major role in laying the foundation for key studies, beginning in 1980 and continuing to his ASME presidency in 1989-1990. Velzy, in the oral history, looked back on a research endeavor that was time-consuming, challen ging and, at the same time, very exciting.It also provided lessons. The public does not understand the critical role of sound scientific and engineering analysis to assess oftentimes misconceived notions of environmental damage brought by certain technology, said Velzy. The dioxin project demonstrated that there is a correct approach to dealing with environmental issues, one that is based on sound engineering.Read more about Past President Played Role in Key Environmental Study The copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

Classified Information About Differences Between a Cv and a Resume Only the Pros Know Exist

Classified Information About Differences Between a Cv and a Resume Only the Pros Know Exist In Europe the term CV has become the most common, but the true format fluctuates based on the work type youre applying for. So make sure your resume is tailored made in accordance to the requirement of the position. Maintain a check on the format that you select too. With all these formats used in different job proposal and in the many organizations, it gets really hard to differentiate between different formats. The Resume is really the most frequent document type. CVs should not be specific to every position that youre applying for. You might want to translate your CV. A CV is an extremely descriptive document about the subjects career and it might run for over a few pages. Curriculum vitae have become the most popular document required by applicants in the work application. A suitable CV format is perfect for the post youre applying for. Regardless of whether you take advantage of a CV or resume, you have to thoroughly edit your document. It is most important if writing a resume, but additionally, it applies to CVs. Whats Truly Going on with Differences Between a Cv and a Resume At length, it ought not be identified as a similarity since it ought to go without saying. While filling in the facts of your resume, you must keep omitting the older information to help keep the focus on the present ones. You should also create a list of the explanations for why you applied. The primary reason why resumes arent long documents is because they arent intended for the reader to dwell on them for lengthy periods of time. There are a few ways to gather your CV, and youre able to have a look at our Resource Library on 12Twenty for templates and mora details. Although it isnt uncommon for resumes to have references included, its more common for CVs to come with an extra page of reference details. Whether youre building a CV or a resume, you have to make sure t hat youre focused and acute in elaborating your abilities and qualifications. The absolute most important objective of a resume is to allow the candidate stick out from the competition. All the essential information regarding your career needs to be included here. Quantify your accomplishments wherever you may. A common CV for someone in the early phases of their graduate school career might be 2-3 pages, but for a seasoned researcher, it might be 10 or more pages. If youre a recent graduate with minimal or no expert history, you would begin with your education and list any relevant internships or apprenticeships. For instance, in CV, if youre asking for work in education, you might want to place your teaching experience in addition to the CV. In a CV, for instance, if youre asking for work in education, you may want to tischset your teaching experience at the summit of your CV. Whispered Differences Between a Cv and a Resume Secrets A CV, however, will stay more or less th e exact same for each application because it has all your potentially relevant details. A CV is significantly more than a career biography. A CV wont contain an objective and wont have a narrative profile. A CV should demonstrate a chronological order of the entire career of the individual. Its easy to understand if its necessary to submit a resume or a CV. A CV is normally written when youve got to describe your entire life. A CV isnt a resume, and a resume isnt a CV. The CV is a more sophisticated summary of your educational, professional, and individual accomplishments. The rest of The items are based on the demands of the jobs youre interested in and your unique strengths. The differences arent always apparent. They can be tricky to understand, after all, they share a lot of similarities at their core. So, here are four important differences that you ought to understand before you even consider touching copy-paste. What You Dont Know About Differences Between a Cv a nd a Resume Many work in the public service or academia will take a comprehensive CV to be submitted as a member of a work application. Most resumes are one page and supply a short, compelling breakdown of why your experience is perfect for the job. CVs are typically one or two pages long and tailored to the particular job that youre applying for, ensuring your experience and skills matches the requirements set out in the work description. In summary, individuals are expected to submit either a CV or resume when applying for work. CVs are frequently used to apply for jobs outside the United States of america. Outside the United States, they are much more common. In the example of job applications in the usa always send a resume except every time a CV is explicitly requested. In the uk and Europe, the CV is a more prevalent format. In Europe most recruiters would rather have a short CV that isnt difficult to scan and suited for the work type. Resumes are employed in the usa , Australia and Canada.

3 Ways Human Resources Can Contribute to the Bottom Line - Spark Hire

3 Ways Human Resources Can Contribute to the Bottom Line - Spark HireIn every company, there are 2 departments ausverkauf and marketing, and all the rest. The marketing department drives units and revenues. The other departments are to run as efficiently as possible. Their primary goal is to save money, and every dollar saved is used to allow sales and marketing to advertise and sell more units. The only department elendlage asked to come up with creative ideas to save money is human resources.Those days are over. All departments are being asked to contribute to the bottom line. In the past, the mere mention of such a thing to human resources was thought to be taboo. How can you decrease what you spend on recruiting? How can you eliminate background checks? How can you more effectively change the timing or availability of new hires?You cant. But there are 3 things you can look into that may impact your bottom line.Provide training only where neededIf you hire an experienced candidate , do you have to train them on everything? You should have the candidate complete an assessment, and train them only where there is a deficiency. By doing this the delta between hire date and productive day will shrink. The faster you get them generating sales the more incremental sales you make. This is a win-win.Hire for later not nowThis will be the most difficult to execute but will definitely be the most beneficial if you can. On the surface it looks like over hiring, but its much more than that. Over hiring is hiring the person with the most skills whether those skills align to your needs or not. When hiring for later, you are consciously hiring a person who has skills you need now and later. So, for example, you are looking to hire someone for door to door sales now but know you will be hiring for retail sales later then your hiring team will be on the lookout for someone proficient at both. By doing this, you are effectively building your own bench.There are some disadvantag es to doing this. You may have to pay your new hires more than you normally pay them. Also, your long term plans may change, and with it change your employee profile. But the old adage says better to have it and not need it than need it and now have it.Poach from winnersIts not enough to poach people with experience. If not careful, you may poach someone who is a bad long term fit for your team. Your best bet is to poach someone who works for a successful company. It may sound like a no-brainer but typically hiring teams look for experience not the company that they came from. A winner with a bag full of ideas that are proven to be successful may be a shot in the arm for your company.The right moves by your H/R team may be the engine that drives your companys revenue, cash flow, and stock value.About the AuthorStephen Thomas is an Executive with 27 years of experience. He currently has over 1,000 employees, and has conducted hundreds of interviews for candidates at all levels of an organization. Thomas currently writes articles on careers for the Chicago Examiner. Thomas writes out of his passion and desire to help leaders tap into their visionary talents and make good companies great.Image Santiagp Cornejo/BigStock.com