Dear Roze:

I’m ticked off with my new boss, who I have actually worked for in the past. When I was working out all the details of my new position with her, she pushed a certain date that she wanted me to start, which at the time presented no problem for me. But when I reported to work on that date, guess what greets me? Not her! She has taken the whole week off and has left me with a boatload of work to do. I couldn’t believe she would do something like that to me. She knew that it was a very hard decision for me to take the job because it’s in a different department and she’s the only person I know there. We have always had a very good work relationship and I have considered her a friend as well even though she’s management. I think what she did was so unprofessional and inconsiderate of her, but I have never said anything to her about it even though I’m still really mad about it. Do you think I should have said something?

-Expected much more

Dear Expected much more:

I believe you made the right decision not to say anything. It would have been most ideal if your supervisor had let you know her schedule ahead of time, but there may have been some reasons you have not considered as to why she handled your start date the way she did. One, given the good work history the two of you have with each other, she may have thought that you would not need her guidance, that you could handle things on your own. Two, she may have needed to schedule your start date in conjunction with the departure of another person. Three, she may have had a project deadline looming that she needed you to tackle. And four, an administrative concern such as payroll may have been why she wanted you to start on a certain date. Do not let this incident hurt or destroy the solid working relationship the two of you have with each other.

Hang in there!

Dear Roze:

I have no problem with rules, but I don’t like learning about them by breaking them. What I mean is that I don’t like not being told what we can and can’t do; and only finding out that something isn’t in line with company rules when one of my co-workers or I do that particular something. For instance, recently I learned that if we post notes on the door from which our customers arrive and depart, they can’t be handwritten or on colored paper and the print must be a particular size, font, and in black ink. It’s not a ridiculous rule, but it’s ridiculous not to know about it until one of us has broken it. It shouldn’t be that difficult to provide us with this rule and others right when this company took over our company.

-Be more up-front

Dear Be more up-front:

I understand your frustration, but recognizing that your organization has been part of a takeover, it is quite possible that your management was not aware of this particular company rule. It is not always possible for a company’s management to be familiar with every single rule, policy, and procedure. Further, an organization’s requirements are not always in writing. That being said, you may want to respectfully request a copy of all of the company’s written rules, policies and procedures and be sure that this particular one is added if it does not already exist.

Dear Roze:

What do I do when a very old friend from the work part of my life insinuated that he would help me but it appears that he really doesn’t want to? He and I used to actually work together in the same organization. I left a little while ago but our jobs have mutual interests. So, I knew that he had some contacts that could help me with my new career. Up until now, he had never offered to help me out and I have been apprehensive in asking him for some, but I knew that I couldn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve if I didn’t take that plunge and ask him. When I asked him about his contacts, he eventually let me know that he knew a guy who could be helpful to me in my new line of work. He told me to send him my resume and an overview of what I do and how it could fit with this guy’s division, and he would then give this guy a call on my behalf.

After a few weeks, I emailed my friend to find out the status of things. He eventually wrote back that he had talked to the guy about me and forwarded my info to him, and that the guy was going to forward it to his people who deal with my kind of services. When I had heard nothing after another few weeks, I emailed him again and asked if there was anything I could do to see if that division had an interest and to make sure they understood what I do. And what did he write back?! “You know how our organization is. If they’re interested, they’ll get in touch with you.” There was no offer on his part to find out the status of things if I didn’t hear anything after a significant amount of time passed. Well, I don’t think, as a matter of fact, I know, one has to be persistent and follow-up if they want to be noticed or taken into consideration. And worse, I strongly believe my friend could have done more than he did in terms of the guy he was supposed to have talked to about my services. I’m disappointed all the way around, but I’m not completely surprised either. I know my friend would expect more from me and would hate it if I did so little or no follow-up, but I don’t know how to tell him what I think or if I should say anything at all. Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

-Questioning old work friend’s efforts

Dear Questioning old work friend’s efforts:

Unfortunately, there is no way to know whether or not your old colleague actually contacted the individual in his organization who could be helpful to you. It would have been nice and reasonable for him to have visibly copied or blind-copied you on the email he was supposed to have sent out on your behalf. It would have not only given you the assurance that he was being honest with you regarding his intentions, but it would have given you confirmation that your information was sent to the appropriate person. I suggest that you not express your thoughts and concerns over this matter, but take solace in knowing that you did all that you could reasonably do in requesting assistance from your old colleague. In future situations, if appropriate, request a copy or to be copied on any information that is communicated to others about you and your business.

Best of luck in your future pursuits!