I referred to my colleague as my work-wife and the person got offended. I meant it in a complimentary way, but got reprimanded by HR. I can’t take this hyper-sensitivity. Can I get in trouble for not speaking at work, only answering direct questions?
Not to open a different can of worms but you don’t say if the colleague you referred to as your work wife was a man or a woman.
Not that a woman couldn’t be offended, but it’s not uncommon to refer to a colleague of the opposite sex with whom one has a close working relationship as a work wife or work husband.
Typically, it’s only one’s actual spouse who might get offended, but that’s yet another can of worms.
I’m not sure why your colleague got offended, but clearly you misjudged your relationship, because even in these times, calling a colleague a work spouse is generally considered a compliment.
Or maybe — like in most married couples — there’s absolutely no rational explanation for why your wife gets upset with something that you say.
(Yep, I went there. Might as well go all in on this one.)
My company went through a restructure and they changed my job responsibilities. I don’t like my new job. Am I entitled to decline and get severance, just like those who lost their job?
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Well, I’m sure there are a lot of people who lost their jobs that would love to trade places with you.
It’s an interesting question because your job did change, and presumably without your consent, so if you are now doing a job that’s different from what you were hired to do you could claim what’s called “constructive discharge” and be treated as if you’d been laid off.
The catch is that there’s a high bar to make that claim.
Generally, it requires that the change in terms and conditions of employment are so adverse that any reasonable person would feel like they wouldn’t make that change.
These include getting less money, a lower role and stature or a change in working hours.
Otherwise, employers are allowed to make changes without any consequence.
Typically, that not only gives people an opportunity to remain employed but to learn new skills, too.
Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Weds. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande