I thought I got on well with a senior colleague but he’s now giving me the cold shoulder. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s busy, but the way he ignores me tells me it’s intentional. We’re supposed to be working very closely because we share a lot of projects. What can I do?
Many workplace issues mirror life outside of work, so how would you handle this situation in your personal life? If someone you were once close with started giving you the cold shoulder, would you just act in kind, or ignore it, or cut them off? Or would you or have a conversation — without putting them on the defensive — explaining how you feel, that you perceive a noticeable difference in the relationship, that you value the relationship and are concerned? Express that you are wondering if something is wrong or if you inadvertently upset them. The latter is usually the best course of action with all interpersonal relationships, whether personal or professional. It’s the only way to find out what’s going on and have a chance to remedy the relationship.

My co-worker, who does the exact same job as me, is getting paid substantially more than me. She’s not any better at it. As a man, can I claim sex discrimination for unequal pay?
You can claim anything, but that doesn’t mean it has merit. Just because there is a pay differential, it doesn’t mean it’s based on gender. There are many legitimate reasons why two people in the same role can be paid differently, including the length of tenure, experience, level of performance, and maybe because the other person was better at negotiating or harder to attract to the company. So, you would have to demonstrate that the differential is based on gender. Some contextual evidence supporting a potential claim could be that the majority of people in one classification are paid less than people in another, or if there are any statements that the disparity is based on gender. Discuss with HR, or an attorney. If you are asking whether a man can claim discrimination under pay equity laws, the answer is yes.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Wed. 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