Author Topic: Dealing with difficult colleagues  (Read 1947 times)

Offline Spezialo

  • Knocked out of the world cup. Should have had a pen. As if you wouldn't confront the ref.
  • Kopite
  • *****
  • Posts: 773
  • We all Live in a Red and White Kop
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #40 on: March 7, 2023, 11:08:31 am »
Been browsing RAWK for 2 hours (wfh).

Offline So… Howard Philips

  • Penile Toupé Extender. Notoriously work-shy, copper-bottomed pervert.
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 23,146
  • All I want for Christmas is a half and half scarf
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #41 on: March 7, 2023, 11:10:17 am »
Been browsing RAWK for 2 hours (wfh).

On a work supplied device? ;D

Offline Spezialo

  • Knocked out of the world cup. Should have had a pen. As if you wouldn't confront the ref.
  • Kopite
  • *****
  • Posts: 773
  • We all Live in a Red and White Kop
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #42 on: March 7, 2023, 11:11:58 am »
On a work supplied device? ;D

 :o

Early dinner  ;)

Offline ianburns252

  • RAWK Economist not the MP spelling and Crosby background differentiate
  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,316
  • Gentleman in the streets; freak in the spreadsheet
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #43 on: March 7, 2023, 11:15:39 am »
Just want to put some pro WFH things here as I dispute parts of this post...

I have always been WFH and have managed to answer and ask questions just fine. I've even set up Teams Q and A groups with a rule that no question is a stupid question. Between that, documentation, and mentoring on the job. WFH has been a boon and allowed us to get talent in we wouldn't normally. Myself included

A team doesn't need this. My team isn't even all in the same country!

I get what you're saying but it isn't an absolute. I've got colleagues I've only met once - and we push hard together and are pretty close.

Team spirit is not something that only exists in person. (It exists in your heart maaaaan)

I am making the assumption that you are at least 30 and come from a different generation of workers - there are multiple studies that show that older people are more comfortable reaching out and contacting colleagues over things.

I think with the 2nd part it comes down to industry - with my job we absolutely do need to be closer geographically (not least of all to visit clients) and work in small teams where we need to all pull together to get things over the line by filing deadlines etc.

I think you are right the being in person isn't the be all and end all - if you a team minded then you will still have team spirit whether in person or not but for people coming into the working world then it is about them learning about the culture and getting to know their teammates which is much easier in person I think

Offline rob1966

  • YORKIE bar-munching, hedgehog-squashing (well-)articulated road-hog-litter-bug. Sleeping With The Enemy. Has felt the wind and shed his anger..... did you know I drive a Jag? Cucking funt!
  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 46,257
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #44 on: March 7, 2023, 11:20:39 am »
On a work supplied device? ;D

I have my personal laptop next to my work one ;D
Jurgen, you made us laugh, you made us cry, you made Liverpool a bastion of invincibilty, now leave us on a high - YNWA

Offline So… Howard Philips

  • Penile Toupé Extender. Notoriously work-shy, copper-bottomed pervert.
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 23,146
  • All I want for Christmas is a half and half scarf
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #45 on: March 7, 2023, 11:22:45 am »
I have my personal laptop next to my work one ;D

Shows you how thick those coppers were using their work devices to send their misogynistic etc. WhatsApp messages.

Offline ianburns252

  • RAWK Economist not the MP spelling and Crosby background differentiate
  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,316
  • Gentleman in the streets; freak in the spreadsheet
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #46 on: March 7, 2023, 11:28:11 am »
That's what slack huddles and channels are for! Getting help, knowledge sharing, meetings and catch ups, can all be done successfully remotely. Does require a culture shift and a certain level of engagement in using those tools but it's not impossible, we've been doing really well with it and for longer term WFHers like me (10 years now!) it's much better because the 'office' is now in slack. It'd take some monumental offer to get me back in an office, even one day a week.

More modern practices (and I am joining one in a month's time that does sound more like what you describe) might be up on that but even with significant amounts of resources that we have available within our SharePoint they don't get utilised.

It is a chicken and the egg scenario - do you need the mentality and willingness to already be there before it is worth transitioning or do you need to spend the money on infrastructure and training first to give people the tools to do it and then start moving in that direction and getting people in the right frame of mind for it.

It comes back, for me, to people's comfort/willingness to reach out and ask questions (and there have been studies of late around "tech fear" from younger people where they don't want to admit to not knowing how to use something, due to the stereotype that young people all know how to use modern tech, where as people my age and upwards will more readily admit to not knowing things and seek out the assistance)

I think as well that people who go into my industry are less often that savvy to the likes of Slack etc so maybe awareness simply isn't there?

Personally I am an advocate for people being able to work from home but I do think you need to "earn" the trust to be able to do so more than you are in the office. I do think as well that seeing the team (and wider firm) in person and socialising here or there is good too though. Those of us who go into the office will tend to go for a pint or two after work or play 5 a side at least once a week and there is something nice about these people not just being other drones in the hive - that said I have very few friends in real life and no partner so they are the sum total of my social life...

Offline Charlie Adams fried egg

  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 5,507
  • We all Live in a Red and White Kop
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #47 on: March 7, 2023, 11:56:31 am »
I definitely think that there's an issue around how the next generation are being affected by WFH, although I appreciate some industries may have made better progress than others. The amount of informal learning that takes place just by being able to ask a quick question because you're in the same office shouldn't be underestimated.

My kids and their mates are at the ages when they're just starting out into graduate type roles in their early 20's and there's been some good examples of both the ups and downs of WFH. When it comes to work and commuting not interfering with social stuff then WFH is great, when it comes to those formative years of the career, it's less so.

I think for people in their 20's especially, the social side shouldn't be underestimated either, especially if they're moving away from home for their first job.


Offline ianburns252

  • RAWK Economist not the MP spelling and Crosby background differentiate
  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,316
  • Gentleman in the streets; freak in the spreadsheet
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #48 on: March 7, 2023, 12:04:02 pm »
I definitely think that there's an issue around how the next generation are being affected by WFH, although I appreciate some industries may have made better progress than others. The amount of informal learning that takes place just by being able to ask a quick question because you're in the same office shouldn't be underestimated.

My kids and their mates are at the ages when they're just starting out into graduate type roles in their early 20's and there's been some good examples of both the ups and downs of WFH. When it comes to work and commuting not interfering with social stuff then WFH is great, when it comes to those formative years of the career, it's less so.

I think for people in their 20's especially, the social side shouldn't be underestimated either, especially if they're moving away from home for their first job.


Agree with every word there

Offline AndyInVA

  • Born in Liverpool, grew up in Yorkshire, live in the States
  • RAWK Supporter
  • Legacy Fan
  • ******
  • Posts: 7,123
  • Never Forget
Re: Dealing with difficult colleagues
« Reply #49 on: March 7, 2023, 12:27:18 pm »
I live in a US state that has an 'employment at will' law. Put simply, an employer can let you go at any time without giving a reason and you are gone. Obviously this is open to plenty of abuse.

In the real world good firms fight for the best people but if you don't cut it then you are gone quickly.

No skiving allowed.

I am in the construction business and plenty of older guys will go a bit slow and let the younger guys do the hard work as they know their technical and practical knowledge and experience  is really hard to replace.