As we thrash around in the melted down economy, this may not be the time to whine and complain about every little thing at work.
Still, we can’t just wimp out and take it in the neck five days a week.
Sandy Shore (AP) says many employees are overworked (everyone else has been laid off) and little annoyances can loom large. Also, we still have BIG annoyances at work.
But if you want to complain, do it in a quiet, professional way.
Be sure a supervisor needs to get involved. If someone smells or wears their skirts too short, and they are not in a customer area, maybe you can deal with it yourself.
If the complaint affects the money the company makes, it may need to be raised with the supervisor. Make sure you say it has a business impact. Say staff has been cut and then business has picked up and you are staying later and later. You can say you are not burned out yet, but this could happen—and be constructive, suggest maybe a part-time person.
Before you raise it, bounce it off s friend. Role-play.
Time it—don’t blurt it out during a big crisis.
If you don’t get a promotion, complaining probably won’t change it—but you can ask how to position yourself better next time.
Work on your attitude. Complaining can cut both ways and come back to bite you. Or you just might get a solution.
