How to Handle a Coworker Who is Trying to Force You Into a Political Debate?

Do you find yourself at the receiving end of a coworker who is persistently trying to coax you into a political debate? Do you feel annoyed that you have to prove yourself in a capacity that has nothing to you with your professional role? If so, know that effective measures might be closer at hand than you think.

A Case Study

Julia works as a senior IC at a FAANG. One of her juniors tried to goad her into arguments based on a one-off political comment she made. Soon, it got to a point where she had to tell him that while their political views might not be the same, she was not comfortable discussing them, at work or elsewhere.

That did not have the desired effect, so she had to tell him she was banning all political conversations between them.  While this finally put an end to her woes, she said she was prepared to go to HR as a last resort.

What this goes to show is that simply asserting yourself might do the trick.

Set Boundaries

With political statements and opinions around the country flying thick and fast, it is very important to protect your boundaries. Where things stand, political debates are no more than two sides standing on their high horses – screaming about how and why they are right. If a coworker is pushing you into a political debate, simply say you would rather focus on work. 

Remember that you don’t have to talk about anything that is not related to your work while you are at work. Instead, you should feel empowered enough to decide whether or not you wish to participate in such conversations.

Know When to Take a Step Back

You need to be aware of the other person’s energy and body language so you can determine if a situation is getting heated or confrontational. If so, your best bet is to walk away. This is because staying calm and composed in a professional setting is way more important than trying to get someone else to see your point.

Backing away is easy. All you need to do is say you have something else to do. This could be getting back to work, making a phone call, or running an errand. Alternatively, you can try changing the topic. If that does not work, you might need to follow a more direct approach. In this case, you could say you simply don’t want to talk about it anymore.

If you reach a point where you feel a flutter in your stomach, a racing heart, or sweaty palms, know that your body has entered the fight or flight mode. At this stage, calming down requires that you make a conscious effort. The best you can do is end the conversation in an amicable manner.

Be Respectful

Respecting others’ political views at the workplace is just as important at respecting other aspects of their lives. Just because a coworker does not share the same political views as you, it does not have to lead to hostility, harassment, or retaliation. So, even if you feel you are being pushed in a corner and are being forced to retaliate, simply take the higher road and walk away.

When All Else Fails

Companies do not want their employees’ political inclinations and affiliations to affect their work in any adverse way. They want you to do your job well and be on your way. If all the efforts you put in getting your coworker to back off go in vain, consider taking the matter up with your HR department.

Unfortunately, data released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests that more than a third of working American feel that their workplaces are not inclusive of different political perspectives. If you find that your HR is not taking effective measures to alleviate your problem, you might have to think about whether you wish to continue in your existing role or look for a new job.

If you feel your coworker’s persistence constitutes as harassment, you might even want to get a legal opinion. 

Conclusion

Falling into a trap and ending up arguing about your political views with a coworker will do you no good. After all, neither of you are going to change your political views through the course of a heated argument. Remember that entering a political debate of refraining from one is entirely up to you, and when at work, steering clear of any such situation is always in your best interest.

Comic time : Return to office

When Does it Make Sense to Accept a Lower Salary for the Same Role?

Ideally, your paycheck should keep increasing until you retire. However, truth remains that people end up taking jobs that pay lesser than their last ones for a variety of reasons. Besides, getting raises can be challenging for people who are already at good stages in their careers. So, when does it make sense to accept a lower salary for the same role or a comparable one?

You Get Better Perks

Workplace benefits play an important role in your overall compensation package. If the company you wish to join is offering stock grants in lieu of a decrease in pay, you might have reason to consider. This is because public equity is basically cash, and you can list the same on your mortgage application. What you need to account for is how much the stock will need to drop before it becomes unprofitable for you. A better than existing insurance package might also warrant your attention. Other benefits can come in the form of free on-site childcare and financial assistance for education.

You Need Work

If you are unemployed and need a job in a hurry, accepting a job with the same role at a lower pay might be in your best interest. This is because there is no telling when a desirable job might come your way. Besides, you can still keep looking for better opportunities.

You Need to Retain Your Job

There have been numerous instances of pay cuts because of the COVID-10 pandemic. A study carried out by Hewitt Associates suggests that more than 15% large businesses have decreased base salaries owing to the recession. These include names such as Hewlett Packard, The New York Times, and FedEx. Even the entertainment industry has been affected, with Jay Leno’s 50% pay cut being a prime example in case.

It Seems More Rewarding

Are you at the top salary range in your existing organization and see little to no room for growth? If so, you might think about moving to a company that offers a more fulfilling and engaging role with better long-term prospects, even if you stand to make lesser money for the time being.

You Wish for a Better Work-Life Balance

A survey conducted by Mom Corps shows that around 45% working adults would give some percentage of their salary up for increased flexibility at work. Consider this example – you get to work from home for two out of five days a week if you are willing to take a slight cut in your pay check. If you feel that you crave more personal time, this might be the path to take.

You Enter a New Industry

You might have to deal with a lower salary if you move to a new industry or if you take your expertise to a different department in the same organization. For instance, if you move from programming to sales, you will retain your industry expertise but lose out on your functional expertise. A decrease in salary could also be on the cards if you move to from programming for a leading tech company to programming for a government agency.

You Are Relocating to a Place With a Lower Cost of Living

If you are moving from a place with a high cost of living to one with a lower cost of living, accepting a lower salary makes sense. This is because it is fairly common for employers to pay lesser in areas that have low costs of living. The cost of living in New York and San Francisco, for instance, is higher than that of Salt Lake City, which is why salaries in the first two cities are typically higher.

Tackling the Interview

Your interviewer might want to know why you are willing to accept a lower paycheck. This is because there might be concerns about how long you will stick around with the company. Unless you wish to take the job because you have no other option, prepare to answer this question honestly.

Conclusion

If you plan to take on a role with a lower salary, make sure you are aware of all its financial implications. Remember that you are free to negotiate and make a counter offer, which can be up to 10% more than the original offer. Determine just why you are taking a cut in your paycheck to avoid heartache further down the road.

How to Deal With a Biased Boss?

Do you think your boss showers one or more employees in your team with special treatment, while the efforts of others go in vain? If so, understand that the workplace is almost never a level playing field because bosses and employees are all too human. Work place favoritism has probably existed since the dawn of workplaces, and most people find themselves at one end of the spectrum or other at some point in time.

While dealing with a biased boss might seem daunting, you need put your foot down at some stage in order to move forward professionally. Fortunately, finding a solution might be simpler than you think.

Signs of a Biased Boss

You need to be sure if your boss is biased so you may take effective corrective actions. Here are signs that mark bias in a boss.

• A particular employee is constantly showered with praise for no apparent reason.
• Others in your team get better career development opportunities.
• You feel micromanaged all the time.
• You don’t get feedback.
• Your request for a raise is rejected without a valid reason.
• You’re not included in important meetings.
• You receive criticism even when you do a good job. 

Are You Really a Victim?

Are you sure that your boss is biased or might you have perceived a situation incorrectly? One way to determine if you’re thinking straight is to ask your colleagues if they feel the same way. Pay attention to conversations between your boss and those who you feel receive undue praise. Could it be that the people you who feel are being favored are actually more adept at handling tasks assigned to them? Remember that an incorrect assumption can lead to drastic consequences.

Act Normally

Pretend that you have no inclination about your boss playing favorites. You definitely don’t want your boss to see you in bad light, which is why you need to keep all adverse reactions at bay. While you might not be your boss’ favorite, you don’t want to end up at the bottom of the ladder either. Bear in mind that emotions can cloud your vision. Determine what the favored employee is doing right, because two can play the game.

Know Your Performance Metrics

Seek clarity about the performance metrics that apply on your team. Ask for your key responsibility areas (KRAs) so you can identify the basis of your evaluation. With a clear picture of your targets and expected standards, you know just what you need to do to get your boss’ attention. However, this also requires that you put your best foot forward consistently, and work on improving your skills.

Find a Mentor

If you feel that no matter what you do your boss is just not giving you your due, consider finding a mentor. A mentor can guide you in exploring other possible roles within your organization based on your skill set. In addition, you may also receive guidance surrounding what you need to do to improve your skills and how to get noticed by other leaders in your organization.

Document All That You See and Hear

Once you’re sure that your boss is biased, start documenting all that you might see or hear about him/her, because this is crucial when it comes to establishing a pattern of biased behavior. However, this step requires that you be honest and objective. You might make use of this documentation at a later stage, if higher ups or the HR department enters the picture.

Talk to Your Boss

You might consider bringing your reservations up with your boss directly. However, make sure you are subtle, as opposed to being accusatory. In some cases, highlighting clear data points instead of making generic statements helps bring to the surface some unconscious biases.

Explore Other Options

When all else fails, you might want to look for other opportunities, either within your organization, or elsewhere. Some organizations give employees the ability to make lateral moves to other managers or projects. At this stage, affecting a positive change is basically up to you.

What You Need to Do If You Face Discriminatory Bias

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states that it is illegal to discriminate against employees based on race, religion, color, sex, age (40 or older), national origin, disability, or genetic information. It is also illegal to retaliate against anyone who has complained about discrimination, filed an official complaint about discrimination, or taken part in an employment discrimination lawsuit or investigation.

If you find yourself in any such situation, consider filing a complaint with your organization’s HR department. You might also think about contacting a lawyer and/or the EEOC.

Conclusion

There is no reason for you to go out of your way to please your boss as long as you’re good at your work. What you need to bear in mind, though, is that your boss is simply trying to provide value to his/her boss. Favorites typically help managers look good in front of their bosses, so there’s no real bias there. If you can think of a way to make your boss’ life easier, you might find yourself becoming the next favorite. If things seem beyond your control and the bias is real, reporting it might be your best bet.

Comic time: CC everyone (DONT)

As a Software Engineer, Do I Move to the East Coast From San Francisco? What’s the Difference?

Are you thinking about moving from San Francisco to the East Coast to pursue your career in software engineering? If so, know that there are several aspects that need your attention, and they don’t limit just to your salary. If you plan to make this move, it is best that you determine its pros and cons well in advance.

Where Do You Plan to Go?

Making the decision becomes considerably simpler if you already have a job offer. In case you don’t, you need to identify your options ahead of time. This is because software engineers tend to serve distinct sectors across different East Coast cities.

• Most software engineering jobs in New York relate to servicing the finance industry, which includes names such as Citadel, Jane Street Capital, and Goldman Sachs. 
• Jobs in Washington D.C. are mostly government-based.
• Hartford’s software engineers largely cater to the insurance sector.
• In Greenwich, they are typically found working around hedge funds.

What you can notice here is that while software engineering jobs in San Francisco revolve around technology, technology serves as an add-on feature in cities along the East Coast.

The Money

How much money you stand to earn and save as a software engineer might depend on the city to which you move. In a list of 21 cities that find favor with software engineers, Seattle and San Jose take the top two spots when it comes to real earrings. This accounts for income and expenses, while paying due attention to the cost of living. For example, gas is more expensive along the West Coast, and so is the typical cost of home ownership. Washington D.C., Boston, and New York find themselves at the bottom of the list.

When it comes to highest paying salaries, San Francisco takes the lead, followed by San Jose, and New York comes third.

The Weather

Weather across both coasts can vary significantly because of what the Atlantic and Pacific oceans bring. If you’re in New York, you can expect long and very cold winters followed by blazingly hot summers. You can experience all four seasons here in all their glory, with fall making way for some beautiful landscapes.

Weather along the West Coast is typically milder. For instance, South California is warm and sunny almost all through the year, whereas even the northern part does not get very cold in the winters. If you go further north on the West Coast, you’ll experience no more than the occasional snowstorm.

Recreation

The West Coast offers great diversity when it comes to taking a break. You get to choose from a plethora of beaches, driving routes, national parks, and hiking spots. While the East Coast is mainly mountainous, it still has some great national parks. 

The Other Differences

Here are some other differences that might warrant your attention in case you plan to move eastward.

• The West Coast is more politically liberal than the East Coast.
• New York City beats San Francisco when it comes to public transportation.
• The West Coast is better at recycling its waste.
• The East Coast is typically more fast-paced than the leisurely West Coast.
• Cities in the east are more compact than their western counterparts – think New York.
• If New York has theatre and fashion, San Francisco is famous for its music and museums.

Conclusion

You can make the most of moving to the East Coast from San Francisco if you know exactly what you’re after. However, determining just how your move might affect your future prospects is crucial. Switching back from a government-based tech job that involves little innovation to a completely tech-based company later in life might not be easy, after all.