Apolitical Agony Aunt

We asked public servants to tell us what’s frustrating them at work. Several members sent in the issues that are bugging them, now it’s your turn to give them constructive advice.

So, go ahead and help out a public servant in a tight spot.

Issue: "I work in a public research institute. A senior colleague infringes our integrity policies, commits plagiarism and insists that other junior colleagues publish in journals so that she gets a track record of scientific publications without writing a single line, just by providing feedback. I do not want to face up to her. We do not have a procedure to denounce that ensures no retaliation. How can I take action without putting myself in danger?"

What advice would you give them?

Issue: "What do I need to do to become a policy advisor?"

What do you recommend?

Issue: "I really find it hard to build relationships and get work done. My team varies from not implementing instructions to cooperation when it is too late. And now that we are working from home it is even more difficult and I get feedback like: I will not do it. This is plain insubordination. When I do institute disciplinary action, my boss vetoes it and says I must withdraw it. This renders me ineffective. And it frustrates the daylights out of me."

What advice would you give them?

Issue: "I am struggling to handle the widening ambit of work during the pandemic. Boundaries have become virtually non-existent, especially for contractual workers who do not have security of tenure."

Share your suggestions for keeping a lid on your work life

Issue: "My boss's leadership style is highlighting everything that he finds wrong and not recognizing or highlighting the positive side of my work. Whenever I do something good or I put a lot of effort into something, it's not recognized. It's all stick and no carrots, and I'm starting to get really demotivated and bored by work despite loving what I do."

How would you get him to be more supportive?

Issue: "How can we support employees who are appointed into managerial positions?"

What support would you suggest?

Issue: "A junior colleague is in competition with me. She needs advice and mentoring on everything. Because we are teleworking she does not have much situational awareness. Despite offering all the support I can give, sharing information it took years to acquire, she is continuously questioning my choices, and she carefully selects ways to cast a shadow on my work. How can I defend myself without withdrawing support?"

What advice would you give them? — here’s what our community has suggested so far.

Have a problem of your own at work and want the Apolitical community’s help? Submit your issue here.