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Philadelphia Business Journal

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When inappropriate comments threaten the workplace

When I was climbing the TV News ladder, I had a boss in Milwaukee named Eric and Eric had a problem that caused a problem for everyone else. He was sexist. What made that even worse is that he didn’t know it.

Given this was the 1980s; you might have excused him as workplaces tended to tolerate a little more than they do today. But regardless of decade, I found his behavior completely unacceptable.

As the co-anchor of the noon news, my partner John and I shared responsibilities. We helped plan the show, write the show and deliver the content. We were equals or so I thought. [Read more…] about When inappropriate comments threaten the workplace

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What behavior at the gym tell us about our co-workers

I have a theory. I think the way someone behaves at the gym directly translates to how they conduct themselves at work. Admittedly, I have no proof that the two are related, but I regard myself as an astute observer of gym and workplace behavior since I spend a lot of time in both places.

GYM BEHAVIOR NO. 1

Just today, I patiently waited for someone to finish using an exercise machine at my gym. As she exited and I moved toward the equipment, a man barreled past me and hopped on. I said “Excuse me; I was waiting for this machine”. He looked at me, stuffed his ear buds in his ears and pretended he didn’t hear me. My first inclination was to yell at him but I knew that would cause an unnecessary scene. So opting for exercise etiquette, I found another piece of equipment to take my frustration out on. [Read more…] about What behavior at the gym tell us about our co-workers

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The modern art of apologizing

Everyone’s doing it. Lance Armstrong told Oprah he was sorry for doping during all of his seven Tour de France victories. Failed New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner apologized for letting a lot of people down when he let his pants down. Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal but wants you to trust him again so he ran for city comptroller. Philadelphia Eagles receiver Riley Cooper apologized for screaming a racial slur that was caught on video and went viral. And let’s not forget former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford who said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he was actually with a lover in another country. Oops.

There are real apologies and self-serving apologies. And in today’s spin-cycle of trying to right wrongs, it’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference. Take Armstrong for example. He looked serious as he confessed to wanting to control everything and admitted he could not have won without the drugs. But then he said he didn’t feel bad about cheating. If so, then why did he go to so much trouble to conceal it? [Read more…] about The modern art of apologizing

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Your call is very important to us

The Amtrak train from New York’s Penn Station to 30th Street Philadelphia burped and lurched and suddenly screeched to a stop in Newark. As passengers wondered what happened, the conductor instructed everyone headed to Philadelphia to get off. He said the train had mechanical problems and we were to wait on the platform for the next train to Philadelphia.

Given it was evening rush hour, when the next train arrived; it was packed without a seat to be found. So like others, I stood for the following one and a half hours. Only, I was wearing high heels that quickly became uncomfortable as I was sandwiched in-between two bouncy rail cars standing shoulder to shoulder with two male strangers whose 24-hour deodorant was apparently on its 25th hour on this muggy summer evening. So, a little unsteady on my feet and staring to feel queasy, I held on hoping for the best. [Read more…] about Your call is very important to us

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