Workscripts

Stephen Pollan (New York, NY)?has written several bestsellers on meeting life's challenges, including "Die Broke," "Live Rich," "Second Acts", and "Lifescripts". Stephen appeared nationally as "The Answer Man" on CNBC for six years, responding to viewers' personal finance questions. He has been a frequent guest on the Today show, Good Morning America and other programs. Besides television, Stephen contributes regularly to national publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Worth, New York and he has an upcoming monthly column in Money titled "Finding the Right Words." He and his longtime collaborator, Mark Levine, have been nominated for three National Magazine Awards. Mark Levine (Ithaca, NY)?has written and collaborated on more than thirty books, including the bestsellers You Can't Predict A Hero, Second Acts, and Die Broke. He lives in Ithaca, New York.

• Preface xiChapter 1 The New Workplace Environment 1Chapter 2 Workplace Bombshells 13Workscript 2.1 Meeting your new boss 18Workscript 2.2 Meeting your new staff 22Workscript 2.3 Explaining a restructuring 26Workscript 2.4 Announcing a purchase or merger 28Workscript 2.5 Announcing a relocation 30Chapter 3 Death Sentences 35Workscript 3.1 Terminating a company icon 42Workscript 3.2 You’re the icon being terminated 44Workscript 3.3 Firing a friend 46Workscript 3.4 Being fired by a friend 48Workscript 3.5 Terminating someone close to retirement 50Workscript 3.6 Being terminated when close to retirement 52Workscript 3.7 Terminating someone with a personal burden 56Workscript 3.8 Being terminated when you have a personal burden 58Workscript 3.9 Terminating someone, but asking them to remain available 60Workscript 3.10 Being terminated, but asked to remain available 64Workscript 3.11 Making an end run around your boss 66Chapter 4 Employer Cost-Cutting 69Workscript 4.1 Furloughing someone without pay 74Workscript 4.2 Being furloughed without pay 76Workscript 4.3 Turning a full-time employee into a part-timer 78Workscript 4.4 Being asked to become a part-time employee 80Workscript 4.5 Cutting an entire staff’s pay 82Workscript 4.6 Cutting an individual employee’s pay 86Workscript 4.7 Having your pay cut 88Workscript 4.8 Increasing employee’s hours but not pay 90Workscript 4.9 Extending responsibilities without increasing pay 92Workscript 4.10 Having your responsibilities increased but not your pay 94Workscript 4.11 Reducing an employee’s staff 96Workscript 4.12 Having your staff cut 99Workscript 4.13 Reducing an employee’s budget 100Workscript 4.14 Having your budget reduced 103Chapter 5 On Bended Knee 105Workscript 5.1 Responding to a raise request 112Workscript 5.2 Requesting a raise 116Workscript 5.3 Responding to a promotion request 118Workscript 5.4 Requesting a promotion 121Workscript 5.5 Responding to a budget increase request 124Workscript 5.6 Requesting a budget increase 126Workscript 5.7 Responding to a request for time off 128Chapter 6 Managing Up 131Workscript 6.1 Turning down an assignment 134Workscript 6.2 Asking for relief from a project 138Workscript 6.3 Asking for a deadline extension 140Workscript 6.4 Breaking bad news to your boss 144Workscript 6.5 Warning of potential client or customer problems 146Workscript 6.6 Warning of potential vendor or supplier problems 148Chapter 7 Getting Personal 151Workscript 7.1 Asking employees to improve their appearance 154Workscript 7.2 Asking employees to improve their hygiene 156Workscript 7.3 Publicly putting an end to staff backstabbing 158Workscript 7.4 Privately putting an end to staff backstabbing 160Workscript 7.5 Confronting someone who’s backstabbing you 162Workscript 7.6 Confronting a sexual harasser 166Workscript 7.7 Ending staff sexual harassment 168Workscript 7.8 Refusing to cover up for a peer 170Workscript 7.9 Ratting out a peer 172Workscript 7.10 Putting an end to brownnosing 174Workscript 7.11 Stopping a flirtatious employee 176Workscript 7.12 Stopping a flirtatious peer 179Workscript 7.13 Putting an end to staff gossiping 180Workscript 7.14 Confronting a gossip 183Workscript 7.15 Confronting an employee with a drinking problem 184Workscript 7.16 Confronting a peer with a drinking problem 186Workscript 7.17 Putting an end to Internet abuse 189Workscript 7.18 Questioning an employee’s expenses 190Workscript 7.19 Defending your own expense report 193Chapter 8 Looking Out for Number One 195Workscript 8.1 Delivering a critical performance review 200Workscript 8.2 Defending your own performance from criticism 201Workscript 8.3 Asking an employee for self-criticism 204Workscript 8.4 Responding to requests for self-criticism 206Workscript 8.5 Offering suggestions for professional development 208Workscript 8.6 Responding to suggestions for professional development 210Workscript 8.7 Asking for a networking meeting 214Workscript 8.8 Explaining a career shift to an interviewer 216Workscript 8.9 Negotiating a job offer when you’re still employed 218Workscript 8.10 Negotiating a job offer when you’re unemployed 220Workscript 8.11 Giving notice 222Epilogue 227Index 229