People drinking alcohol at a bar or restaurant.
Dear Corporate Governess
I took a mixed group of our interns out for after-work drinks on me and got reamed out by my boss who said it was inappropriate. I think he's overreacting. Did I do wrong?
—Shawn R., Toronto
Dear Shawn
Not by me, with caveats: so long as you remembered to be the grown-up and made sure no one was driving after the event. But, hey, I'm not your boss and he has a point. Despite it being after hours, you're still representing the company when you take your young charges out on the town. Picking up the tab doesn't change that. Your boss may think taking the interns to a bar leaves him or your department open to criticism—even if the kids only drank cherry cokes. People are quick to judge without knowing all the facts. If that feels unjust, consider how social media is now part of every party. That group selfie #thirstywithmymanShawn may still be circulating at the office.
However, when I surveyed several corporate managers, they said having one drink with interns after work and seeing how they handle new situations helps them learn more about a person they might hire—and work with—in future. None saw it as a conflict with their company's values. It's also an opportunity for the interns to make valuable connections and a memorable impression—here's hoping it's one that doesn't involve posting their drinking prowess on Instagram.
Dear Corporate Governess
I love Star Trek sound effects as much as the next guy, but one of my colleagues' cellphone ring tones is driving me crazy. How do I get him to mute his phone? There's no company rule about this.
—Kirk Out, Toronto
Dear Kirk
There's no rule because this is about common courtesy. Feel free to address the issue directly. You'll need to be direct, because anyone with a Star Trek ring tone at work is really still a 12-year-old boy. Don't let that Canali suit fool you. However, you still need to be polite—if only because you have to continue working with him. You can't just shout "Turn that obnoxious thing down." Or shove his phone into your venti-sized latte, no matter how much you're tempted.
What you should say, in a perfectly reasonable voice, is, "I'm finding your ring tone distracts me and breaks my concentration when I'm working. It's really loud. Could you please mute your phone? I'd really appreciate it."
People often don't understand just how disturbing a ring tone can be, especially one that startles. You'll never get used to hearing it as white noise like the hum of an air conditioner that fades into the background. According to a 2009 study at Louisiana State University, cellphone ring tones can pose a major distraction. Researchers found that unexpected exposure to snippets of a popular song can negatively affect your productivity. That's something you can mention to your colleague if the situation escalates.