Workscripts: Perfect Phrases for High-Stakes Conversations

What to say in today's toughest workplace situations Whatever trust previously existed between employer and employee has been torn into millions of pink slips, thanks to the latest recession. As a result, the rules for how managers and employees can successfully communicate have been irrevocably changed. Whether you're a manager or employee, Workscripts explains what to say in life's toughest situations at work, including: • Negotiating severance • Performance reviews • Responding to a pay cut • Asking for a raise or promotion • Terminating a friend • Job interviews • Dealing with difficult bosses • And many more

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

About the Author :
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.