Q: I’m having trouble deciding whether to change jobs. For a number of
years, I have worked for a small local company. I can walk to work and
go home for lunch, which is a great lifestyle benefit. The pay is fair,
but there is no room for advancement, and the business owners are
greedy, arrogant people.
After looking for other opportunities, I have finally found a position
that interests me. This job would provide a better compensation package
and more career potential, but the downside is that I would have to
travel 30 percent of the time.
I’m hesitant about leaving my current job, but I also think a change
might be healthy. My crystal ball just isn’t working, so I would
welcome any suggestions.
A: Choosing between two alternatives with different benefits inevitably
creates a psychological dilemma. Selecting one means giving up the
advantages of the other, so people often have a hard time with these
choices. On a small scale, it’s like deciding whether to have the
creamy chocolate cake or the sensible fruit plate for dessert. Either
way, you gain something and you lose something.
To help structure your decision-making, try this simple exercise.
First, make a comprehensive list of all the factors important to you in
a job, such as pay, interesting work, competent management, etc. Give
added weight to any that are especially critical. For each position,
rate these factors on a 1-to-5 scale, then compare the scores.
Viewing the ratings side-by-side should give you a better idea of how
these two jobs stack up. Ultimately, however, you will need to take a
leap of faith and choose the path that appears headed towards the most
desirable future.
Q:
Our company has a large number of Indian employees who bring lunch from
home, heat it in the microwave and eat at their desks. Unfortunately,
the smell is very pungent and lingers in the air for at least half an
hour. I have tried spraying air freshener, but that didn’t help.
When I commented on the smell, a few people accused me of being racist,
but that is not true. I like my co-workers. I just think eating smelly
food in close quarters is inconsiderate. Should I discuss this problem
with human resources or just shut up and live with it?
A:
The issue of food smells is difficult to address, because few odors are
universally offensive. For example, many people despise the smell of
microwave popcorn, while others don’t mind it at all. The same is true
of fish, gasoline and that air freshener you were using. In India, many
might consider the aroma of an American hamburger distasteful.
In this situation, however, the practical question is whether other
lunching locations are available. If your office has a decent break
room, the HR manager might reasonably implement a “no eating at your
desk” policy for all employees. But if desktop dining is the only
alternative to eating out, I’m afraid you will simply have to adjust.
