Personal matters have no place in the office

Personal matters have no place in the office

I just read an interesting and enlightening article in a recent issue of Workforce Management (on Workforce.com).
In real life, managers would (or should) step in to break up the tension (to put it mildly) between characters (real or fictional) like Piers and Omarosa, but we all know that on Celebrity Apprentice, it’s all about the ratings.
Still, we can learn from this over-the-top, entertaining example of supposed teamwork.
• Managers step in if the fight gets in the way of getting the job done.
• Team members don’t take it personally – it’s just business. But Piers actually admitted that for him it wasn’t business, it was personal!
• Having said that, don’t stifle competition – competition can lead to spectacular success as demonstrated by the over $100,000 win.
• Don’t ever – I repeat ever – make a personal accusation that is based on a hunch. And whether or not Piers is gay is not an issue and shouldn’t have been implied much less stated outright! And who actually cares? That’s his business, not ours.
If you haven’t been watching, I apologize for making so many Celebrity Apprentice references over the past several weeks, but do read the lessons learned. They should make sense even if you haven’t been tuning in.
Oh, one more thing: What’s up with Omarosa’s outfits? I’m not the fashion police, but I can recognize what is unprofessional and too suggestive for the workplace. Please — no one should emulate her outfits!
Ink revisited
Recall a post I did in January about tattoos — and whether or not visible tattoos could hurt your career advancement. If you didn’t read it, here’s a link to Workplace Ink:
Well here are some interesting statistics. According to a Harris Poll:
• 32 percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 have a tattoo.
• 25 percent of us have tattoos if we’re in our 30s.
• 12 percent if we’re in our forties.
• 36 percent say the tattoo makes them feel rebellious.
• 31 percent say it makes them feel sexy.
As hiring managers get younger, tolerance for tattoos will likely increase. I’m not saying that visible tattoos will help your career — you should still think twice before making such a permanent statement. A visible tattoo could hurt you today. But stay tuned — things will likely change.
Trump University
No, this isn’t another Celebrity Apprentice post (we’ll save that one for after the next show). Rather, I wanted to you to read an article on Trump University called America’s Most Wanted Jobs.
The Donald agrees with what we’ve been saying – jobs are available, but people don’t necessarily have the skills to fill them. His contention is that if you’re serious about finding work, look carefully because there is work out there.
You don’t have to be a contestant (or celebrity) on Celebrity Apprentice to find work. According to Trump, you just have to know where to look.
Other columns by Melanie Holmes
A fan of HR, but please nix the tower of babble!
Melanie Holmes: Telecommuting: It takes discipline to work from home
Melanie Holmes: Can’t resist the temptation of more “Celebrity” lessons
Melanie Holmes: So many business meetings, so little time
Melanie Holmes: Career dos and don’ts: Do your homework on the job search

Melanie Holmes, vice president of world of work solutions at Manpower, is the author of Contemporary Working, is actually a blog on the Manpower web site, and It’s designed to guide readers on their journey through the changing world of work. Readers will find tips, tools, and information on topics as diverse as the aging workforce, working women, professional etiquette, generational diversity, the talent crunch, and more.
Holmes began her career with Manpower 26 years ago as a temporary employee. In 2005, at the age of 55, she earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
This article previously appeared on the Manpower Web site and was reprinted with its permission.
The opinions expressed herein or statements made in the above column are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wisconsin Technology Network, LLC.
WTN accepts no legal liability or responsibility for any claims made or opinions expressed herein.