Reference no: EM132202593

Office Skills

Recently your office was redesigned and redecorated. The partitions that formed the private offices were removed, and a landscaped office design with smaller partitions and modular furniture was used. The office is beautiful. You work in a modular arrangement with Marge Stevens, administrative assistant in purchasing, and Ann Compton, administrative assistant in financial planning.

Marge and Ann spend much of their time talking. They remain at their workstations and shout over the “masking noise” in order to be heard. Their talking has decreased your productivity. The first week you tried to overlook the interruptions and worked overtime to keep up with your work. Later Mr. Wilson asked you to plan your work so that you would not have to work overtime. You did not tell Mr. Wilson why you were working overtime. The next day you asked Marge and Ann to refrain from talking so much, but they have ignored your request.

You are getting so far behind with your work that you are taking it home with you.

Today you again asked Marge and Ann to stop talking so loudly and so much. Ann retorted, “Don’t be such a nag.” You became so upset that you felt ill. You took the afternoon off. All afternoon you worried about your work piling up and your inability to concentrate while Marge and Ann are talking loudly.

What are the solutions to your problem? You decide that you need help with it. Jot down what you are going to do and what you will say.