Where To Turn When Work Gets Messy

Should You Call Human Resources Or Handle The Issue Yourself? Learn To Navigate Six Difficult Situations.

- Kathleen M. Harris

When a group of people with different egos, ambitions, and personal problems are working in close proximity, there’s bound to be conflict. And in this era of #MeToo and revelations about toxic work environments, employees are looking for answers. But who do you ask? Does your boss have your back? What about human resources? Here, experts and insiders share what to do and who to trust when the thorniest work situations happen to you.

1 You have medical or personal issues that might affect your work.

If you need short-term help, like a few extra days off or a brief reduction in workload, talk with your manager. Explain that you’re having a tough time and need a short personal leave, says Bucky Keady, a former corporate senior vice president of talent acquisition and management. If you have a potentially serious medical condition or disability, go to HR, where the staff is more familiar with employment law. “HR personnel are legally required to keep medical and disability info confidential and are better trained to handle these types of issues than a manager,” says attorney Melissa Fleischer, president and founder of HR Learning Center in Rye, New York. “If an employee needs an accommodation, such as a shorter workday or intermittent leave, HR may relay certain info to a manager but won’t disclose why the employee needs an accommodation.”

2 You don’t get along with your boss or a coworker.