7 Tricky Work Situations, and How to Respond to Them

You know the moment: a mood-veering, thought-steering, pressure-packed interaction with a colleague, boss, or client where the right thing to say is stuck in a verbal traffic jam between your brain and your mouth.

Many people experience this at work. But there are certain phrases you can keep in your back pocket when these moments come. Route your response with them, and redirect the situation to regain control.

Alicia Bassuk gives examples for seven tricky situations and possible solutions. She is a leadership designer and coach, speaker, author, and founder of leadership development firm Ubica.

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Update on Executive Orders 1096 and 1097

The Chancellor's Office has been working on revisions to our Executive Orders 1096 and 1097 as result recent California court decisions. EO 1096 and 1097 are our systemwide policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual misconduct, dating and domestic violence, and stalking against employees, students and third parties. Although the final revisions are pending, below are a summary of the areas that are currently being proposed:

• A proposed pre-hearing process will be implemented prior to final determination regarding alleged violation(s) of the Executive Order(s) and based on the evidence from the assigned investigator(s).
• The proposed pre-hearing process is still under review but should be finalized as part of the investigative and appeal process.
• As part of the proposed pre-hearing process, a Hearing Officer will be assigned and will make the final findings and conclusions of facts.
• It is anticipated that due to the proposed pre-hearing process, the timeline for completing investigations will likely be up to 90 days so to provide additional time for pre-hearing process to be facilitated prior to final outcome.
• These proposed changes should not alter the Complainant or Respondent's right to appeal the final outcome to the Chancellor's Office.
• Campuses will be responsible for coordinating the proposed pre-hearing process.

The CSU’s system-wide policy on background checks issues directives and provides guidance intended to prevent risk and provide protection to campus employees, students, volunteers, and guests.  The overall gist of the policy is that background checks must be conducted on all final candidates selected for hire for CSU positions.  There are several caveats and exceptions to the policy, which include:

• Student workers and volunteers are not required to undergo background checks, UNLESS required by law – most often when employment involves direct contact with minor children
• Credit checks may be required for employees only if they meet the credit check requirements and the campus determines it to be job-related
• Student Activities (clubs, service learning, community engagement, internships, field trips) are not included under the policy, HOWEVER, HSU has determined that students and volunteers driving vehicles to support these events must have a Motor Vehicle Report background check

Background checks are NOT required for:

• Faculty entering the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP)
• Current employees (including auxiliary employees), unless they voluntarily move into a position in which a background check is required by law or has been designated as a sensitive position
  • Sensitive positions have access to Level 1 data, detailed student records, hazardous materials, health records, or drugs; have direct contact with minor children; or have access or control over cash, checks, credit cards, or credit card information worth over $10,000
• Employees rehired to the same job who have had a background check performed in the previous 12 months
• Employees hired for one-day events (public talks, guest lectures, conference presentations)

Campuses can consider a conviction only if the final candidates selected for hire were convicted, released from prison, or released from parole within the previous seven years.

For more detailed information on HSU’s Background Check Policy, visit https://hraps.humboldt.edu/background-checksor call Human Resources (x 3626).

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