Workscripts : perfect phrases for high-stakes conversations

What to say in today's toughest workplace situations
Whatever trust previously existed between employer and employee has been torn into millions of pink slips, thanks to the latest recession. As a result, the rules for how managers and employees can successfully communicate have been irrevocably changed.
Whether you're a manager or employee, Workscripts explains what to say in life's toughest situations at work, including:
* Negotiating severance
* Performance reviews
* Responding to a pay cut
* Asking for a raise or promotion
* Terminating a friend
* Job interviews
* Dealing with difficult bosses
* And many more

• Preface p. xi
• Chapter 1 The New Workplace Environment p. 1
• Chapter 2 Workplace Bombshells p. 13
• Workscript 2.1 Meeting your new boss p. 18
• Workscript 2.2 Meeting your new staff p. 22
• Workscript 2.3 Explaining a restructuring p. 26
• Workscript 2.4 Announcing a purchase or merger p. 28
• Workscript 2.5 Announcing a relocation p. 30
• Chapter 3 Death Sentences p. 35
• Workscript 3.1 Terminating a company icon p. 42
• Workscript 3.2 You're the icon being terminated p. 44
• Workscript 3.3 Firing a friend p. 46
• Workscript 3.4 Being fired by a friend p. 48
• Workscript 3.5 Terminating someone close to retirement p. 50
• Workscript 3.6 Being terminated when close to retirement p. 52
• Workscript 3.7 Terminating someone with a personal burden p. 56
• Workscript 3.8 Being terminated when you have a personal burden p. 58
• Workscript 3.9 Terminating someone, but asking them to remain available p. 60
• Workscript 3.10 Being terminated, but asked to remain available p. 64
• Workscript 3.11 Making an end run around your boss p. 66
• Chapter 4 Employer Cost-Cutting p. 69
• Workscript 4.1 Furloughing someone without pay p. 74
• Workscript 4.2 Being furloughed without pay p. 76
• Workscript 4.3 Turning a full-time employee into a part-timer p. 78
• Workscript 4.4 Being asked to become a part-time employee p. 80
• Workscript 4.5 Cutting an entire staff's pay p. 82
• Workscript 4.6 Cutting an individual employee's pay p. 86
• Workscript 4.7 Having your pay cut p. 88
• Workscript 4.8 Increasing employee's hours but not pay p. 90
• Workscript 4.9 Extending responsibilities without increasing pay p. 92
• Workscript 4.10 Having your responsibilities increased but not your pay p. 94
• Workscript 4.11 Reducing an employee's staff p. 96
• Workscript 4.12 Having your staff cut p. 99
• Workscript 4.13 Reducing an employee's budget p. 100
• Workscript 4.14 Having your budget reduced p. 103
• Chapter 5 On Bended Knee p. 105
• Workscript 5.1 Responding to a raise request p. 112
• Workscript 5.2 Requesting a raise p. 116
• Workscript 5.3 Responding to a promotion request p. 118
• Workscript 5.4 Requesting a promotion p. 121
• Workscript 5.5 Responding to a budget increase request p. 124
• Workscript 5.6 Requesting a budget increase p. 126
• Workscript 5.7 Responding to a request for time off p. 128
• Chapter 6 Managing Up p. 131
• Workscript 6.1 Turning down an assignment p. 134
• Workscript 6.2 Asking for relief from a project p. 138
• Workscript 6.3 Asking for a deadline extension p. 140
• Workscript 6.4 Breaking bad news to your boss p. 144
• Workscript 6.5 Warning of potential client or customer problems p. 146
• Workscript 6.6 Warning of potential vendor or supplier problems p. 148
• Chapter 7 Getting Personal p. 151
• Workscript 7.1 Asking employees to improve their appearance p. 154
• Workscript 7.2 Asking employees to improve their hygiene p. 156
• Workscript 7.3 Publicly putting an end to staff backstabbing p. 158
• Workscript 7.4 Privately putting an end to staff backstabbing p. 160
• Workscript 7.5 Confronting someone who's backstabbing you p. 162
• Workscript 7.6 Confronting a sexual harasser p. 166
• Workscript 7.7 Ending staff sexual harassment p. 168
• Workscript 7.8 Refusing to cover up for a peer p. 170
• Workscript 7.9 Ratting out a peer p. 172
• Workscript 7.10 Putting an end to brownnosing p. 174
• Workscript 7.11 Stopping a flirtatious employee p. 176
• Workscript 7.12 Stopping a flirtatious peer p. 179
• Workscript 7.13 Putting an end to staff gossiping p. 180
• Workscript 7.14 Confronting a gossip p. 183
• Workscript 7.15 Confronting an employee with a drinking problem p. 184
• Workscript 7.16 Confronting a peer with a drinking problem p. 186
• Workscript 7.17 Putting an end to Internet abuse p. 189
• Workscript 7.18 Questioning an employee's expenses p. 190
• Workscript 7.19 Defending your own expense report p. 193
• Chapter 8 Looking Out for Number One p. 195
• Workscript 8.1 Delivering a critical performance review p. 200
• Workscript 8.2 Defending your own performance from criticism p. 201
• Workscript 8.3 Asking an employee for self-criticism p. 204
• Workscript 8.4 Responding to requests for self-criticism p. 206
• Workscript 8.5 Offering suggestions for professional development p. 208
• Workscript 8.6 Responding to suggestions for professional development p. 210
• Workscript 8.7 Asking for a networking meeting p. 214
• Workscript 8.8 Explaining a career shift to an interviewer p. 216
• Workscript 8.9 Negotiating a job offer when you're still employed p. 218
• Workscript 8.10 Negotiating a job offer when you're unemployed p. 220
• Workscript 8.11 Giving notice p. 222
• Epilogue p. 227
• Index p. 229