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Managing Sticky Situations at Work

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184 <strong>Managing</strong> <strong>Sticky</strong> <strong>Situ<strong>at</strong>ions</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Work</strong>STICKY SITUATION #25:PROSELYTIZING ON THE COMPANY BLOGA large automotive company began an internal blog two yearsearlier. The CEO regularly posts messages to employees, and theHR division maintains the blog and keeps it active. Once employeesbecame comfortable with blogging, they began to write commentsand post new ideas. Recently one employee, Nichole,posted a blog about her experience after the birth of her child whowas born with a severe medical disorder. She thanked the employeeswho prayed for her child’s recovery and who helped her dealwith the stress. Her blog entrees kept others informed about wh<strong>at</strong>the doctor said and how her son had fared during several oper<strong>at</strong>ions.Everything seemed okay until her more recent comments.She wrote long entrees about how blessed she was to have her sonalive and how the Lord w<strong>at</strong>ches out for people who love him. Shequoted the Bible in several places. In a l<strong>at</strong>er comment she wroteseveral paragraphs about how her faith had gotten her throughthis trying time and wh<strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> meant to her. She encouraged peopleto pray everyday and to rejoice in the name of Jesus Christ.Mickey heads the HR division. He’s w<strong>at</strong>ched as Nichole’s postshave become increasingly religious in n<strong>at</strong>ure. When the companydeveloped the blog, they cre<strong>at</strong>ed stipul<strong>at</strong>ions th<strong>at</strong> prevented peoplefrom using profanity or from writing prejudicial comments.Nichole’s comments are not prejudicial per se, but her strongChristian views leave out the Jews, Muslims, and persons of otherfaiths or those of no faith who popul<strong>at</strong>e the large company. Mickeyworries th<strong>at</strong> some people might find Nichole’s posts offensive.APPLYING THE SAY IT JUST RIGHT MODELDECISION POINTSMickey weighs the costs. It took Mickey and his staff years to winapproval from the CEO to initi<strong>at</strong>e a blog. Mickey finally convincedthe top executives th<strong>at</strong> blogs enable people to share ideas, commenton policies, and connect with each other. It also provides a pl<strong>at</strong>formfor the CEO to share his vision for the company in a personal manner.At the outset, Mickey struggled to convince people th<strong>at</strong> the blog was asafe place for them to air their ideas or complaints. It also took awhilefor the CEO to adjust to daily posting. Today, the CEO enjoys sharinghis thoughts and responding to people throughout the company.

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