[S4B]

I have to break some bad news to my team tomorrow which will change the dynamics of the team and will also annoy them intensely. It's not my fault, it's a new HO directive! Some of them will get payrises while the others may have their pay frozen. We're all good friends. How can I do this with the minimum of upset? Phrases I could use and general advice please.

[SAV1OUR]

I refer you to David Brent.

[MK Chris]

"Some of you are good enough, some of you aren't. It's as simple as that."

[Boboff]

try to be honest, open and make good eye contact, be clear, state the positives, and the rationale, state the negatives, again being clear as to who it will effect and why, and what possible options those people negatively effected have, do not apologise, state any grievance procedure, state a possitive factor, and encourage people to not discuss it at work, offer to do one to ones in a few hours for those unsure.....

[S4B]

hmm Saviour - which bit of Brent, I love him! Topher - that won't get me any smurf er I mean brownie points!

[S4B]

try to be honest, open and make good eye contact, be clear, state the positives, and the rationale, state the negatives, again being clear as to who it will effect and why, and what possible options those people negatively effected have, do not apologise, state any grievance procedure, state a possitive factor, and encourage people to not discuss it at work, offer to do one to ones in a few hours for those unsure.....

V good Boboff. I'm going to do one to ones. My problem is that it seems so unfair to people who have worked really hard to get where they are. I freally don't want to lose any of them but I think I will. The eye contact thing is good - as long as they don't cry, which they might!

[SAV1OUR]

Most people will have seen that classic gif image that floats around cyberspace the end of the Brent dance where he points at the camera "You're Amazing" or something like that. You don't have to do a dance but it might help soften the blow. Then theres the classic "So every cloud...." speech from that first series, it didn't work very well for Brent but it'll work for you as most people know of 'The Office'

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

to use a well know tactic in a new way:

Step forward those of you who are getting a payrise.

Not you....

[Boboff]

try to be honest, open and make good eye contact, be clear, state the positives, and the rationale, state the negatives, again being clear as to who it will effect and why, and what possible options those people negatively effected have, do not apologise, state any grievance procedure, state a possitive factor, and encourage people to not discuss it at work, offer to do one to ones in a few hours for those unsure.....

V good Boboff. I'm going to do one to ones. My problem is that it seems so unfair to people who have worked really hard to get where they are. I freally don't want to lose any of them but I think I will. The eye contact thing is good - as long as they don't cry, which they might!

If it effects the team I would do them all together first, honestly

[S4B]

to use a well know tactic in a new way:

Step forward those of you who are getting a payrise.

Not you....

Now that would be amusing but maybe not appropriate. It will now be going through my head while I'm telling them! thanks xx

[foot-loose]

I agree with Boboff.

[S4B]

I am telling them all together and I'll be very honest, open and listen to what they have to say. It's a v positive thing for most of them it's just that as we're a close team if something upsets one of us it tends to have a domino effect

[Boboff]

stagger then in a zig zag then

[S4B]

stagger then in a zig zag then

Lol! Like that idea! diagrams please while I go pick up my kids from the train station

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

how about posting their names on here and we can spread their names across the internet so they might have an inkling already.

[Boboff]

I am telling them all together and I'll be very honest, open and listen to what they have to say. It's a v positive thing for most of them it's just that as we're a close team if something upsets one of us it tends to have a domino effect

what they all order Pizza?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

mmmmmmm dominator.

[S4B]

how about posting their names on here and we can spread their names across the internet so they might have an inkling already.

Again hilarious but slightly unprofessional, I may get sacked!

Footie can't you say anything except "I agree with Boboff"?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

more unprofessional than mentioning it to us when someone could work out from your myspace site where you work?

[S4B]

ah but no one here knows anyone who works for me and none of them are on here. And they know there's something going on and that it's not gonna be all good news, and I'm telling them first thing in the morning. Not told you specifics so not being unprofessional, trying to find better ways to deal with it.

[foot-loose]

Footie can't you say anything except "I agree with Boboff"?

Well, I was gonna say something like be open and sincere with them and to offer to talk to them on a one to one basis but he said all that and more than made sense so no, I'll stand by my previous statement.

[S4B]

Lol! Fair point well made!

[S4B]

Lol I am getting cakes! Ordered them from the french place next door! Not got time to knock up the love hearts x

[MK Chris]

Surely if you need to find better ways of dealing with it, you shouldn't be in the position to deal with it in the first place.

[S4B]

No I'm perfectly capable of dealing with it and will just wondered if anyone had any better ideas but no oone has come up with anything different! Guess I just have to do it and lose some friends! This is why I should be a cold hearted bitch and not care so much about people who work for me!