Category: Article
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Love at work
Love at work Sam* and Martina*: “We got to know each other through a working group we both participate in. We’re a couple now but, although we’re very discreet, we don’t feel completely comfortable around the other members of the group. Should we continue to hide our relationship, or should we tell everyone about it?
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What’s the point of the Ombud?
What’s the point of the Ombud? Following my last article, some readers wanted to know what the tangible results of my consultations were: were the people who came to see me able to solve their problems? Did they resolve their conflicts? Did they find solutions? Here are some typical examples (names and contexts have been
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2019 Ombud’s Report
2019 Ombud’s Report I recently presented the 2019 Ombud’s Report to the CERN Management and then to TREF, and I’d like to outline the main points for you here. In 2019, 74 of our colleagues (around 1.3% of CERN’s personnel) came to see me. Just under half were staff members, on both LD and IC
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What about when it’s all over?
What about when it’s all over? All over the world, for several weeks, the crazy pace of our lives has been brought to a standstill by a tiny creature that’s invisible to the naked eye. Now everything is carefully being restarted. What will happen when it’s all over? What will our lives be like? Are
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The joys of the new normal
The joys of the new normal Governments are finally starting to unveil their roadmaps for easing the lockdown: great news! For me this is a good time to stop and think about all the sensations I’m going to be able to rediscover, some of them less pleasant than others, but, when all’s said and done,
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The five phases of lockdown*
The five phases of lockdown* We all experience lockdown differently, depending on our temperament, our family situation, our network of friends, the size and location of our home and many other factors. Some parts of the world are further along the timeline than us and we can learn from their experience. For example, there seem
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Solidarity in the time of coronavirus
Solidarity in the time of coronavirus The whole world is experiencing a situation of a severity rarely seen, which is generating a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty. As in any time of crisis, initiatives to support others and promote solidarity are springing up everywhere, both in the professional world and in society in general.
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From beauty quarks to the beautiful game!
From beauty quarks to the beautiful game! “My boss clearly has his favourites in our team. He spends lots of time with them and everyone else gets very little attention from him. It all creates an unhealthy atmosphere of competition between the team members.” Fortunately, contrary to this example, there are many team leaders who
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Harassment: when informal solutions aren’t enough
Harassment: when informal solutions aren’t enough Susan*: “My colleague has been harassing me for several months. I have tried to put things right in a friendly way with him, informally, but he won’t admit that he’s done anything wrong. What can I do?” In my article in March 2019, I explained the advantages of an
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The benefits of confidentiality
The benefits of confidentiality Yessica*: “I am pregnant and wish to inform my hierarchy so they can get organised as early as possible, but I am wondering whether this could influence my chances of obtaining an indefinite contract. I would like to know if I can come and talk to you about this in complete