Category: Article
-
Do you speak CERNese?
Do you speak CERNese? CERNese is the language spoken here: based on English and French, it’s a mixture of accents, pronunciations and body languages that go well together. CERNese is also an attitude: we make an effort to understand others and to ensure that other people understand what we say. Do you speak this language?
-
At cross purposes?
At cross purposes? Very often, misunderstandings originate from the assumptions we make about people’s intentions, even where in fact there are no actual differences in thinking. Sometimes, speaking up is enough to resolve these misunderstandings… provided this is what both parties want. John comes to see the Ombud: he is very upset with his supervisor,
-
Space Invaders
Space Invaders When normal communication breaks down and there is no sharing anymore, office-mates can become ‘space invaders’. Very often, the situation can be resolved effectively by taking just a few simple steps… The lack of office space at CERN is a permanent issue that the various departments regularly have to address. As a result,
-
About letting go…
About letting go… New year, old problems? The best way to start 2015 is by not carrying over any frustration from 2014. Instead, let it go and move forward. As I blew out the candle to celebrate my first anniversary of my position as the CERN Ombud, I found myself reflecting back over the past
-
Make yourself a gift: enjoy your holiday!
Make yourself a gift: enjoy your holiday! The winter break is a vital opportunity to leave behind the end-of-year workload stress, compounded by the rush to complete tasks in preparation of the year ahead, and focus on some genuine rest and recuperation. The challenges of 2015 can only be met if our batteries are correctly
-
When “stop” doesn’t work
When “stop” doesn’t work In a previous Bulletin article we discussed the issue of how to deal with unwanted declarations of love. The focus there was on the importance of saying “stop” in a clear and unambiguous manner when faced with actions of this kind. But what do you do when this behaviour persists? When
-
Do you believe in ghosts?
Do you believe in ghosts? “Ghosting” is the common term used to describe situations when a piece of work is done by somebody but credited to somebody else. Ghosting often occurs in creative fields, such as writing texts, music, developing graphic charters or translating. Let’s celebrate Halloween this year by acknowledging the contributions of all
-
A shared anniversary!
A shared anniversary! As CERN celebrates its 60th anniversary, it not only looks back at its past successes with pride, it also looks ahead at the many other ways in which it can continue to contribute to the groundbreaking work of the scientific community. In the same way, it is normal for its individual members
-
I love you… but I do not
I love you… but I do not Unwanted declarations of love in the workplace may cause embarrassment among colleagues. If the situation is not quickly clarified, it might even cause a serious disturbance in the working relationship and have a long-lasting negative impact on the people involved. Like many workplaces, CERN is often the place
-
Respect in the workplace
Respect in the workplace Launched in a previous issue of the Bulletin, the ‘Respect@CERN‘ campaign has triggered some rich and varied reactions, and contributions received from colleagues have covered a wide range of themes that extend from the basic “golden rule of treating others as you would have them treat you” to some very specific