Workplace Woes Expert Solutions To Common Problems

Good Job is Slate’s advice column on work. Have a workplace problem big or small? Send it to Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir here. It’s anonymous!

Navigating Workplace AI When You're a Skeptic

Dear Good Job,

I am a hard-line hater of generative AI (ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.). I think it’s bad for the environment and bad for society. It burns water resources, exploits workers in the global south, plagiarizes art and writing, and eliminates badly needed entry-level jobs. In my ideal world, generative AI would be regulated out of existence.

Unfortunately, I work for an office that has completely embraced generative AI as both an efficiency tool and a “fun” teambuilding thing. I worked as a temp at this company for 8 months in a position where AI was less prevalent, but now in my new permanent position, it’s everywhere. As I write this, I’m watching a Teams chat where my new boss and coworkers are merrily generating and re-generating an AI logo graphic for a new department they want me to run (the department was also named based on AI suggestions). It’s driving me insane with rage.

As much as I would love to bring everyone over to my way of thinking about AI, right now I would settle for them just keeping it away from me. Is there a script I can use to convey my not wanting to engage with it without accusing them of being bad people for using it? A few months ago, I jokingly mentioned my distaste to a coworker, and her response after was to tell me every time she used ChatGPT as a fun “teasing” thing. I’d like to avoid that result this time if I can.

—The Luddites Were Right Too

Dear The Luddites Were Right Too,

I’m also not a huge fan of AI, and I think that a lot of the people who are embracing it so wholeheartedly are going to embrace themselves out of a job in the next few years. Not to mention, as you point out, that the use of AI comes with a whole host of ethical and moral issues. TL;DR: AI, not great!

That said, while I’m not going to urge you to start using AI yourself, I do think we are a bit past the point of no return. AI is here whether we like it or not, and although the Luddites may have been right, they also probably aren’t working in 21st century corporate America. So what is a principled, AI-hating person like yourself to do? Here is a clear, forceful script you can use whenever you’re encouraged to use AI in your own work: “I respect that the team is using AI, but I’d like to not use it if at all possible.” I would avoid going into your philosophical objections, because your team has already made it clear that they’re not receptive to them, so now it’s just a matter of a boundary that you’re setting. If your colleague continues to tease you about your distaste for ChatGPT, practice not reacting to her provocations. She’ll soon get bored and move on.

Ask Good Job Your Workplace Questions

Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!

Curbing Cursing in the Classroom

Dear Good Job,

I teach third grade, and a common problem I run into is that the kids I teach think nothing of using profanity in class. Often, they learn this from their parents and are permitted to engage in it at home, and in turn bring it to school. I have tried explaining that certain standards are expected at school. I tell the kids they should view school as their workplace, and at workplaces a certain level of professionalism is required. The trouble is, many kids are so accustomed to cursing at home that it inevitably slips out casually or in moments of frustration. I find that punishment does little to curb it. One child pointed out that “everybody cusses” so I shouldn’t make a big deal over it. And I grudgingly have to admit she is correct. It’s not as if cursing isn’t everywhere in society. Should I just ignore it when one of my students swears, or should I continue to try and dissuade them from using profane language?

—Aw, Fuck It!

Dear Aw, Fuck It!,

I commend you for trying to uphold some modicum of decorum in your classroom! I would continue to emphasize that swearing is not allowed in your classroom, and that—as you point out—there can be different rules for home and school. I do wonder whether you could take a bit more control of the situation here, though. I would start by working together with the kids to come up with a set of classroom agreements—and including “no swearing” on it. By bringing them into the creation of this code, they’ll feel more ownership over it. My son’s kindergarten class does this, and each child has to sign it (well, to the extent that a kindergartener can sign their name!). The kids take them really seriously! I know that your students are a little older, but this could be a good place to start. Once that’s in place, I would not be shy about pointing to the classroom agreements. You’re not shaming them or instituting harsh punishments here; you’re just letting them know that everyone has collectively decided that the classroom is not the place for this kind of language.

That said, I don’t think that you need to raise an alarm every single time you hear a “dammit” slip out. Kids are going to mess up, and there’s a big difference between someone muttering “shit” under their breath and yelling “fuck you!” at someone. After you have the classroom agreements in place, I would also take note of whether it’s the whole class, or just one or two students who regularly cursing. If it’s just a couple of kids who can’t seem to stop, it might be worth having a conversation with their parents to let them know they might want to cool it with the swearing at home, too.

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Reclaiming Credit for a Stolen Idea

Dear Good Job, I shared a marketing idea of mine with a co-worker. They then proceeded to immediately go to our boss and pitch it. Our boss loved it, and my sleazebag co-worker is claiming credit! I hadn’t told anyone else about my idea, and I didn’t have anything on my computer or written down. It was just an idea kicking around in my head, so I don’t have any proof I came up with it first. Is there anything I can do to get the credit I deserve that won’t make me come off looking like a jealous asshole?

—Purloined Proposal

Dear Purloined Proposal,

Oh, I am shaking with rage over the nerve of your co-worker! I can’t imagine being so underhanded that I would stoop so low as to steal an idea from a colleague. That’s true slimeball behavior.

You have a few options here. One is to speak to your boss in as neutral and objective a manner as possible. If not too much time has passed, you could say something like, “So great that you liked the marketing idea. I’d love to be involved in any next steps, as it was something I’d been mulling over for awhile and had just mentioned it to [Slimeball] in casual conversation—I didn’t realize they were going to be pitching it formally!” You’re not exactly accusing Slimeball of stealing your idea, but you’re making it clear that you had come up with it first, and staking a claim to be involved with its development. In the meantime, I might send Slimeball a note (so it’s documented in writing) that says, “So glad my marketing idea is being used, but would love to chat beforehand the next time you’re thinking about pitching something we’ve talked about!” Now you’ve covered all your bases with both your co-worker and your boss, and hopefully this won’t be an issue in the future.

— Doree