Read case and answer the questions at the end.

The Unpopular Office Administrator

While at a shopping mall one day, you run into Max, a former classmate of yours. Happy to see him, you comment, Max, good to see you. How are things going? Last I heard you were promoted from administrative assistant to office administrator, like an office supervisor. How do you like your new job?

Max answers: Thanks for asking. Thats true. I was promoted to office administrator. I work in a different department now. My boss is the director of corporate communications. The job is exciting. Im in on a lot of important happenings, and I get to meet a lot of important people. But things in the office arent going as well as I would like.

Your curiosity aroused, you ask: What do you mean?

Max continues: I dont think the other workers in the office care too much for me. Even though I am basically the office supervisor, I feel kind of left out of things. Im almost never asked to join the guys for lunch or coffee breaks. I dont know what Im doing wrong. Sometimes I think it could be jealousy over my job. But that isnt such a plausible reason. Being an office administrator isnt that impressive. Also, Im a few years older than most of the workers in the office. They should be glad to see that experience and hard work pay off.

Sometimes I feel like the guy in those TV ads who loses out with friends because he needs breath freshener. That certainly isnt the case with me. I dont recall having a problem making friends either at school or in my other jobs.

If you come up with any ideas that might help me, please let me know. I would feel awkward asking the othe people in the office why they dont like me. After all, I am the office administrator.

Case Questions

What should Max do (if anything) to discover what might be wrong?

What general suggestions do you have as to how Max might become better accepted by the group?