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With the horror in Connecticut, I am fearful, as a manager, of firing anyone because you just never know how someone is going to react. But some people just aren’t cutting it and if I don’t make changes it will reflect poorly on me. Help!

It’s impossible to completely reassure anyone given the realities of these events. Horrible, heartbreaking, senseless don’t even begin to describe these tragedies. As a manager, you need to help make sure that your employer has the proper security in place to create as safe a workplace as reasonably possible without feeling like you work in a maximum security prison. And, while nothing ever justifies workplace violence of any kind obviously, managers should remember to treat everyone with dignity and respect, even those who for one reason or another are being told they no longer have a job. Finally, it is also your responsibility to pay attention to warning signs. Employees who demonstrate any signs of threatening or aggressive behavior must be dealt with immediately — alert security and HR.

My colleague of five years just got promoted and is now my boss. I can’t handle that — any tips?

Either put on the big-boy pants and handle it or look for a new job. Your situation isn’t easy, and you have the right to say that you can’t accept this and need to move on. You don’t, however, have the right to stay in the job and complain. Take a holiday pause before doing anything rash. There might be something to learn here — did your colleague have some experience, skill or accomplishment that made him or her better qualified for the job? Your colleague is probably feeling a little awkward, too, so there might be an opportunity to forge a really strong alliance and put their concerns to rest. Congratulate them and demonstrate that you are on board to help them succeed. It’s better to keep your options open, and besides ’tis the season for giving and wishing people well.