Life Advice

Emotional Hardbody answers: Coworker's copycat behavior not taken as a compliment

Editor's note: For the second installment of Christina Pesoli's new advice column, Emotional Hardbody takes on copycat behavior in the workplace. It's time to get creative.

Dear Emotional Hardbody,

There’s this coworker of mine who keeps copying me in this one way: Every time I change purses, within a day or two she shows up to work with a purse that is remarkably similar, if not identical, to the one I'm carrying.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But I don’t feel flattered, I just feel annoyed.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

Signed,

Annoyed

Dear Annoyed,

First things first: Whatever you do, don’t rent the movie Single White Female.

In all seriousness, I can tote-ally understand why you are not flattered. Your coworker’s behavior is creepy enough to get to you, but not creepy enough to warrant a chat with your HR representative.

But not to worry, I can coach you through this. Follow my advice and the solution to your problem is in the bag. Go buy a plain tote bag at Target and get some fabric paint from Hobby Lobby. Then customize your tote bag with the following message: “Stop copying me!”

Once Copy Kate Spade spots you with that purse, I’m Prada sure she’ll stop clutching onto your style and find her own instead.

If that doesn’t work, you could try going in the complete opposite direction and stop carrying a purse at all for a while.

The bottom line is this: There are many creative ways you can attempt to get your coworker to stop copying you, while having a little fun in the process. But, at the end of the day, if she persists, you’re going to have to put her behavior in the same category where I put tie-dyed clothing: It’s one of life’s little annoyances that you sometimes encounter but can’t really do anything about.

Purse-onally yours,

Emotional Hardbody

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Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics