Working Wounded: Fixing Work Relationships

If Relationships at Your Office Are Poor, Chances Are You're at Least Partly to Blame

DEAR WOUNDED: Most of the people who work where I do don't get along. There is a ton of carping and complaining. I'm just one person, but is there anything that I can do to create a better workplace?

ANSWER: Reading your e-mail reminded me of four New York cops I recently read about. They were called to the Bronx to deal with a landlord-tenant dispute. However, they were distracted by a teenager in the hallway smoking marijuana. After chasing him, the police were attacked by a pit bull. Twenty-six shots later -- there was one dead dog, one bitten officer, and three other officers wounded by each other's gunshots.