Workplace essays from a decade in HR

A fairer way to get through the workday

You do the work. Somehow, you get the blame too. Why does this keep happening in small companies? Look behind the office logic and find a response you can actually use tomorrow.

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Four questions before you take on someone else’s job

A job description sets out your role. A delegation of authority policy identifies who can approve what. Check both the written rules and what actually happens.

Open the practical question sheet
  1. “Could we check where this task falls in my job description?”
  2. “Under our delegation of authority policy, who gives final approval, and what can I decide myself?”
  3. “If this takes priority, which deadline for my current work should move?”
  4. “May I email a summary of the owner, approver, and deadline we just agreed on?”

Written rules may not match daily practice, and some workplaces will resist even these questions. Use them to record the answer and clarify the boundaries of your responsibility.

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Tiger at the Desk

Between company logic and real people

Hello, I’m Hoseo Lee, the writer behind Tiger at the Desk. Ten years of working in HR at small and medium-sized companies have given me a great deal to reflect on. Over the years, I’ve seen how companies struggle to understand their employees, and employees struggle to understand their companies. I’d like to talk with you about why these situations arise, how we can survive working life, and how to keep going when things get difficult.

Email: tigeratthedesk@gmail.com

© 2026 Hoseo Lee. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction and use for AI training are prohibited.