How to deal with the deadwood in your workplace

"If you're going to go to the manager or the colleague, it's always best to present the facts," she advises. "That becomes the foundation of any discussions you're going to have. 'This is how much I'm working and what I'm doing.' Talk in 'I' language. You don't want to accuse."

Workplace tidbit: College seniors will feel the labor pinch when they graduate in the spring. Employers expect to hire just 1.3 percent more college graduates in 2009 than they did this year, according to a new survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

And that's less than the 6 percent hiring increase employers projected in an August survey. The group decided to poll employers again in light of the falling economy and the volatile financial market.

The lower outlook for college hiring that occurred between August and October was reflected across several industries, the survey found.

Only the government sector saw an increase in hiring expectations, while manufacturing and professional services remain flat. Industries such as construction, trade and agriculture expect to decrease their hiring.

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