When Outside Feuds Intrude on the Office

I play for my company's flag football team, and a little over a year ago, during a heated game against a rival company, I got into a fight with one of the dirtier players on the opposing players. This matter was never reported to human resources, for which I was thankful.

The problem is that the man I got into the fight with was recently hired by my company. I don't think I can successfully work on projects with this man, but I'm not sure if it would be proper for me to now report the previous altercation. Where's the line?

You left your problems on the field, which, as every high school coach will tell you, is the right thing to do. The problem is that the field has now extended into your office, and your dislike of this man is going to lead to problems if you don't do something.

If you report your fight to human resources, you're going to get into trouble. Any time you're out representing your company, whether it be on an overnight business trip or simply wearing the company name on your football jersey, you are expected to act according to your company's policy. And you don't need to dig out the giant binder they gave you during orientation to know that fighting is a big no-no that could lead to your dismissal.

At the same time, the playing field has its own rules where boys will be boys and fighting is practically accepted as "part of the game" (otherwise, the jails would be stuffed with hockey players).

To solve your dilemma, you need to combine the etiquette of the office with the etiquette of the playing field. This will allow you to keep the problem out of the "official" channels, which would hurt you and only escalate the issue.

It's time for you to go mano-a-mano again, but this time you need to do it in a professional way. Nothing dramatic. Nothing confrontational. Just a simple, "Look, I know we had that fight, and we don't get along. But I want us to put that aside to be able to work together."

As Stanley, crossword-loving cubicle drone on the TV show "The Office" says: "We don't have to like each other. We just have to work together."

Have a workplace-ethics dilemma. Ask it here, or email wherestheline@gmail.com.