October 2012

my boss is too hands-off

A reader writes: Earlier this year, I started a new job that is wonderful in almost every way. I’ve been given a lot of autonomy, and I love that about my work. At the same time, I’ve been finding that my boss’s management style is a little too hands-off. We rarely interact (unless I initiate […]

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what employers owe job candidates — and what they don’t

As the tight job market drags on, job searchers are getting increasingly frustrated with what they often perceive as bad treatment from employers toward applicants. And it’s true that in a flooded job market, it’s become all too easy for employers to feel they don’t need to worry about treating applicants well. But at the […]

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tiny answer Tuesday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions

This post was set to automatically publish since I may or may not have power right now, due to the storm. (How’s that for preparation though?) It’s tiny answer Tuesday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Do we have to let this employee return to the office to clean […]

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do you have to be paid if your office is closed due to weather?

With pretty much everyone on the east coast expecting to lose power due to the storm, a few people have asked me whether their employers have to pay them for days that their office is closed because of the weather or lack of power. Here’s the answer: If you’re a non-exempt employee (eligible for overtime): If […]

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8 workplace rights you might not know you have

As I’ve noted here a lot, people often think that they have legal rights at work that they don’t actually have — many people mistakenly think that it’s illegal to be fired for no reason, or that it’s illegal for their boss to be a jerk to them, or that it’s illegal for a past […]

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should you go into the office during severe weather?

A reader writes: What do you recommend employees do during a storm like Sandy? I live in Boston and rely on public transportation. The MBTA (and the governor and mayor) recommend everyone who can stay home and off the streets. The MBTA is running service now, but has issued warnings that service may end or […]

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how can I find a boring job?

Remember the recent letter from someone who didn’t want to sit in an office all day and and stare at a computer? A commenter on that post asked a question quite different from what we normally hear here: After literally many years of searching online for a job I might not totally despise … I’ve heard […]

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