April 2017

how can I get my boss to let me work from home?

A reader writes: I’d like your advice on talking points when asking my boss about the ability to work from home once a week. I work on a very small team at a very large company. There are usually just three of us from my department in the office on a given day. My boss […]

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me, talking about hugging at work (Wall St. Journal) and job interviews (Marketplace)

I’m quoted in this Wall St. Journal piece, talking about hugging at work. My advice: “Huggers feel they’re really good at judging when someone wants a hug, but based on what the nonhuggers are saying, they’re wrong about that.” And this weekend, I was on public radio’s Marketplace, talking about job interviews. My segment starts at 6:11.

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will Congress get rid of mandatory overtime pay?

Currently, millions of employees in the United States are required to be paid overtime (time and a half) if they work more than 40 hours in a given week. But a new bill in Congress proposes changing that. The Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 proposes allowing employees to receive comp time (extra paid time […]

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can I rescind a job offer immediately?

A reader writes: I recently called an applicant to offer her a customer service position. She responded flatly as soon as I introduced myself. (“Oh. Hi.”) I was a little taken aback, but proceeded with the job offer anyway. Her terse reply immediately signaled a complete lack of interest. She said little other than, “Huh. […]

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I overheard higher-ups complaining about my friend, posting on a company’s Facebook page after applying, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I overheard higher-ups complaining about my work friend I have a coworker who I’m pretty friendly with. We eat lunch together regularly and we’ve also spent some time together outside of work (dinners with our spouses, etc.). I’m at a slightly higher level, but we […]

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weekend free-for-all – April 22-23, 2017

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school.) Book recommendation of the week: The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker. A woman made of clay and a man made of fire are marooned in 19th […]

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