3 updates from letter-writers (the text tantrum, the reverse job fair, and returning to the old job) by Alison Green on August 17, 2017 Here are three updates from people who had their letters answered here recently. 1. My boss sent me a text tantrum because we weren’t concerned enough when she was sick (#2 at the link) I have an update! Shortly after the unprofessional text message where one of my bosses failed to appreciate her baby goat […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: how can I balance kids, marriage, and a job, when I sometimes have to work in the evening? by Alison Green on August 17, 2017 I’m throwing this one out to readers to weigh in on. Here’s the letter: My wife and I are both very ambitious in our careers. She works in higher-ed and I work in the nonprofit sector. While her job allows for a more flexible schedule, it requires her to bring a lot of her work […] Read the full article →
coworker wants to bring puppy to work, working in a coffee shop after graduating, and more by Alison Green on August 17, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker wants to bring her large, hairy puppy to work My colleague has just bought a new puppy, a very large, long-haired breed which is notoriously energetic and difficult to train. So understandably, I think, I’m very concerned about their proposition to bring it […] Read the full article →
is it okay for your bra straps to show at work? by Alison Green on August 16, 2017 A reader writes: Last week’s question about workplace dress codes reminded me of a question I’ve been long meaning to ask. Let’s say you have a workplace that allows nice sleeveless blouses or dresses. What constitutes acceptable showing of a bra? By this, I don’t mean the actual cups themselves, but the straps. Bras are […] Read the full article →
how can I get employees to find answers for themselves? by Alison Green on August 16, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve recently become a manager at my workplace and I oversee two people, both of whom are really great workers and I’m thrilled overall to have them. They both do one thing that really annoys me – when they don’t know how to do something, they immediately ask. I am talking fairly […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to eat or travel alone with people of the opposite sex by Alison Green on August 16, 2017 A reader writes: I have a question that I’ve been getting mixed advice on from my normal go-to work people. I don’t have to travel very often for my job, but when I do I’ve generally been by myself or in a group of three or more. Same thing with any business lunches I take. […] Read the full article →
summer intern is awful, boss wants me to make a PowerPoint for her raise request, and more by Alison Green on August 16, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our summer intern is awful We are an extremely small satellite office of larger company which hires a paid intern every year. Usually, these interns have just finished graduate school in our field, and the internship has been a launching board for a number of […] Read the full article →
the ethics of firing racist protesters by Alison Green on August 15, 2017 A reader writes: After the Charlottesville violence, I’ve been watching discussion on one of my professional organization’s Facebook groups and would appreciate your opinion about it. People are discussing the ethics of figuring out the identities of white supremacists from news photos, and then reporting them to their employers. Apart from the “ethics” of white […] Read the full article →
I hate my new employee by Alison Green on August 15, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve worked for the same organization for about five years. We recently hired a new person who reports directly to me. I was told I’d have some say in the hiring process, which wasn’t true – we only interviewed four people, two of whom decided not to pursue the job further, and […] Read the full article →
I get angry when my coworkers make mistakes by Alison Green on August 15, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve got a question regarding how much “mistake tolerance” is expected in the workplace. Just to give you some background, I’m a (tech) team lead, which, in my case, means my daily job is not very different from that of other team members, except for the part that I get to make […] Read the full article →