how do I handle questions about my religion at work meetings? by Alison Green on July 31, 2018 A reader writes: I’m still Monday morning quarterbacking my response to this one in my head, I’d love your opinion. This past week, a colleague (let’s call him Samwise) and I traveled to visit a vendor out of state. The first night, the vender’s (super enthusiastic and talkative) head of sales, Bilbo, took the two […] Read the full article →
my new job is all admin work — and I didn’t sign up for this by Alison Green on July 31, 2018 A reader writes: I started my new job about two months ago after graduating with a Master’s from an ivy league school. This is not the first full-time or office-environment job I’ve had, so I have a fairly good idea of what to expect from certain roles, but this one is throwing me for a […] Read the full article →
my coworker brings her five kids to our work meetings by Alison Green on July 31, 2018 A reader writes: I work from home, for a start-up. My only coworker has five kids, ages one to 11, and very little access to childcare (husband thinks she’s doing just swimmingly at this SAHM+working-parent thing and doesn’t want to pay for a nanny). This means she brings between one and five kids to all […] Read the full article →
cook dinner without all the work by Alison Green on July 31, 2018 And now a word from a sponsor (with a great discount offer included)… I really, really like cooking. It helps me de-stress from the day and lets me zone out and not think about work, and I like eating delicious things at the end of it. But I don’t always love figuring out what to make […] Read the full article →
my boss chastised me about my menstrual cramps, job-searching with four vacations already booked, and more by Alison Green on July 31, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss chastised me for being in pain from menstrual cramps I just had something happen at work that I’m fairly insulted by: I got my period this morning and my cramps are extra bad. I thought I threw my painkillers in my purse on […] Read the full article →
am I supposed to confirm interviews the day before? by Alison Green on July 30, 2018 A reader writes: Over the past few years, I have noticed that when I have been notified by email for a interview, it tends to ask for me to confirm my attendance (“please email back by X date to let us know you’re able to attend”). I do this, but I don’t seem to ever […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps venting to his coworkers but won’t talk to me by Alison Green on July 30, 2018 A reader writes: I have an employee with whom I have made every attempt to keep open lines of communication, be there for him, offer assistance, be a sounding board, etc. However he repeatedly confides in a coworker when he wants to vent about something, rather than coming to me. I end up hearing about […] Read the full article →
I suck at my job but am otherwise a delightful person by Alison Green on July 30, 2018 A reader writes: Short version: I truly suck at, and therefore hate, my job, but I’m otherwise a delightful person and employee — so says pretty much anyone who works with me (they don’t say “delightful,” but they use complimentary terms!). But I love my company and want to stay. Is that just a pipe […] Read the full article →
throwing a grandmother shower for a coworker, boss’s new ideas go nowhere, and more by Alison Green on July 30, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I throw my coworker a grandmother-to-be shower? We work in a small-ish office 15-20 people. My longtime coworker “Jane” is about to become a first-time grandmother. I was one of the first people she shared the news with, and we almost both cried since […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – July 28-29, 2018 by Alison Green on July 28, 2018 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: I’ve read a string of books lately that I haven’t loved, so I have no recommendation this week. If you have one […] Read the full article →