my husband keeps contacting my coworkers about funding his nonprofit by Alison Green on February 26, 2019 A reader writes: I work for a special district. My husband has been between jobs for several years and decided he wants to found a nonprofit. He has run them successfully before, and I support him. The problem is he wants my agency to be the primary partner for his nonprofit, to the tune of […] Read the full article →
my boss watches me by video call while I work, how much noise is too much, and more by Alison Green on February 26, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss watches me by video call while I work I’m a 100% teleworker in the research field, which I love. The problem is my boss believes mentoring me means watching me via video call as I work. I’ve asked my boss to stop (firmly […] Read the full article →
updates: my coworker wants me available 24/7, my boss had his wife do our work, and more by Alison Green on February 25, 2019 Here are five updates from people who had their letters answered here in the past. 1. I work from home and my coworker wants me available 24/7 First of all: thank you so much for publishing my letter! Your advice, along with the commentariat, was perfect. I keep my phone super-quiet now, and don’t jump […] Read the full article →
how to help a coworker who hates our boss by Alison Green on February 25, 2019 A reader writes: I work for a mid-sized production company. I believe our manager, “Jane,” manages well, but I’ve had some issues that have affected my performance and attitude, which I have now owned and I’ve resolved to work on being an excellent employee. Since recovering from a health condition and addressing my personal issues, […] Read the full article →
employer requires women to wear perfect makeup — and writes them up if it’s smudged by Alison Green on February 25, 2019 A reader writes: I’m writing on behalf of my sister. She is working an office job she quite likes in a bottom-rung position that does not pay very well. Most months she has enough for basic necessities and nothing else. She relies on her boyfriend and family/friends to do fun things like see a movie […] Read the full article →
my mom won’t stop bugging me with work questions, a dog in a wedding dress, and more by Alison Green on February 25, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I worked for my mom and now she won’t stop bugging me with work questions Five years ago, I was offered a job at the company my mom had been working at for 20+ years. At the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – February 23-24, 2019 by Alison Green on February 23, 2019 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 Banker’s Wife, by Cristina Alger. A banker’s plane goes down under suspicious circumstances on its way to Geneva, and his wife is left trying […] Read the full article →
open thread – February 22-23, 2019 by Alison Green on February 22, 2019 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. * If you submitted […] Read the full article →
candidate was arrested for peeing in public, am I being too helpful, and more by Alison Green on February 22, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What should I do about a candidate with an arrest for urinating in public? A candidate recently applied who is decently qualified and who, normally, I would phone screen without a second thought. After googling the candidate, we found a record in the local newspaper […] Read the full article →
how to tell an employee to stay in their lane by Alison Green on February 21, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve been at my company for about a year, and I inherited most of the large team I manage. Their job descriptions and roles are pretty clear and specific, but one of our subject matter expects, “Jane,” is constantly questioning the work of other team members on projects she doesn’t have a […] Read the full article →