how do I get my coworkers to shut up about Game of Thrones? by Alison Green on April 30, 2019 A reader writes: All of my coworkers are all obsessed with Game of Thrones, but I don’t watch it, nor am I interested. We sit in an open office and they talk out loud about it all day long — fan theories, character arcs, whatever. I feel like I know the plot of every episode. […] Read the full article →
my coworker is bad at her job, and I’m unofficially in charge of her by Alison Green on April 30, 2019 A reader writes: About six months ago, my team hired a new person to help with my workload: Penny. Although Penny and I are both at the same level (and get paid the same), since I have several years of experience in the company, I trained her and am essentially her manager but without the […] Read the full article →
I’m embarrassed by the problems my new staff member is uncovering — and keep getting defensive by Alison Green on April 30, 2019 A reader writes: I’m the problem and I don’t know how to stop. I’m the executive director of a small (8 staff) but old nonprofit (40+ years). I’ve been the ED for eight years and most of the staff have been with me for five or more years. A year ago, we hired a new […] Read the full article →
remote work bait-and-switch, changing clothes in the office bathroom, and more by Alison Green on April 30, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss said I could work from anywhere — but keeps telling me to come into the office I started a new job about six months ago. The company is based in City A, and I live far away (multi-hour flight, different time zone far) […] Read the full article →
I went on a job interview and the office was filthy by Alison Green on April 29, 2019 A reader writes: I went on a job interview today and the office was absolutely filthy and so gross. I met with the CEO in her office and while she seemed to be a nice lady, she looked very disorganized and kind of out of it. He hair was a mess and her fingernails were […] Read the full article →
sleep terrors and a naked boss: when coworkers share hotel rooms by Alison Green on April 29, 2019 Traveling for work can be stressful – the bad airport food, the jet lag, the unfamiliar bed. Now imagine that at the end of a long day, you head back to your hotel for some down time … but your coworker is sharing the hotel room with you. If you’re in an industry where people […] Read the full article →
we have to write deeply personal poems and share them at a staff meeting by Alison Green on April 29, 2019 A reader writes: I work for a small values-driven company, and recently there has been an effort to do more relationship building among staff. Ahead of our next all staff meeting, we are required to write a “where I’m from” poem, based on the format of this work by George Ella Lyon. While it seems […] Read the full article →
how much can my dog bark in the office, my manager rewrote my work, and more by Alison Green on April 29, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How much can my dog bark at work before it’s a problem? I work at a very laid-back tech startup that not only allows, but encourages employees to bring their dogs in everyday. However, my own dog (Waffles) is very fearful and reactive towards most […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – April 27-28, 2019 by Alison Green on April 27, 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: Having discovered Alison Lurie a few weeks ago, I’m now reading everything she’s written, most recently Truth and Consequences, which is about two academics’ […] Read the full article →
open thread – April 26-27, 2019 by Alison Green on April 26, 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 →