do prospective employers expect me to take time off work for interviews? by Alison Green on September 23, 2019 A reader writes: I am currently employed as a medical receptionist in a small outpatient mental health clinic, but I have applied for positions more in line with my long-term goal of becoming a physician. I recently had a phone interview for a scribe position at a urology practice. The job would allow me to […] Read the full article →
forcing employees to talk about their feelings isn’t good for our mental health by Alison Green on September 23, 2019 In the last two years, a new theme has emerged in my inbox: employers who mandate that employees talk about their feelings — publicly and often. No doubt this stems from an increased awareness of mental health issues, which is a good thing. Reducing the stigma around mental health struggles makes it more likely people […] Read the full article →
my boss excessively Photoshops herself on our company’s social media by Alison Green on September 23, 2019 A reader writes: I work at a respected firm in a niche industry. I graduated college this year so I’m the newest person here. Besides my manager (I’ll call her Elizabeth), everyone else has worked here for 15 years or more and has decades of experience in the industry. When Elizabeth was hired as a […] Read the full article →
giving a reference when you have a moral objection to the employer, what a closed door means, and more by Alison Green on September 23, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Giving a reference when you have a moral objection to the employer I have a former employee who is fantastic, and I’m always happy to act as a reference for her. She just applied for a position with a company that has a pretty controversial […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – September 21-22, 2019 by Alison Green on September 21, 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 Secrets We Kept, by Lara Prescott. It’s a novel but it’s based on real events surrounding the publication of Doctor Zhivago, including the women who […] Read the full article →
Ask a Manager in the media by Alison Green on September 20, 2019 Here’s some coverage of Ask a Manager in the media recently: I’m in the New York Times talking about what to do when you’ve said the wrong thing at work. I’m also in the New York Times talking about the use of personality tests, including the Myers-Briggs, at work. I’m in the Chicago Tribune talking […] Read the full article →
open thread – September 20-21, 2019 by Alison Green on September 20, 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 →
my coworkers are in a cult, all-day work road trips, and more by Alison Green on September 20, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers are in a self-help cult A few months back, my coworker Jason, then new to the team, was hawking a program which from Googling appears to be a for-profit self-help cult. Jason has done the full program and volunteers with them in his […] Read the full article →
my coworker keeps getting in my personal space by Alison Green on September 19, 2019 A reader writes: I have a new coworker who I mostly like. She is a little complainy and stubborn but she’s the newest person on my team and I think she is just still adjusting to our company. We are both young women and in our first jobs out of college. We sit next to […] Read the full article →
update: my coworker feels entitled to my time, expertise, car, and house by Alison Green on September 19, 2019 Remember last week’s letter from the PhD student whose colleague invited herself to move in, tried to take credit for her work, and was complaining to their department head that the letter-writer wasn’t collaborating enough with her? Here’s the update. Here’s the update. Since the semester has just started and the students are back, things […] Read the full article →