January 2020

how late can I call employees at home?

A reader writes: Is there a cut-off time that I as an employer can call an employee’s home or cell phone? I answer this question — and four others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to […]

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dealing with stress about the Australian fires at work

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. This week, it’s two questions, similar topics. Here’s the first: I have been living and working overseas for five years, but my hometown and family are very near to some of the fires that are currently burning in Australia. My colleagues are generally aware of this and someone […]

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these are the best questions to ask your job interviewer

As someone who has interviewed probably thousands of job candidates, I’m always surprised by how some candidates handle the part of the interview where it’s their turn to ask questions. A ton of people don’t have many questions at all – which is hard to understand when they’re considering spending 40+ hours a week at […]

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my boss says I talk too much to coworkers

A reader writes: My boss told me I’m being too chatty and I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable. I first started my job two years ago. We are a small office of 15 and do a lot of behind-the-scenes work. We don’t interact with the public at all. It was a literal tomb when […]

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here’s a way to make tax season easier

And now for a word from a sponsor… Tax season is soon to be upon us – and if you’re a small business, you know what paperwork hassles it can bring. Blue Summit Supplies is a really useful one-stop tax resource for small businesses. They offer everything your small business needs for a smooth and […]

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I have nothing to do at my internship

A reader writes: Three weeks ago, I started a new internship at a large design office, and so far I have not been assigned any real work. I have been asked to do small tasks like cleaning a shelf or compiling information that takes me less than an hour to complete. I’ve brought up that […]

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