how do I interrupt a senior colleague’s monologue during my meeting? by Alison Green on March 31, 2020 A reader writes: I would love some feedback/advice for how to deal with a particularly annoying colleague in a different department. We work with this department to handle legal stuff for our group, so we have to liaise with him occasionally (and for important things). However, he is a terrible communicator. Every time we meet […] Read the full article →
answers to your questions about the new unemployment benefits law by Alison Green on March 31, 2020 On Friday, major new unemployment benefits were signed into law — and they significantly expand who can collect unemployment, for how long, and how much you’ll receive. Here are the highlights of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: • From now until July 31, everyone collecting unemployment will receive their regular state […] Read the full article →
what do I do with my kids during remote meetings, leaving your camera off on video calls, and more by Alison Green on March 31, 2020 Throughout the coronavirus crisis, I’ll be answering questions at New York Magazine about the ways it’s impacting our jobs and the way we work now. This week I’m answering: What do I do with my young kids during remote meetings? What to do if your company claims it’s “essential” when it’s not Is it OK […] Read the full article →
my company won’t pay us if we don’t install spy software on our personal computers by Alison Green on March 31, 2020 A reader writes: We are working remotely for the time being due to COVID and have recently been asked to install an Internet/computer monitoring program on our personal laptops. I’m uncomfortable with this for several reasons, but mainly I don’t want anyone to have access to my personal laptop and my private data. The software […] Read the full article →
I’m pregnant and my new boss is the dad, coworker wants to keep us all connected in cutesy ways, and more by Alison Green on March 31, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m pregnant by my new manager and don’t want higher-ups to know I’m still fairly early in a pregnancy that is with a fellow coworker who became my boss right at the point I found out I was pregnant. We have a perfectly normal working […] Read the full article →
my coworker/friend is abusing work-from-home privileges by Alison Green on March 30, 2020 A reader writes: My company started everyone on work from home recently due to COVID-19. I have two close work friends and we still chat regularly online. All of us take little breaks for non-work activities (switching laundry over, grabbing a snack) but I have tried to make sure I walk away from my computer […] Read the full article →
here are your animal coworkers by Alison Green on March 30, 2020 With so many people working from home with animal coworkers, obviously we need to see photos of your new colleagues. When I put out a call for pictures last week, I received more than 450 of them … so I’ve divided them into two separate posts. Here’s part one. Click photos to enlarge. And if […] Read the full article →
my employee came to work with blue hair by Alison Green on March 30, 2020 A reader writes: I have a sweet, younger employee who came into work having dyed her hair from brown to black with blue/purple/green highlights that change with how the light hits it — think peacock feathers. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but it just doesn’t fit here. Our policy is specific about nails, […] Read the full article →
can my employer lay me off and ask me to volunteer? by Alison Green on March 30, 2020 A reader writes: My employer, a medium-sized nonprofit, is experiencing a lot of understandable fundraising and budget anxiety during COVID-19. While I know everyone’s doing the best they can to prevent cuts to staff or layoffs, I heard through a coworker this week that one idea our CEO has been kicking around has been to […] Read the full article →
what if people abuse the new paid sick leave law, COO sends non-stop jokes about coronavirus, and more by Alison Green on March 30, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What if our employee abuses the new paid sick leave law? I’m curious on if there are concerns about employer protections for employees who potentially may abuse the new paid sick leave for coronavirus sickness. For example, I have a hypochondriac employee who frequently calls […] Read the full article →