am I being too self-deprecating at my new job? by Alison Green on September 30, 2020 A reader writes: Over the summer, I landed a new job during the pandemic, thanks to your guidance on your website and your book. It was a significant increase in pay over my last position, I like my boss and coworkers, and I realize now I was previously in a more dysfunctional workspace than I […] Read the full article →
my employee has been sulking since her job changed by Alison Green on September 30, 2020 A reader asks: I’m managing an employee, Lucy, who was recently moved to a different position on our team. Her old position was eliminated because it had evolved to require skills she didn’t have, and so she moved to this job. Initially, Lucy said she was a “team player” and ready to do whatever may […] Read the full article →
should I re-hire a bully, a “baking fund” jar, and more by Alison Green on September 30, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I hire a bully back? I’m a hotel manager and I’ve been in my current role for roughly a year and a half. When COVID-19 hit, I was forced to lay off my entire team. I was truly heartbroken to see about 80% of […] Read the full article →
update: our library staff have all been reassigned to do childcare for county workers by Alison Green on September 29, 2020 Remember the letter from the library worker whose county was forcibly assigning library workers to provide childcare for county employees? Here’s the update. Before I get into anything else, I’ll note that due to information I was provided on the legality of initiatives like the one at my library within my particular state, I didn’t […] Read the full article →
should I warn job candidates about how bad my company is? by Alison Green on September 29, 2020 A reader writes: I’m currently wrapping up a job of many years. While my major reason for leaving was wanting to change professions, I’ve been looking for the past year due to job dissatisfaction and problems with senior management. Honestly, I stuck around longer than I should have because I really enjoyed my team members […] Read the full article →
my boss is impossible to reach when I need responses by Alison Green on September 29, 2020 A reader writes: I work at a small organization that’s heavily regulated (financial services). I manage the marketing projects for the organization and report directly to the CEO. He is a smart and kind man, but he is impossible to get in touch with. He never replies to my emails about large-scale projects and events, […] Read the full article →
I miss my toxic old job, living with a coworker, and more by Alison Green on September 29, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I miss my toxic old job I just left a very toxic work environment to the point where nine of thirteen people on the team quit last year (possibly more, these are just the ones I’m aware of). I had a high opinion of my […] Read the full article →
I saw a coworker’s husband naked on Zoom – should I say anything? by Alison Green on September 28, 2020 A reader writes: So … the other day we had a full day Zoom meeting/training (~12 people from our company, including the boss and the trainer from outside the company). During the lunch break, the Zoom was still going on, but we were encouraged to go eat, stretch, etc. I turned off my camera and […] Read the full article →
how to fire a difficult, long-time employee by Alison Green on September 28, 2020 A reader writes: I work in a small office in a declining industry. Our salespeople have seen reduced commissions because they are based on sales, and the owners have taken pay cuts to avoid layoffs and cutting employee’s salaries. One of our designers has been in the job since the company’s inception (20+ years) and […] Read the full article →
I can’t seem to stop being late to meetings by Alison Green on September 28, 2020 A reader writes: With COVID still in full force and us working from home for months now, I’ve had a recurring issue with me constantly being late to meetings. At the beginning of this year and again in June, I told my manager I was burnt out due to constantly being overlooked at work, not […] Read the full article →