weekend open thread – October 23-24, 2021 by Alison Green on October 23, 2021 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: Small Pleasures, by Clare Chambers. A reporter in 1950s Britain who is investigating a woman’s claim of an immaculate conception finds herself becoming personally entangled in […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on October 22, 2021 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “I applied for and accepted a new position (a promotion/higher salary band) in my organization nearly 3 years ago, and almost immediately, like literally the first day, I realized I’d made a terrible mistake. My manager is a chronic oversharer, a micromanager, mostly incompetent and clueless, yet thinks she’s […] Read the full article →
open thread – October 22-23, 2021 by Alison Green on October 22, 2021 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 (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. * […] Read the full article →
inviting only some coworkers to a party, rude IMs, and more by Alison Green on October 22, 2021 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I invite only some of my coworkers to socialize in my small office? A few weeks ago I started a job in a small firm made up of nine people and a team of freelancers. We all get along really well and it’s generally […] Read the full article →
my boss told me not to tell anyone I’m quitting by Alison Green on October 21, 2021 A reader writes: I work for a small nonprofit that underwent a leadership transition earlier this year. A few months later, I’m the only surviving member of the staff, all of whom had long tenures with the organization (up to 35 years) and stellar service records. I won’t go into details about all of those […] Read the full article →
updates: the better offer, the long business trip, and more by Alison Green on October 21, 2021 Here are four updates from people who had their letters answered here in the past. 1. Asking to WFH when it’s in my offer letter but I haven’t been doing it (#4 at the link) I spoke with my boss today, and I used much of the language that Alison suggested. It turns out that […] Read the full article →
what’s the most unreasonable thing you’ve ever been asked to do at a job? by Alison Green on October 21, 2021 On the recent post about office supply drama, several people shared stories of wildly unreasonable things managers have asked them to do. For example: • “I temped for a small NFP and the director was bananas. She was filthy rich (like own private jet and multiple homes rich); her husband owned a hedge fund, which […] Read the full article →
company has a men-only weekend trip, did employer lie about their interview process, and more by Alison Green on October 21, 2021 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Company hosts a men-only weekend trip Our company has grown exponentially since I first joined five years ago and now has over 500 employees. Our owner started hosting a “boys hunting trip” which only male employees from our corporate team attend. At first it was […] Read the full article →
my coworker keeps saying men only ask me for help because I’m hot by Alison Green on October 20, 2021 A reader writes: I work in hospitality, at a front desk where I spend all day interacting with guests. I am usually accompanied by one other coworker. I am a woman in my 20s; most of my coworkers are considerably older, but I have one coworker who is also in her 20s, “Amanda.” Every time […] Read the full article →
how can I avoid business contacts who just want to pitch me? by Alison Green on October 20, 2021 A reader writes: I often get requests for phone conversations from people in related industries who want to “ask my opinion” about some aspect of my area of expertise. After 30 minutes of conversation, it always turns into a sales pitch for whatever product they’re working on or company they’re consulting for. I find this […] Read the full article →