do I have to go to my office’s holiday Zoom happy hour? by Alison Green on November 29, 2021 A reader writes: Last year my company hosted a holiday Zoom “cocktail hour.” I didn’t attend since it was at 7 pm and at that time I am getting my kids ready for bed. I didn’t hear anything about it until mid-October this year. My boss emailed me directly and told me that the company […] Read the full article →
update: I think my assistant would be better at my job than I am by Alison Green on November 29, 2021 It’s the launch of “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager! Every day from now until the end of the year, I’ll be running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. We have so many updates this year that I’m going to be posting six to seven times a […] Read the full article →
my coworker is enraged that I call my cat “my baby,” my interviewer called me a schmuck, and more by Alison Green on November 29, 2021 I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My coworker screamed at me for calling my cat “my baby” I am a woman in my early thirties and my partner and I are childless by choice. We do, however, have […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – November 27-28, 2021 by Alison Green on November 27, 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: The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave. A woman’s husband disappears under mysterious circumstances, leaving her alone with her stepdaughter and a series […] Read the full article →
open thread – November 26-27, 2021 by Alison Green on November 26, 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 →
Thanksgiving free-for-all – November 25, 2021 by Alison Green on November 25, 2021 This comment section is open for any discussion (work or non-work) you’d like to have with other readers. Happy Thanksgiving! Read the full article →
Thanksgiving eve open thread by Alison Green on November 24, 2021 Share your holiday angst or joy in this special Thanksgiving eve non-work open thread. Read the full article →
the determined thief, the cranberry usurper, and other work potlucks gone wrong by Alison Green on November 24, 2021 As Americans prepare for a ton of eating this week, here are 10 of my favorite stories you shared about potlucks and other food gatherings at work earlier this month. 1. The banana bread “I managed a department of about 15 people. One lady was extremely proud (and vocal) regarding her banana bread (this was […] Read the full article →
the bootleg CDs, the rare books department, and other stories of holiday mayhem by Alison Green on November 24, 2021 All this week I’m going to be sharing holiday stories from years past. Here are 12 more. 1. The flush “It was my first holiday party at my office fresh out of undergrad, and with my hearty Irish heritage I am prone to 1) generally ferocious rosacea and 2) an especially vivid red flush after […] Read the full article →
I didn’t know my former coworker was so disliked and now I’m worried by Alison Green on November 24, 2021 A reader writes: I work for a fairly small department at a large organization. The person I worked with most often, “Chris,” recently took on a different position in another department. Unfortunately, I was a little skeptical of the move because I didn’t think Chris would like the position as much as he thought he […] Read the full article →