July 2021

weekend open thread – July 31-August 1, 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 Kitchen Front, by Jennifer Ryan. Four very different women compete in a British wartime cooking competition during World War II. * I make a commission […]

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it’s your Friday good news

It’s your Friday good news! 1. I recently left my job in the Middle East after four years to move back to the U.S. The environment was austere and dangerous and I was looking forward to returning to a normal life. Last fall, I reached out to a member of senior leadership with whom I had […]

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open thread – July 30-31, 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. * […]

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can I refuse to do a self-assessment?

A reader writes: I work at a university where the staff is more or less divided into Professional or Technical/Clerical. I’m a long-time technical/clerical worker, which means I’m in the union. I have no real feelings about my union one way or another — I see both the good and the bad. One of the […]

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updates: the anonymous complaint, the biopsy, and more

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. I made an anonymous complaint about a coworker and she’s blaming someone else for it (#2 at the link, first update here) First, a not-so-nice update. Remember I mentioned in my original letter that Jane was part of a group of three women? I gave updates on […]

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how can I look more polished at work?

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: While I’m currently working from home, I’m thinking forward to returning to the office soonish. I work in a business casual office (slightly more towards the casual side). I understand what counts as professional dress, but the polished and appearing-office-proper part of going to the […]

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