how can I advocate for workers’ rights when I’m the customer? by Alison Green on January 20, 2022 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: My sister and I are members of a community pool/gym that is run under the umbrella of a larger nonprofit. The greater organization serves people with disabilities, but membership to the gym is open to the entire community. Both my sister and I have varying […] Read the full article →
men with bare chests at work, charging late fees when freelancing, and more by Alison Green on January 20, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Bare chests at work I have an “is this weird or is this COVID?” question. My employer held a vaccine and booster clinic recently, by appointment only. The setup was like most ones I think we’re all used to in this pandemic era: booths that […] Read the full article →
our new-grad employees see less glamorous work as beneath them by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 A reader writes: I am 26 years old. I have been in the working world for several years. Our office just hired a couple of new grads. I find some of the ways they talk about work tasks to be naïve to the point of being demeaning. One coworker, John, often talks about his internship […] Read the full article →
about medical practices that can’t pay enough to keep their employees… by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 After last week’s letter from a medical practice manager struggling to hire staff and unable to pay more because of tightly regimented insurance company payments, I received this letter offering a different view that I wanted to share here. Hi LW #2, As a fellow small medical practice owner, I feel your pain. The feedback […] Read the full article →
my coworkers told my boss I talk about my baby too much by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 A reader writes: I’m still processing the conversation I just had with my boss, so I’m sorry if this is a mess. I’m a new mom. My baby is going to be four months old later this week. I took 12 weeks off and returned to work a month ago. I manage a small team […] Read the full article →
is an “intro meeting” the same as an interview, dress codes when you’re non-binary, and more by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is an “intro meeting” the same as an interview? I have recently started job hunting for a position in a new career field after several years in food service and hospitality management. I’m really excited at the prospect of a career change. More typical office […] Read the full article →
is it ethical for a recruiter to require you to agree to a salary up-front and not discuss the offer with your current job? by Alison Green on January 18, 2022 A reader writes: Is it ethical for a prospective employer to require you not to negotiate with your current one? I love my current job at a nonprofit and am very happy. A recruiter reached out about a job that would be a significant promotion for me. The job application requires candidates to agree to […] Read the full article →
my employee apologizes for mistakes she didn’t make by Alison Green on January 18, 2022 A reader writes: I’m a new executive director. My assistant is amazing and I couldn’t ask for a better one. She anticipates my expectations and needs very little direction, and I’ve often leaned on her for help. My only complaint is that she apologizes when things aren’t her fault at all. She immediately follows up […] Read the full article →
calling out racism, supporting a Black manager, and other questions with Michelle Silverthorn by Alison Green on January 18, 2022 Today Michelle Silverthorn, founder and CEO of Inclusion Nation, returns to Ask A Manager! Michelle is the author of the best-selling book Authentic Diversity: How to Change the Workplace for Good (read an excerpt here) and talked with us last year about the work she does to help build more equitable companies. Now she’s back to take readers’ […] Read the full article →
I was told I could bring my dog to work but now I can’t, companies that don’t check references, and more by Alison Green on January 18, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I was told I could bring my dog to work but now I can’t I recently accepted a placement through a large, multinational staffing agency to work on a temp-to-perm basis at a small nonprofit where a few other employees, including the organization’s president, bring […] Read the full article →