my manager says my shyness is seen as rudeness by Alison Green on August 24, 2022 A reader writes: I received an email today from my manager that I am feeling a bit upset about. Here is the situation. My boss came over to the cubicle farm and was talking to a couple coworkers when it came time for me to leave for an errand. We have glass panes on our […] Read the full article →
can I push back on in-office work? by Alison Green on August 24, 2022 A reader writes: I’m wondering how much I can reasonably push back when a manager refuses to consider a hybrid work schedule. When we were 100% remote in 2020, I successfully did my job and my team had a record year. I was commended for my above-average performance even while juggling unreliable childcare, along with […] Read the full article →
my coworker is using paid paternity leave to work a second job instead of taking care of his baby by Alison Green on August 24, 2022 A reader writes: My company recently expanded its parental leave policy so that anyone, regardless of gender, gets the same, generous leave of six months fully paid. It’s called “bonding leave” so the intent is pretty clear. One of my male colleagues told me very matter of factly that he is intending to take his […] Read the full article →
I stole my coworker’s food, high school workers keep no-showing, and more by Alison Green on August 24, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I accidentally stole my coworker’s food What do I say to a coworker to make amends for stealing some creamer and a Lunchable? I really thought it was mine. I replaced the items, but what can I do to appease her? This is a thing […] Read the full article →
my coworker posts love notes from their partner all over our shared office by Alison Green on August 23, 2022 A reader writes: I work in an office where everyone has a hybrid work schedule, in part because our physical office space doesn’t have enough office space for everyone to be in the office at the same time. It’s extremely clear that someone else uses your office on the days that you’re working from home. […] Read the full article →
update: how do I get my chatty coworkers to stop saying wildly inappropriate things? by Alison Green on August 23, 2022 Remember the letter-writer who whose chatty coworkers kept saying wildly inappropriate things? Here’s the update. I wrote to you a few months ago regarding my two coworkers who had no sense of what was appropriate in an office environment. Boy, have a lot of things happened since then! This is a long update, but I […] Read the full article →
my boss and I share an office with a volatile jerk by Alison Green on August 23, 2022 A reader writes: My boss, Ned, shares office space with his partner, Peter, in another business. It was made clear to me in the interview and repeatedly since then that I do not work for Peter, but to help Ned focus on our work I sometimes step in and assist with technology assistance and personal […] Read the full article →
wearing the same dress the first 100 days of a new job, disinviting coworkers from my wedding, and more by Alison Green on August 23, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I wear the same dress for the first 100 days of my new job? My new job is clashing with my long planned “100 Day Dress” attempt (as part of a sustainability challenge). How weird would it be to wear the same thing (differently […] Read the full article →
new design by Alison Green on August 22, 2022 Thanks to everyone who’s given feedback on the new design. I have read all the feedback and changes are in the works to make it more usable for the people who are having problems. Give me a little time but I’m working on it! Also, there’s been a change to the line spacing in the […] Read the full article →
my employee makes off-color jokes by Alison Green on August 22, 2022 A reader writes: I’m a fairly new manager (got my first direct report at the beginning of this year, and my second a few months ago). Both my employees are generally great, but the newer one, Fergus, semi-frequently makes jokes that I think aren’t quite suitable for the workplace. The most recent example that’s making […] Read the full article →