August 2022

is it still OK to wear a mask to a job interview?

A reader writes: I am a new grad from an MLIS degree and I am also high-risk for Covid. I am now starting the job searching process, and I just got an email asking me to come for an interview. I am still masking everywhere in my life, which is non-negotiable for me, but I’m […]

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I feel terrible performance-managing an octogenarian

A reader writes: I have a long-time employee who I’ll call Joe. I’ve been his line manager for the last five years or so. Before my time, Joe expressed a desire to wind down to retirement. The organization supported that with a part-time arrangement which went on for several years — well past Joe hitting […]

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weekend open thread – August 6-7, 2022

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: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin. After creating a wildly successful video game, two lifelong friends contend with fame, love, and their relationship with […]

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it’s your Friday good news … with updates

It’s your Friday good news — but this week it’s a little different. Here are four updates from people who shared good news here in the past. 1. The person with the new teaching job (#5 at the link) “I LOVE my job and could not be happier. My leadership team is amazing, my peers […]

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open thread – August 5-6, 2022

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions 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 take your questions to […]

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updates: the awful summer intern, the too-low salary, and more

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. I have an awful summer intern, and I can’t fire him (first update here) Thanks so much for taking my original question! I wanted to reach out with a somewhat amusing update. I appreciated your, and the commenter’s, advice so much and I tried to be diligent […]

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