should I stop using my office’s flex hours since my coworkers have earlier schedules? by Alison Green on January 31, 2023 A reader writes: My organization has a very generous flexible time policy. Our office’s “core hours” are 10 am – 3 pm, and all employees must be working during this time. We’re told to arrange our eight-hour days around those hours however we like. I’m not a “morning person” by habit, and I typically come […] Read the full article →
ask your behind-the-scenes questions about Ask a Manager by Alison Green on January 31, 2023 Last month I answered a question about the behind-the-scenes running of Ask a Manager, and readers said they’d be interested in an opportunity to ask more of those questions. So now is your chance! If you’d like to ask me a question about how the site functions behind the scenes, leave it in the comment […] Read the full article →
our boss tells lies to make us feel bad for taking time off by Alison Green on January 31, 2023 A reader writes: The other week, I took a few sick days due to Covid and a double ear infection. I was legitimately ill and even offered to submit a medical note. When I returned, my manager, Corrine, sat me down to tell me my team was forced to work overtime due my absence and […] Read the full article →
coworker with severe dandruff, colleague is borrowing my email voice, and more by Alison Green on January 31, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker with severe dandruff We have a coworker who has absolutely some of the most severe dandruff we have ever seen, like bottle of Kraft grated parmesan tipped over bad. We also wear dark uniforms which makes the problem stand out more. To kind of […] Read the full article →
my coworker has a crush on our boss and is mad that I asked her to stop talking about him by Alison Green on January 30, 2023 A reader writes: I work for a small company. We are an office of about 10 people and most of my colleagues have worked with each other for several years. My position was newly created to take some of the clerical burden off the others, and I’m definitely the new kid on the block, so […] Read the full article →
job applicant keeps asking for another chance by Alison Green on January 30, 2023 A reader writes: How would you respond to a candidate who continues to ask for an opportunity after you’ve rejected them? This candidate was screened out and we sent them a message about finding a strong group of candidates and moving in a different direction, and we did tell them that we’d keep their resume […] Read the full article →
a DNA test revealed the CEO is my half brother … and he’s freaking out by Alison Green on January 30, 2023 A reader writes: My dad gave the whole family DNA ancestry kits for the holidays, and it turns out the CEO of the company I work for is my half-brother. Dad’s not the kind of guy to gift everyone DNA kits as a way of telling us he had a secret love child, so I […] Read the full article →
boss said Pride shirts violate the dress code, how much notice should I get for work travel, and more by Alison Green on January 30, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Boss said Pride shirts violate the dress code My partner, A (he/him), recently received a call from his grandboss that A.’s shirt during an all-hands Zoom meeting was “unprofessional” and he can no longer wear it to work. The shirt in question is a standard […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – Jan. 28-29, 2023 by Alison Green on January 27, 2023 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: L.A. Weather, by María Amparo Escandón. A Mexican-Jewish family in Los Angeles tries to navigate secrets, divorce, money, and guilt. * I make […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on January 27, 2023 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “I am very excited to share my Friday good news — you can count me as one of those that thought ‘this will never happen to me!’ I got fed up with my job this summer when they denied me to work from home one additional day (to make […] Read the full article →