my boss gives me “constructive feedback” multiple times every day by Alison Green on March 29, 2023 A reader writes: My very well-intentioned manager loves to give what he calls “in-the-moment constructive feedback.” Multiple times a day he tells me how I could have done something a bit better or how he would have handled a situation differently if he were in my shoes. To me this feels like nitpicking, and it […] Read the full article →
my boss is getting impatient with my morning sickness, coworkers expect me to be devastated I didn’t get a promotion, and more by Alison Green on March 29, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My male boss is getting impatient with my morning sickness I have been in good standing in my government analyst position for four years, and all of my performance evals are glowing. I recently became pregnant with my first child. Morning (all-day!) sickness has been […] Read the full article →
8 terrible stories of companies getting sexism awareness very, very wrong by Alison Green on March 28, 2023 Recently we talked about workplaces holding egregiously clueless “celebrations” for various awareness days/months. Not surprisingly, a ton of the stories shared were about sexism. Here are eight stories of companies getting sexism awareness events remarkably wrong. (Note: some of the stories shared were so offensive that it’s hard to laugh at them, so these aren’t […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps challenging my expertise by Alison Green on March 28, 2023 A reader writes: I’m a manager at a small advertising start-up that has a very open and transparent culture. I actively encourage my team to challenge and disagree with me, but I’m having issues with one of them doing so in a way that I perceive as disrespectful. He frequently disagrees with me, which is […] Read the full article →
I bit my coworker by Alison Green on March 28, 2023 I’m off today, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2017. A reader writes: So I bit a coworker yesterday. Obviously, I’m mortified. I work in an incredibly dysfunctional office. The tone is set by our office manager. He’s in his fifties, has always worked in an office setting, […] Read the full article →
my boss and her daughter want to move in with me, my interviewer laughed at me, and more by Alison Green on March 28, 2023 I’m off today. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My boss and her daughter want to move in with me I’m working for the summer as a seasonal employee in a management position at an arts festival in a rural community. […] Read the full article →
my manager said I need more confidence — what does that mean? by Alison Green on March 27, 2023 I’m off today, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2018. A reader writes: I just had my probation review for my new job and it went well! They seem pretty happy with me and the work I’m doing. Most of the feedback was stuff I agreed with and […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps flipping from great to terrible by Alison Green on March 27, 2023 A reader writes: I have a direct report who was at one time my star performer and was on track for leadership. She had some challenges in her personal life over a couple years, and over time her performance slipped until it became a problem. Accuracy errors, chronic lateness, and a general negative attitude that […] Read the full article →
my boss is annoyed that I stayed out late drinking during a three-day work event by Alison Green on March 27, 2023 I’m off today, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2018. A reader writes: I am a designer for an architectural firm and I was assigned to assist in a trade show, as our firm was one of the exhibitors. The show was held in my hometown so we […] Read the full article →
office lunch event is out of control, my friend doesn’t understand how work works, and more by Alison Green on March 27, 2023 I’m off today. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. Office lunch event is out of control Once a month, my mother and her coworkers coordinate a potluck to celebrate birthdays and other special events. “Potluck” is the terminology my mother uses, […] Read the full article →