Archives Looking for past posts? You can find posts from 2020 below, or find earlier years here: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2020 January February February 2020 a Valentine’s Day round-up open thread – February 14-15, 2020 should you mention an employee’s smell during a reference check, and more I’m still not doing the job I was hired for two years ago updates: the conference expenses, asking to move back to an old job, and more ask the readers: how can we help gender transitions at work go well? I got my dream offer right after starting a new job, coworker is a jerk, and more how do we handle firing an employee in an open plan office? I just found out my great employee lied on her resume everyone at work is hanging out without me who should clean the disgusting office fridge, hiring people without experience, and more my boss called me “overly emotional” because I cried at work when I thought my grandmother was dying my step-by-step guide to writing a resume how can I get my employee to stop condescending to me? company trip doesn’t feel like a reward, I’m dating another intern, and more I’m upset about my anonymous peer feedback results should we ask candidates their salary expectations ahead of interviews? can I talk about my boyfriend’s other girlfriend at work? hiring an ex, should I thank my son’s new boss, and more weekend free-for-all – February 8-9, 2020 updates: the nameplate drama, contract-to-hire, and more open thread – February 7-8, 2020 employee talks about people’s weight, asking about salary before interviewing, and more how to respond to “tell me about a time when…” interview questions when you don’t have good examples how do I know when it’s okay to leave work for the day? I don’t want to hear about my coworkers’ pricey lifestyles how can I avoid shaking hands, looking for joy at work aggravated me, and more how can I let coworkers know “no” is an acceptable answer? should we cut the salary of a disappointing new hire? will painting nude self-portraits on social media cause problems at work? my boss doesn’t want my toddler in the background on work calls, coronavirus cancellations, and more my boss tapes people’s mouths shut during meetings my coworker told me I smell my employee lied about meeting with a client — to take a nap passed up for a promotion after 23 years, coworker won’t schedule his own meetings, and more should I reject job candidates by phone or email? we offered someone a job — and then he got a bad reference after I asked for a raise, my boss told me I buy too much coffee my ex-husband hired his new girlfriend, office freezer is packed with personal groceries, and more weekend free-for-all – February 1-2, 2020 January 2020 open thread – January 31, 2020 yawning at work, asking for a fancier computer, and more how should I handle job candidates who cut me off, are long-winded, or answer the wrong question? the salted coffee, the phantom pigeon, and other interview mortifications how do I build a professional wardrobe when I’m just starting out? employee accidentally ruined his boss’s laptop, political bumper stickers at work, and more my klutzy, unpolished boss is like a bull in a china shop should managers ask or tell when assigning work? my coworker has overstepped with my eating disorder boss wants us to use personal social media for marketing, we can only take one week of vacation at a time, and more what’s our responsibility for fixing a coworker’s poor work? I’m stuck in endless interviews with a company that can’t make up its mind should I stop bringing in treats for my team? my boss uses too much styrofoam, requiring receptionist to wear a fake tooth, and more employer sends out lurid details about crimes committed by coworkers or customers the reason remote work can go spectacularly wrong I’m dreading a corporate meeting because of my weight gain recruiter named a lower salary than the job ad, what do candidates want to know about company culture, and more weekend free-for-all – January 25-26, 2020 open thread – January 24-25, 2020 someone stole my work history, my coworkers are angry about an HR investigation, and more what to do if your references aren’t available updates: the tenant requesting money, the bad friend employee, and more let’s talk about bombed interviews and other job search mortifications interviewing when you might be moving, coworker told people about my husband’s criminal record, and more is it okay to drink before a presentation? do I apologize to my employees too often? my assistant uses eating to avoid working I was forced to sing at a company dinner, coworker ties up our only bathroom, and more how do you deal with professional insults followed by with “I’m just kidding”? my employee has a bad attitude our boss told us to camp in tents when we travel for business my boss jokes about my work “suitors,” my coworkers barged into my house when I wasn’t there, and more my new coworker seems to be asking us if he should cheat on his wife my employees keep going over my head I wasn’t the first choice for my job, I took a counteroffer but now want to quit, and more weekend free-for-all – January 18-19, 2020 open thread – January 17-18, 2020 how to set up a meeting to ask for a raise, my boss doesn’t trust us to work from home, and more my abusive boss was fired after I complained about her — what do I say to coworkers? how late can I call employees at home? dealing with stress about the Australian fires at work employee doesn’t take the hint that she’s interrupting me, read receipts, and more my employee accidentally posted porn to the company group chat and now wants to resign in shame these are the best questions to ask your job interviewer my boss says I talk too much to coworkers here’s a way to make tax season easier saying the Pledge of Allegiance at work, asking a coworker to chew with their mouth closed, and more is my boss trying to tell me he’s unhappy with my work? I have nothing to do at my internship my friend uses her sister’s assault as a motivational story at work my boss moved in with my boyfriend’s sister, working at home with a baby, and more I’m burned out and overworked and my bosses keep piling more work on me why don’t people walk out of bad job interviews? my boss expects me to share my personal health/diet/spirituality/fitness goals every week I sent a text about my problem employee to the wrong person, growing out gray hair, and more weekend free-for-all – January 11-12, 2020 open thread – January 10-11, 2020 the value of a college degree “just in case,” student won’t take my feedback, and more are these unreasonable expectations for a part-time contractor? update: will it hurt my chances of getting hired if I can only do video interviews? how do I shut down coworkers who demand an explanation for my occasional wheelchair? my coworker is trying to manage me so she’ll get promoted, reporting my husband’s coworker, and more how do I tell my boss if she doesn’t fill the empty position I’m covering, she’ll lose me too? why do job interviewers seem to lead me on? I found out my coworkers have been mocking me in a group chat for years coworker saw embarrassing content on my phone, my dad keeps responding to my employee on Facebook, and more I’m in trouble for leaving for a business trip without a late coworker how do I get my rich boss to pay me back for lunch? my needy boss wants me to “adopt” her my manager over-uses “like,” is lunch included in an eight-hour day, and more we got quizzed on our new boss’s horses, family, and vineyard should you call in sick for a cold? the new overtime law is here — if you earn less than $35,568, read this asking an employee to use a different name, telling candidates about our drinking culture, and more weekend free-for-all – January 4-5, 2020 updates: getting pregnant at a new job, boss said I’m lying about my health, and more open thread – January 3-4, 2020 update: how do I work with someone I can’t stand? updates: the self-deprecating employee, the car-borrowing boss, and more update: should I stay in my well-paid job even though I have nothing to do? updates: the coworker who lashes out, the dunce caps, and more my favorite posts of the decade New Year’s free-for-all – January 1, 2020