my manager is a hoarder — how do I nope out of our office? by Alison Green on July 15, 2024 A reader writes: My manager is a hoarder, and our office space is odious. There is no trash can, because my manager treats the office as one giant trash can. She leaves leftover lunch and discarded wrappers all over, sometimes even on my desk. She uses the office as an extension of her own home: […] Read the full article →
do I have to refuse to use first names because my manager won’t? by Alison Green on June 26, 2024 A reader writes: I just started with a new organization three months ago. I was hired to lead a newly-formed team. In case it matters, I am the team leader but not the supervisor — there is a vacant supervisor position, and my boss has made it clear she would like me to fill that […] Read the full article →
my CEO is furious about a joke I made by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 A reader writes: I recently had an odd situation with the CEO of my company. I am a project manager working on a high-profile, time-sensitive project that was very important to the company. Although the company is a large multinational, I work out of the small satellite office, along with the CEO for North America, […] Read the full article →
my boss is a terrible restaurant guest by Alison Green on June 18, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve worked for my C-Suite boss for almost five years. We are in a line of work where we attend a lot of lunches and dinners at nice restaurants, most often as guests of vendors and clients. While I generally enjoy the fine dining opportunities, I find my boss to be an […] Read the full article →
how do I work for an insecure boss who thinks I’m spreading rumors about her? by Alison Green on May 30, 2024 A reader writes: A few weeks ago, my boss mentioned that she’d been hearing rumors about herself and said if I was the one spreading them, I could just come to her and talk to her. I assured her that I’m not spreading rumors about her or gossiping about her. Because I’m not. Earlier this […] Read the full article →
my boss finally saw the light about my horrible coworker — but I’ve been warning him for years by Alison Green on May 29, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve been at my company for eight years. I’m a senior manager and a very high performer. I’ve received multiple raises and promotions. I’m very calm and pragmatic and don’t easily get pulled into drama. It’s a small company and there are a lot of great things about it, including 98% of […] Read the full article →
our boss is being a jerk about bereavement leave for miscarriages by Alison Green on May 22, 2024 A reader writes: My company recently updated our bereavement policy. While reviewing it in our company-wide staff meeting, a staff member asked if a miscarriage would qualify and the immediate answer was “no.” No room for discussion. The temperature of the room immediately dropped; it was so uncomfortable. I am not a mother, have ever […] Read the full article →
my boss wants us to meet with a spiritualist to fix the negative energy in our building by Alison Green on April 24, 2024 A reader writes: I work at a small nonprofit and recently the employee with the longest institutional knowledge just left her position because of the years of abuse, micromanagement, and overwork she endured. Now, the executive director is trying to set up an all-staff meeting with a “spiritualist” so that she can figure out why […] Read the full article →
should I ask my boss why I was their second choice for my job? by Alison Green on April 18, 2024 A reader writes: For the last nine months, I’ve been doing a (paid) internship at a foundation that is aimed at recent graduates looking to enter the nonprofit world. It’s been a great experience, both in the kind of work I am doing and the people I am working with. I’ve also consistently gotten great […] Read the full article →
why don’t bosses realize people will leave if they’re not treated well? by Alison Green on April 16, 2024 A reader writes: A buddy of mine just quit her job, and her boss, a truly evil person, countered with a raise and a promotion. My friend refused, of course, because, truly evil person. But it got me thinking, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen bosses offer too little too late to save a […] Read the full article →