my abusive boss was fired after I complained about her — what do I say to coworkers? by Alison Green on January 16, 2020 A reader writes: Earlier this year, I took a dream job that quickly proved to be a nightmare. My manager, Hedra, has a track record of abusing and driving out her reports. From the start, she didn’t even bother to hide her dislike for me. She set shifting, arbitrary goals and put up barriers to […] Read the full article →
I’m in trouble for leaving for a business trip without a late coworker by Alison Green on January 7, 2020 A reader writes: Recently, a coworker and I were assigned to go on a business trip for a work conference. It was held at a convention center in a different part of the state about two and a half hours away. We’d be taking a company car, and the drive there during rush hour can […] Read the full article →
is my coworker sabotaging my work? by Alison Green on December 16, 2019 A reader writes: I recently switched departments, and I feel a little insane. The woman who is training me for this new role has the same title I do and is my peer. She is very good at her job overall (customer support), but struggles with some basic administrative competencies such as computer literacy. She […] Read the full article →
how do I talk to my coworker about her body odor? by Alison Green on December 4, 2019 A reader writes: I’m close with a coworker and happen to know that she’s suffering from very bad depression. I’m very proud of her for getting through it as well as she is. Here’s my dilemma – in the last few months, she’s developed a definite problem with body odor. I think it’s likely to […] Read the full article →
how should you address coworkers who take way more than their share of free food? by Alison Green on November 21, 2019 A reader writes: I have a question sparked by this part of a recent letter about the coworker who was eating much more than his share of food at a work event: “At one point I had to remind him that the appetizers were for the entire five-person table and not just him, and he […] Read the full article →
my coworkers come by my desk to check on emails right after sending them by Alison Green on November 20, 2019 A reader writes: I am hoping that you can shed some light on the best way to deal with my most dreaded work pet peeve — people who send an email and call immediately afterwards to see if I received it, or who send a non-urgent email and then follow up no more than a […] Read the full article →
my awful coworker is also my roommate by Alison Green on November 18, 2019 A reader writes: Six months ago, I started a new job at a big tech company and needed to move for work. I made the decision to move in with a coworker, Sansa, who happened to have a room open up at her place shortly after I was hired. Sansa and I work in different […] Read the full article →
my coworker wants “pawternity” leave by Alison Green on November 13, 2019 A reader writes: I’m a middle-aged woman who works in an office with other women in the same age range as myself. Half of our office are parents, the other half are not. One of my coworkers is fairly open about being and remaining child-free. She’s spoken about donating to abortion access funds, and in […] Read the full article →
my coworker hates me by Alison Green on November 12, 2019 A reader writes: I started at a new position a few months ago, and mostly it’s going really well! I like the people, the work, and the hours. I have a good relationship with all of my other coworkers and superiors. I’ve received great feedback, and I have several years of experience in my field. […] Read the full article →
is it worth mentioning to my boss how irritating my coworker is? by Alison Green on November 11, 2019 A reader writes: So I’ve got this coworker. He’s a perfectly nice guy, basically, but he’s also driving me out of my entire damn mind, and I’m not alone in that. The basics: – He always wants to chat and can’t seem to walk past some people’s desks without thinking of something (neither work-related nor […] Read the full article →