how much should I tell a team whose boss might be fired? by Alison Green on July 1, 2024 A reader writes: Six months ago, I was promoted to lead a group of three managers who each lead around 20 people. “Howard,” one of the managers, had been hired two months before by my predecessor, but it was immediately obvious to me that his work was not up to par. I did my best […] Read the full article →
my employee puts on a show of being busy, but they shouldn’t be by Alison Green on June 18, 2024 A reader writes: I manage an employee who’s in a job that I used to do myself, so I have a pretty good idea of the work required and the amount of time it takes. This person does a good job on the tasks and is competent and well liked. However, they put on a […] Read the full article →
how much should I hand-hold a disorganized employee? by Alison Green on June 10, 2024 A reader writes: I am a new manager struggling with how to handle one of my employees. He is a smart guy but super disorganized. For example, he is in charge of ensuring all internal audits in our company have been set up and executed. We discuss this in our one-on-ones, and invariably, every time […] Read the full article →
should I say something about my assistant’s messy desk? by Alison Green on June 4, 2024 A reader writes: My administrative assistant’s desk is atrocious. It is covered in not just piles of paper, but trash, food items, and all sorts of miscellaneous junk. She is a good employee and appears to get her work done. How would you handle this? I answer this question — and three others — over […] Read the full article →
I’m the boss who’s always late by Alison Green on June 3, 2024 A reader writes: I’m part of the senior management of a small company I’ve been with for several years. While I’ve consistently been a stellar performer, I do have one major flaw — I am always late. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening. I am what you’d call a […] Read the full article →
my employee yelled at a coworker — but I don’t think she should apologize by Alison Green on May 28, 2024 A reader writes: I recently joined a public agency as a director after working in the private sector previously. One of my employees, let’s call her Anna, works with various employees from the IT department in a working team on projects that are very much needed to advance our team’s work. She does her job […] Read the full article →
employee treats coworkers as if they stink by Alison Green on May 22, 2024 A reader writes: I work with a group of people who are public-facing in a building (retail/public service type environment) and we rotate people on different desks on a set schedule throughout the day. I have a few coworkers who are sensitive to fragrances, and our policy was recently updated to be a “fragrance-reasonable” workplace. […] Read the full article →
my employee talks about people’s weight by Alison Green on May 16, 2024 A reader writes: I’m a female manager of a team. I’m significantly overweight. One of my direct reports has repeatedly made derogatory comments about overweight people to me during the course of conversations, such as “____is a big girl, I mean, she’s really big!” I think that’s rude in general, and I also sense she’s […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps coming to work sick by Alison Green on May 8, 2024 A reader writes: Now that the pandemic is “over” ( /s) and all the rules and restrictions have pretty much been lifted, I have a question: as a manager, what can I do to make people stay home when they’re sick? I’m the director of a mid-sized public library, and we have a librarian, “Brian,” […] Read the full article →
I made a bad joke about my new hire by Alison Green on May 7, 2024 A reader writes: I have a new hire who’s coming to the end of his probationary period. Chris is conscientious, smart, and has gelled well with the team. He’s completed his probationary objectives with time to spare, and in our most recent catch-up, I suggested that he start considering his longer-term goals for career redevelopment […] Read the full article →