I’m not productive every single minute of every day by Alison Green on April 25, 2022 A reader writes: Recently, our vice president decided she wanted to start time tracking for our department. She has positioned this as wanting to gain a better understanding of which of our internal clients are taking up the most of our time, and what type of work we are doing, which I can definitely see […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to be the go-to person for everything at work by Alison Green on March 22, 2022 A reader writes: I keep becoming the “go-to” person who people rely on for more and more job functions until I’m unable to keep up. I’m the type of person who goes to my own birthday party and ends up fixing one friend’s phone and cleaning part of a different friend’s house before I go […] Read the full article →
I get angry when employees make mistakes by Alison Green on March 14, 2022 A reader writes: I’ve got a question regarding how much “mistake tolerance” is expected in the workplace. I have very low, almost zero, tolerance for mistakes. Whenever I see a mistake in anyone’s work, especially trivial ones, I will get very angry. The rationale in my head is always “We have one job and one […] Read the full article →
can you really ever get past being a procrastinator? by Alison Green on February 17, 2022 It’s a new “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m a lifelong underachieving procrastinator, so this post and the other update that mentioned it caught my attention. In thinking about them, it occurred to me that although I’ve read a ton of books and advice on how to cure procrastination, I kind of never […] Read the full article →
my coworkers told my boss I talk about my baby too much by Alison Green on January 19, 2022 A reader writes: I’m still processing the conversation I just had with my boss, so I’m sorry if this is a mess. I’m a new mom. My baby is going to be four months old later this week. I took 12 weeks off and returned to work a month ago. I manage a small team […] Read the full article →
is it OK to look very different from your online photos? by Alison Green on January 11, 2022 A reader writes: I’ve started a new job (thanks to lots of great advice on negotiating job offers from your site!) which involves a lot of networking with partners within and outside of my organization, and because I’m new I’m meeting people for the first time. In preparation for a scheduled meeting, I try to […] Read the full article →
I got in trouble for wearing the same dress every day by Alison Green on January 10, 2022 A reader writes: I have a question about work attire and what I consider my “work uniform.” I work in a professional office of about 12 people. We’re in a small town and therefore are a bit more casual. The office dress code is officially business casual, and we have casual Fridays where most people, […] Read the full article →
my partner and I both work from home … and we’re moving in together by Alison Green on November 18, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: My partner and I are planning to move in together. We both work full time M-F. I currently work from home about three days per week, but that is mostly optional. I am required to come into the office one day per week and can […] Read the full article →
I’m working 2 full-time remote jobs — is this unethical? by Alison Green on November 3, 2021 A reader writes: The WSJ and other media outlets have been reporting on white-collar workers who work from home, working two full-time jobs at once. The thinking is, since you don’t have to be physically present in an office and can theoretically manage your own schedule, why not earn two incomes and fly under the […] Read the full article →
I’m hypersensitive to criticism — how do I fix this? by Alison Green on September 21, 2021 I’m on vacation today. This was originally published in 2018. A reader writes: I am currently working as a receptionist for the next few months until I complete my schooling. I have been dealing with what I can only describe as hypersensitivity when it comes to feedback or criticism about my work. When I hear […] Read the full article →