I messed up at work and I’m so ashamed by Alison Green on March 4, 2020 A reader writes: I work in HR and I’m used to receiving mostly praise for my work, but today I was gently reprimanded for having been indiscreet. I immediately understood why, because I was aware that I had shared something I shouldn’t have. I was only trying to bond with someone who doesn’t seeem to […] Read the full article →
do I not respect my work commitments if I ask for a day off? by Alison Green on March 3, 2020 A reader writes: I need some gut-check advice about a situation at my unpaid internship. Am I wrong in thinking the following behavior is mean and inappropriate? At the end of my unpaid internship, I emailed my supervisor (a week in advance) to find out if it would be okay to take a day off […] Read the full article →
what’s up with people responding to emails with a phone call? by Alison Green on February 24, 2020 A reader writes: What’s the etiquette on responding to people who you have emailed and they respond with a phone call? I understand there are times when a phone call is necessary. I’ve been getting dozens of phone calls (after sending out a ton of emails on a certain work issue) and they all ask […] Read the full article →
what kind of loyalty do you owe your employer? by Alison Green on February 24, 2020 An unsettling number of people are confused about what kind of loyalty they owe their employers. I regularly receive letters from people asking whether it would be disloyal for them to look for a new job (as if their company is a romantic partner they’d be cheating on) … from people who feel guilty about leaving […] Read the full article →
should I avoid wearing pricey status items at work? by Alison Green on February 18, 2020 A reader writes: I inherited a watch recently from my late grandfather, and it happens to be a Swiss model which is frightfully expensive — as in over $2,500 new. He purchased it upon his retirement 20 years ago, and its been in the family ever since. Due to its high cost and recognizable brand, […] Read the full article →
how much stuff can I “move in with” on my first day at a new job? by Alison Green on February 17, 2020 A reader writes: I’m starting a new job in a week and a bit, my first after finishing my PhD. I’m wondering how much stuff it’s acceptable to “move in with” on the first day. I’ve seen the space, it’s a large-ish desk in a three-person office. I don’t want to just show up with […] Read the full article →
my boss called me “overly emotional” because I cried at work when I thought my grandmother was dying by Alison Green on February 11, 2020 A reader writes: As a sophomore in college, I was fortunate enough to find an internship in an industry I was very excited about. The company was small — the owner, three employees, and me. About halfway through the four months that I worked there, my family dealt with a serious crisis — my grandmother […] Read the full article →
my coworker told me I smell by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 A reader writes: A week ago, a coworker in a manager position (not my department) who is also a friend sat me down in her office and talked to me because, apparently, I am the smelly coworker. She was very kind and I could tell that it was incredibly hard for her. I think I […] Read the full article →
is it okay to drink before a presentation? by Alison Green on January 22, 2020 A reader writes: Presentations are a small but regular part of my role, but I often get nervous and end up hurting my message by criticizing my slides, adding excess caveats to my points, and just general blunders from lacking confidence. Last time I presented, I discreetly took a few swigs of vodka a few […] Read the full article →
I’m burned out and overworked and my bosses keep piling more work on me by Alison Green on January 13, 2020 I had an exchange with someone on last week’s open thread that I want to reprint here (and expand on) since so many people struggle with this. A commenter wrote: I am beyond the point of burnout at my current job and don’t know what to do. I’ve worked 2.5 days since taking 2 weeks […] Read the full article →