can I keep mentioning my period at work? by Alison Green on June 29, 2021 A reader writes: I work in tech, in a fairly close-knit, moderately progressive office, with a majority of male coworkers. Many months, I get really bad fatigue before or during my period. It can knock me out for anywhere from half a day to a day and a half. If I need to take time […] Read the full article →
can I leave an unproductive meeting? by Alison Green on June 28, 2021 A reader writes: I work at an organization where we are very friendly and fairly informal. In our department, we have pairs of junior and senior staff working on the same portfolio, and everyone is supervised by the head of the department. I’m the junior in the pair, and my senior has known our boss […] Read the full article →
asking to use the boss’s limo and other unprofessional mishaps by Alison Green on June 21, 2021 Ever look back at your career and realize that you weren’t always the consummate professional that you (of course) are today? A while back, I asked readers to confess their unprofessional deeds from the past. Over at Inc. today, I’ve got 10 of my favorites — including a temp who asked to borrow their boss’s […] Read the full article →
I sent an angry response to a work email — was I in the wrong? by Alison Green on June 21, 2021 A reader writes: My question is: *If* I was actually the toxic party, how can I recover from this? (If I was in the right, I will have to start job hunting due to the toxic workplace culture at my company!) I will admit to having a very direct communication style, and that is especially […] Read the full article →
I’m afraid I’m terrible at my new job by Alison Green on June 15, 2021 A reader writes: I was laid off from my sales job due to COVID and scored my “dream job” at another startup as an account manager. I was so proud and excited to start this new-ish career path and felt qualified but also that I was going to learn so much, and I am. The […] Read the full article →
are employees obligated to speak up when they’re unhappy at work? by Alison Green on June 7, 2021 A reader writes: I’m in the process of looking for a new job. My skills are in demand and I’m pretty sure I’ll be giving notice in the next few months. Whenever anyone has left my company, my boss and the director always moan about how the person who left didn’t first come to them […] Read the full article →
how can I stop coming across as quiet and timid? by Alison Green on May 13, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m a few years into my career and am an introvert in an industry full of extroverts (advertising). Every time I have a performance review or am up for promotion, I get the same feedback — I’m too quiet, I need to contribute more in […] Read the full article →
how should I respond to feedback from my boss to show I’m not upset? by Alison Green on May 4, 2021 A reader writes: A few weeks ago, my boss and I had a meeting during which he mentioned a couple of things which could be improved on in my work. This conversation was not a formal reprimand. It was more like “good job on X and Z, but we would like to see more of […] Read the full article →
do I really have to have career ambition? by Alison Green on April 14, 2021 A reader writes: I’m the type of person who works for one and only one reason: to earn a living. I do a good job, but this is 100 percent because I’m terrified of starving in the streets and 0 percent because I genuinely care about work or want to build up a “career.” There […] Read the full article →
do I have to wear a bra when I go back to the office? by Alison Green on April 12, 2021 A reader writes: I (25, she/her) have been lucky enough to work from home this past year. I am halfway through the vaccination process, which has made me think about going back to the office sometime soon (it’s open, and for the time being management has left it up to us whether we’d like to […] Read the full article →