how do people take months off from work to film a reality TV show? by Alison Green on March 13, 2024 A reader writes: I’m watching my country’s Big Brother, and I’ve noticed the employment ranges of the contestants tend to be either “gig economy” (bartender, delivery) which, to not denigrate how important those positions are, is less likely to come with the psychological attachment to the job as someone who’s worked up their career ladder […] Read the full article →
there’s nothing I can do about my nightmare workload … right? by Alison Green on March 13, 2024 A reader writes: I’m in a rough spot at work. When I started nearly two years ago, this was a six-person company: two owners and four staff. One staff member, who split a workload with me, moved away a few months later. They posted his position immediately, but nobody from the first wave of applicants […] Read the full article →
is it reasonable to leave without notice when my company lets employees go without notice? by Alison Green on March 12, 2024 A reader writes: I am a senior software engineer at a mid-sized company. My team became part of this company through an acquisition three years ago. Within the first year of the acquisition, our product managers (“Joey” and “Chandler”) were let go as a “business decision.” Joey and Chandler were subject matter experts who shared […] Read the full article →
how does unlimited PTO actually play out in companies that have it? by Alison Green on March 7, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m currently in the running for a job that offers unlimited PTO. I am trying to find out if this company has a culture that actually allows people to use this “perk” (without abuse), or if people are afraid to take PTO for fear of […] Read the full article →
the special notepads, the staggered departures, and other stories of ridiculous policies at work by Alison Green on March 4, 2024 Last week I asked about ridiculous policies you’ve encountered at work. Here are 18 of the most ridiculous you shared. 1. The notepads I had a boss who insisted that only her notes could be on yellow legal pads (8.5 by 14), and her sales staff all had to take notes on white paper at […] Read the full article →
how should we handle a dog-phobic employee in a dog-friendly office? by Alison Green on March 4, 2024 A reader writes: We’ve recently moved into a new office space which is dog-friendly. This is great news for many of our employees, who are able to avoid costly sitters and walkers. However, one employee, Jane, is really dog-phobic. Today another colleague (Lucille) brought her dog in for the first time. I warned her that […] Read the full article →
it’s Leap Day! let’s discuss ridiculous workplace policies by Alison Green on February 29, 2024 It’s Leap Day and so in honor of the Leap Year employee who finally gets her birthday off this year, we must talk about bizarre, nonsensical policies your employers have had. Did they ban humor? Refuse to let you say “how are you?” to customers? Tell you that you couldn’t wear your wedding ring because […] Read the full article →
I’m in charge of our disgusting office kitchen by Alison Green on February 27, 2024 A reader writes: I am an administrative assistant for a small company (about 50 people). My problem, especially now that folks are fully returned to office, is the cleanliness of the kitchen. As any admin in charge of the office kitchen will tell you, it is a NIGHTMARE. Food left on counters, molding fruit in […] Read the full article →
our company has an annual golf trip … but the women don’t play by Alison Green on February 27, 2024 A reader writes: Our smallish family-owned business has been taking our sales team on a long weekend golf trip on and off for many years. It is intended to be a reward, and little if any business is discussed when we are there. It’s mostly beer drinking, side betting golf, in a beach town with […] Read the full article →
is it safe to share at my company’s “courageous conversation” on menopause? by Alison Green on February 21, 2024 A reader writes: My company is proposing a workshop to have “courageous conversations” with colleagues about menopause. There is no professional facilitating this; it is an open discussion. The message about it says it will be “a safe space that is inclusive and supportive” and “an informal discussion among peers.” My company is heavily promoting […] Read the full article →