Halloween costumes at work: where’s the line? by Alison Green on October 31, 2023 A reader writes: I’ve generally worked places where people like to dress up in costumes for Halloween, and sometimes I’ve wondered if I’m being too uptight or if my coworkers just have terrible judgment. I’ve seen people wear costumes that show a ton of skin (something I might wear to a bar but not to […] Read the full article →
I had a panic attack over a Halloween decoration at work by Alison Green on October 31, 2023 A reader writes: I’m writing about a situation that just happened today at my office regarding Halloween decorations. (If this is helpful context, I’m a mid-level manager at a nonprofit). A few members of my team brought in fun, low-key Halloween decor (think, purple construction paper bats and a few faux pumpkin heads), which I […] Read the full article →
my office’s “kid-friendly” Halloween party was actually terrifying by Alison Green on October 30, 2023 A reader writes: My office held a Halloween party this week after hours and said in the invitation that kids and significant others were welcome. Some of us brought our young kids (ages 2-5 or so). When we arrived the signs were pretty ghoulish (dismembered bloody body parts, etc), and one employee, “Bob,” brought a […] Read the full article →
my employee was excluded from a team-building event because of their weight — how do I make this right? by Alison Green on October 30, 2023 A reader writes: I think I messed up with a team-building event I organized and I am not sure what, if anything, I should do to correct the situation. There is an adventure center about 30 minutes from the office where I work. Each year for the last several years (minus the Covid years) I […] Read the full article →
my coworkers have all but disappeared since the pandemic by Alison Green on October 25, 2023 A reader writes: Recently, you shared a letter from someone who wrote that they don’t want to talk about their life outside of work with their colleagues, and it got me thinking about the dynamics of the team I work in. I’ve been at my company for many years. I empathize with the writer of […] Read the full article →
the adult bibs, the talking shrimp, and other unusual office traditions by Alison Green on October 23, 2023 One of the most interesting things about offices is how they develop their own subcultures, rituals, and traditions. I recently asked about unusual office traditions you’ve seen or experienced, and here are some of my favorites you shared. • My office has a “talking shrimp” that we use instead of a “talking stick” in brainstorming […] Read the full article →
I worked remotely from a friend’s house — and my boss says I have to count it as vacation days by Alison Green on October 23, 2023 A reader writes: I work as a development director for a nonprofit for a specific region. I have been in my job for four years and have been very successful in my role. I have worked primarily from home because I write a lot of grants and reports, and my office doesn’t have private spaces […] Read the full article →
my coworkers complain I’m violating the dress code, but I’m not by Alison Green on October 18, 2023 A reader writes: I started a new role in a very corporate environment in December. At the time I was actually interviewing for a lower level position with Company X but the department managers who interviewed me apparently liked my skill set and interview performance enough to create an entirely new position just for me. […] Read the full article →
I had to quit a job because of aggressive nesting geese by Alison Green on October 17, 2023 A reader writes: I’m writing about a past situation that I still think about. I used to work in retail as a high school junior from August to March. I live in the midwest, where geese are pretty common in the spring. What was weird about this one though was that it decided to nest […] Read the full article →
when my boss wants me to do something I really don’t want to do, can I just … not? by Alison Green on October 17, 2023 A reader writes: I work as a political/administrative assistant and my boss is incredibly busy (as am I). She is an important political person who also oversees our organization, and her schedules change a lot. Very often I need to reschedule meetings, whole days, and whole weeks on her calendar because something extremely important comes […] Read the full article →