old employer torpedoing new job offer by Alison Green on July 9, 2008 A reader writes: My brother in-law, Ryan, has worked for his now-former company for a couple of years now. He began looking at changing careers and was recently offered a new job. This new job would be as a product representative for a company that is utilized by the same company he had been working […] Read the full article →
can a manager be both effective and well liked? by Alison Green on July 7, 2008 Can a manager be both effective and well liked? Well, maybe. But being well liked can’t be your goal. If you’re a good manager, you’re going to make decisions that anger and upset some people. You are going to tell some people their work isn’t good enough. You are going to hold accountable people who […] Read the full article →
laid off in order to lower pay? by Alison Green on July 4, 2008 A reader writes: Last Friday, I was laid off from my job. Apparently the official reason is “lack of work,” although my manager kept hammering on the fact that I was getting paid so much more than other people in the same positions. In our area, we had 4 people working the same positions: 3 […] Read the full article →
stupid lawsuits: fired for refusing to get boss coffee by Alison Green on July 2, 2008 Jezebel reports today on the case of receptionist/data entry clerk Tamara Klopfenstein: After working for a few weeks, her (male) bosses asked her to get their coffee for them. She declined, and her manager e-mailed her, saying: “This is not open for debate. Please don’t make an easy task a big deal.” Klopfenstein felt that […] Read the full article →
juggling job offers by Alison Green on July 2, 2008 A reader writes: I have been job hunting for weeks and have not received job offers or interviews from the preferred employers whom I’ve applied to. Just when I thought that the road ahead seemed bleak, I received one job offer today, along with a second interview this Thursday and another first interview next Monday. […] Read the full article →
how to take criticism without getting defensive by Alison Green on June 30, 2008 If your manager takes the time to give you constructive criticism, responding defensively is the worst thing you can do. I once managed a woman who responded to any constructive criticism by throwing up an impenetrable wall and insisting she knew what she was doing. As her boss, I knew her performance needed work—and her […] Read the full article →
should you be honest in an exit interview? by Alison Green on June 28, 2008 A reader writes: I am leaving my job in a few days, on excellent terms. Our HR manager just set up the exit interview and (somewhat to my surprise) asked me to fill out an exit survey. Is this normal? This is my first “real” job, so I don’t know. The survey asks, among other […] Read the full article →
returning to old company by Alison Green on June 28, 2008 A reader writes: I have been at my current job for only 2 months. but I am really not happy. I do not agree with my boss’ practices and views on how to do my responsibilities (my boss is also the president of the company). Management is a bit disorganized. my responsibilities are not clear, […] Read the full article →
Carnival of HR by Alison Green on June 27, 2008 The Carnival of HR is up over at the Evil HR Lady. Check it out. Read the full article →
no, you cannot sue … but you can negotiate or quit by Alison Green on June 26, 2008 A reader writes: I work at a highly respected multi-billion dollar aviation corporation. This company has been in a long-term project that I have been involved with for nearly seven years. During the duration of this project, I have been “on loan,” along with several other employees from various business areas. Our various official job […] Read the full article →