is it wrong to take a sick day when you’re not really sick? by Alison Green on October 29, 2013 A reader writes: So luckily (?) I’m the kind of person who is never ill enough to take time off work. I’ve worked in my current position for 4 years and not taken a single day of sick leave. (I’m not coming in and spreading illness, by the way, and I’d take the leave if […] Read the full article →
5 hiring practices you should stop today by Alison Green on October 29, 2013 Think you’re good at hiring? See if you’re committing any of these five hiring no-no’s. 1. Conducting “courtesy” interviews with no intention of hiring the candidate Most people who hire know the feeling of wondering if you need to interview a particular candidate for reasons other than the person’s qualifications – for instance, because she’s […] Read the full article →
my boss holds it against me that I cried 6 years ago, asking to sit in on interviews, and more by Alison Green on October 29, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker won’t let me get involved with work that my boss told me to do My boss decided that I should be a part of the social media team. Like I always do, I learned as much as I could on how […] Read the full article →
can my micromanaging boss be rehabilitated? she makes me take all calls on speaker phone… by Alison Green on October 28, 2013 A reader writes: My new boss started about six months ago. I am very productive and excel at my job (and I’m not just saying that; I have only received stellar performance reviews for the last three years since I have been here, most recently by this new boss in question). The boss, however, is […] Read the full article →
my boyfriend’s company doesn’t invite non-married partners to their holiday party by Alison Green on October 28, 2013 A reader writes: The major hospital my boyfriend works for throws a swanky holiday party at a trendy restaurant downtown every year. We were both excited for me to meet all of his colorful coworkers, until he found out that only married employees are allowed to bring guests. This strikes me as really odd. It […] Read the full article →
what to say when following up on a job interview by Alison Green on October 28, 2013 I probably get more questions about how to follow up on a job application or job interview than any other other topic. If you’re like most job seekers, the post-interview stage of the job hunting process can cause a lot of stress: If you follow up, what should you say? How can you be sure […] Read the full article →
my company won’t pay for bathroom breaks, nicknames when applying for jobs, and more by Alison Green on October 28, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Another department is pushing me to do work that I don’t do I am being “loaned” to another department for some design work for a month. During the month, I will report to another person, but I’ll still have duties and meetings in […] Read the full article →
3 more reader updates by Alison Green on October 27, 2013 Three more updates from readers who had their questions answered here this year! This is the last of the updates in this round. 1. The reader wondering whether to tell her manager why she’d been behaving oddly at work (a fall-out with a coworker and the break-up of her marriage) (#4 at the link) I […] Read the full article →
interviewing a friend, lazy bosses, and more by Alison Green on October 26, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Interviewing a friend Do you have any advice on interviewing and possibly working with a good friend? One of my best friends is a contender for a job exactly opposite me. I don’t want to unfairly sway the decision since I’ve never worked […] Read the full article →
Yes, it’s legal … queries from a combined 13 years of blogging about the workplace by Alison Green on October 25, 2013 Earlier this week, after the question here about whether it’s legal for your employer to make you clean up rat poo, Suzanne Lucas — Evil HR Lady — and I talked about how awesome it would be if we put together a book of all the fake employment laws that people think exist but actually […] Read the full article →