should a sex worker avoid her corporate spouse’s social functions? by Alison Green on March 6, 2014 A reader writes: I’m a sex worker who works in a gray-area legal niche of the industry where I live (long story short: local law enforcement does not prioritize busting my kind of work, but the laws are pretty vague in terms of where the line of illegality specifically lies). My spouse is in the […] Read the full article →
how is your work space hurting your productivity? by Alison Green on March 6, 2014 We’ve talked here plenty about the annoyances of cubicles and open plan offices — distractions from chit-chatting coworkers, no privacy, people who insist on having loud speaker phone conversations, and so forth. And yet companies keep up their relentless move toward less and less private work spaces. I want to know how your work space has […] Read the full article →
how to deal with a hostile interviewer, my boss asked me not to say “y’all” to customers, and more by Alison Green on March 6, 2014 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How to deal with a hostile interviewer I recently had a terrible experience with a phone interview in which the interviewer began with a tone of voice that was irritated and sarcatic, which escalated over the course of 30 minutes into openly aggressive and loud, […] Read the full article →
do I look uninterested if I don’t follow up with companies where I’ve applied for a job? by Alison Green on March 5, 2014 A reader writes: I was hoping you could settle an argument I’ve been having with a friend. I’m trying very hard to mentally move on from all jobs that I apply to, so I never contact a company unless it’s in response to them contacting me first. (So I never ask if they received my […] Read the full article →
how to complain about a coworker by Alison Green on March 5, 2014 Whether it’s a coworker who doesn’t complete his share of work on time or a cubicle-mate whose singing is driving you crazy, chances are good that at some point in your career you’ll run into conflict with a coworker. When it happens, you might think about taking your complaint to your manager. But complaining about […] Read the full article →
my manager showed up at my house and beat on the doors and windows by Alison Green on March 5, 2014 A reader writes: I work nights and was expecting to go in on my regular night shift. I was sleeping, like I always am because of the hours I work, and was called (note: my phone screen is completely broken, but can get calls) by work to come fill in during the day because the […] Read the full article →
my coworker assumes I’ll always give her a ride home, I’m being singled out for being tardy, and more by Alison Green on March 5, 2014 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker assumes I’ll always give her a ride home This may seem like a petty complaint, but it is something I end up stewing over every week. I have been at my current position for a little over three months. I was able to […] Read the full article →
update: new employee insists we call her “Mrs. ____” even though we all use first names by Alison Green on March 4, 2014 Here’s an update from the reader whose new hire was insisting on being called Mrs. Stark, in an office where everyone else uses first names. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I have a resolution to the new employee who wanted to be called by her formal name (Mrs. Stark). I scheduled a […] Read the full article →
the company president took my chair and I’m sick of being disrespected by Alison Green on March 4, 2014 A reader writes: I started the position I’m in just 2 months ago as an account executive. Before this position, I was an admin assistant and volunteer coordinator elsewhere. I am also 23, I’ve been working since I was 14 and been in office roles since the age of 19 – meaning I’ve been working […] Read the full article →
10 things great bosses do by Alison Green on March 4, 2014 We hear a lot about bad bosses because they generate so many complaints … but great bosses don’t get a lot of press. But they’re out there, leading teams effectively, producing results, and delighting their employees. Looking for a way to identify them? Here’s a list of 10 things great bosses do. See how your […] Read the full article →