no-meeting Wednesdays, why you should say “done” more often, and more by Alison Green on April 21, 2015 Over at Intuit QuickBase’s Fast Track blog today, I take a look at several big work-related stories in the news right now: the increasing use of no-meeting days, how saying “done” can make you more productive, and more. You can read it here. Read the full article →
asking for a raise when I manage payroll and know what everyone else makes by Alison Green on April 21, 2015 A reader writes: I manage a team of ten at a small, rapidly growing company. When I became a manager a year ago, and the team I manage was only three people, I asked for at 15% raise and got 10%, which I was satisfied with. Since then, my responsibilities have expanded enormously, and I […] Read the full article →
liberating an employee from obligatory socializing, corporate headshots, and more by Alison Green on April 21, 2015 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Liberating a coworker’s employee from obligatory socializing A coworker, Jane, has a direct report who she expects to socialize with constantly– the two eat breakfast and lunch together every day, and there are weekly post-work drinks. From hints, it seems like the direct report feels […] Read the full article →
is it rude to shut someone’s office door if they’re being loud? by Alison Green on April 20, 2015 A reader writes: Is it acceptable to close the door of someone’s office if they’re being loud? I’ve done it when my coworker is in my boss’s office and they are being loud and disturbing my concentration. Of course, I just walked up to the door and pulled it closed. I didn’t slam it or […] Read the full article →
it’s time to end Secretaries Day by Alison Green on April 20, 2015 Let’s end Secretaries Day. It’s coming up on April 22, and this should be the last year it’s observed. The “holiday” – more recently updated to be called Administrative Professionals Day – was created by the International Association of Administrative Professionals back in 1952, when the organization was known as the National Secretaries Association. If […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps accusing me of favoritism toward her coworker by Alison Green on April 20, 2015 A reader writes: I recently expanded from one direct report to two. I manage and take only the most complicated projects. “Tammy” takes the mid-level work: she is proficient, but not great and can get confused by complicated projects. “Carrie,” the new hire, has simple projects. She is still learning but is a superstar. She […] Read the full article →
is my predecessor trying to undermine me, being asked to work for free in an interview, and more by Alison Green on April 20, 2015 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is my predecessor trying to undermine me with my staff? I started as Executive Director a few months ago. We’re a small operation: two professional staff and about two dozen seasonal staff. The outgoing director did great work and was well respected for her advocacy, […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – April 18-19, 2015 by Alison Green on April 18, 2015 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly non-work only; if you have a work question, you can email it to me or post it in the work-related open thread on Fridays.) Book Recommendation of the Week:: Newjack: Guarding Sing […] Read the full article →
coworker’s drama-filled personal calls, interviewer refused to interview me, and more by Alison Green on April 18, 2015 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker has drama-filled calls with his girlfriend 10 times a day I share an office with two people, Sam and Wakeen. Wakeen takes multiple phone calls from his girlfriend each and every day. She normally calls at least 10 times a day, and she will […] Read the full article →
stop putting your salary history on your resume by Alison Green on April 17, 2015 A reader writes: I was very curious to see what you thought of this document that I found off of a job listing on usajobs.org entitled Resume Tips. I find it very odd that they recommend to have salary and hours listed for every job performed. The specific job I ended up applying for required […] Read the full article →