4 signs that your team needs you more involved by Alison Green on December 3, 2015 If you’re like most managers, you’ve probably proclaimed at some point that you’re not a micromanager. And that makes sense – hovering over your staff while they work, dictating how the smallest details should be done, or actually doing their work for them are all bad things that should be avoided. But it’s rarer for […] Read the full article →
how can I move from retail into a professional career? by Alison Green on December 3, 2015 A reader writes: I currently work full-time at a large retail store as a department lead (no real management responsibilities). I oversee the department, order and stock product, plan and build displays, and other various duties. I was promoted to the position three months ago, after six months in a part-time position. I enjoy my […] Read the full article →
how late can you call employees at home, dealing with abusive customers, and more by Alison Green on December 3, 2015 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How late can I call employees at home? Is there a cut-off time that I as an employer can call an employee’s home or cell phone? There’s a general expectation — in life, not just in the context of work — that you don’t call […] Read the full article →
update: coworker keeps calling me “baby mama” by Alison Green on December 2, 2015 Remember the reader whose coworker kept calling her “baby mama” after she returned from maternity leave, even going so far as to refer to as another coworker’s “baby mama”? (And that other coworker was simply another person he disliked, not the father of the letter-writer’s child.) Here’s the update — and it doesn’t end up […] Read the full article →
how to break up with a client by Alison Green on December 2, 2015 A reader writes: Several years ago, I left a full-time job in order to freelance, and my most recent employer has remained one of my clients. I have been handling an ongoing series of projects for them, with the understanding that my contract will be renewed each year for the foreseeable future. However, the work […] Read the full article →
managing an employee with inappropriate emotional outbursts by Alison Green on December 2, 2015 A reader writes: My sister has an employee with a long history of inappropriate emotional responses to situations. For example, my sister will ask Jane to adopt a more professional communication style in meetings, and Jane will say/text/IM “I don’t know how you can ask me such a thing” or “I should not have to […] Read the full article →
coworker was arrested for DUI, asking for a different room assignment, and more by Alison Green on December 2, 2015 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker was arrested for DUI and hasn’t told our employer My coworker was arrested for a DUI a few months ago. I only just found out because he’s in my carpool and he just realized he wasn’t supposed to be driving. I also found […] Read the full article →
update: my new office is full of dogs — and I’m allergic by Alison Green on December 1, 2015 Remember the letter-writer in July who was highly allergic to dogs and discovered that her new office was full of them? Here’s the update. Right after I wrote to you, HR bought me a HEPA air purifier for my desk and announced that dogs had to be washed regularly to cut down on dander. I’m […] Read the full article →
how to prevent alignment problems on your team by Alison Green on December 1, 2015 If you’re like a lot of teams, you’re spending a lot of time right now setting goals for next year. And if you’re like a lot of teams, chances are good that those goals might be knocked aside next year when other projects, priorities, and metrics push their way in. And while sometimes it truly […] Read the full article →
I have to share a hotel room with my boss on an international trip by Alison Green on December 1, 2015 A reader writes: I took a new position (event planner) earlier this year and relocated from across the country. During my interview, my boss mentioned we had one international event for 2016. No big deal. Now, she has booked a second international event and is on track to book a third in 2016. Planning an international event is […] Read the full article →