my new coworkers are complaining about my hours … but I’m not doing anything wrong by Alison Green on August 25, 2016 A reader writes: Three weeks ago I started a new job, joining a well-established and busy team. The team are very close-knit and have worked together for a long time; they are close both in and out of work (friends on Facebook, two of them used to be housemates, etc). They have been polite but […] Read the full article →
is it rude to cold-call a colleague, employees are complaining to me about each other, and more by Alison Green on August 25, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it rude for a colleague to cold-call me? I work for a national corporation where many people work from home, and those who work in offices are dispersed around the country. So there’s no knocking on someone’s office door to ask a question, although […] Read the full article →
I’m interviewing for a job that the last three people have been fired from by Alison Green on August 24, 2016 A reader writes: I just started a new job about six months ago. When I got here, I noticed a lot of staffing changes. Apparently the company has had a high turnover of both firing and people leaving after only a year or two. Subsequently, I have gone without direct supervision, since my boss resigned […] Read the full article →
my male colleagues stick our assistant with all the clean-up after meetings by Alison Green on August 24, 2016 A reader writes: I am a woman on a largely male management team at a nonprofit. Some of the management team members attend board meetings, including me. The executive director’s assistant, who is female, sets up snacks and coffee and occasionally more substantial buffet-type food for those meetings, which run into the early evening. At […] Read the full article →
my boss is verbally abusive and won’t pay me by Alison Green on August 24, 2016 A reader writes: I started as an intern for a small startup about a year ago along with another person. We were both given three-month internships with the promise of full-time employment if we made it past the internship period. Both of us did, and our manager, who is also the founder of the company, […] Read the full article →
interacting with coworkers’ kids, coworker is inappropriate in front of guests, and more by Alison Green on August 24, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What are the expectations for interacting with coworkers’ kids? I work in an office where coworkers will occasionally bring their kids in for various reasons (kid has an appointment, has school off, etc.). Sometimes coworkers on maternity leave will bring in their new babies to […] Read the full article →
my old employer took me back — and two weeks later, I might need to leave all over again by Alison Green on August 23, 2016 A reader writes: My partner and I had been living out of state for the past two years. As part of a series of unfortunate events, he ended up losing his job (we had moved for a work opportunity for him in the first place). After he was first let go, I immediately began networking […] Read the full article →
how can I improve my work ethic? by Alison Green on August 23, 2016 A reader writes: Do you think it’s possible to improve your work ethic? If so, how? I feel like I’ve been lazy my entire life and I’m wondering if there is some way I could get past that. I work in a very cyclical industry, where some parts of the year we’re very busy and […] Read the full article →
our office manager wants constant public praise, and other people are starting to resent it by Alison Green on August 23, 2016 A reader writes: I am in my first formal HR job and I have a question about something that may not need action, but does feel a little off to me. Our office manager is excellent — seriously. We have really prestigious folks walk through our office, and every one of them will remark on […] Read the full article →
my boss asked me to do her kid’s homework, are sandals considered business attire, and more by Alison Green on August 23, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss asked me to do her kid’s homework I’m a receptionist, and although I have a cordial relationship with my supervisor, it’s pretty strictly professional. The other day, she came to me at reception during working hours and basically asked if I would do […] Read the full article →