October 2016

is it wrong to Google job candidates?

A reader writes: I recently was given the responsibility of finding interns for our company. In the process of reviewing applications, I Googled one of them. The first search result was her Facebook page so I clicked on it, and saw that many of her posts and pictures were set to “public.” I did not […]

Read the full article →

do I really have to wear a Halloween costume to work?

A reader writes: I am the assistant to the executive director of a nonprofit human services agency. The culture of the agency includes having the employees and the volunteers wear costumes to work on Halloween. In all of my long work history, wearing costumes to work on Halloween has never before been a part of […]

Read the full article →

political talk at work is making my life unbearable

A very timely reader writes: TLDR: Small group of intense coworkers from the opposite end of the political spectrum take over the break room from about 10:30-1:30 every day, play political cable news, and are impossible/ obnoxious to divert the politics from the room. I think they fundamentally don’t understand that it makes the shared […]

Read the full article →

new employee keeps complaining about missing her kids

A reader writes: I have a staff member who I hired recently, and she’s been out of the workforce for five or so years while she was a stay at home mother. I have been conscious of the adjustment for her being back in an office, and overall she’s been quite enthusiastic about working again. […]

Read the full article →

my husband emailed my boss about our decision for me to resign

It’s Columbus Day and I could use a break, so here’s an old post from 2012 that I’m making new again. A reader writes: Recently, I accepted a part-time RN position, but resigned within the 90-day probationary period due to several personal and professional factors. I had tried to re-enter the workforce after being a stay-at-home mother for […]

Read the full article →

choosing between a high school job and a family vacation

A reader writes: In late August, I got hired part-time at a major cafe/restaurant. I’m a senior in high school so I’ve been working on weekends and one night during the business week since then. However, my parents have booked a 10-day vacation right during the Christmas holidays — which is of course a vacation […]

Read the full article →