saying no to an intern who wants to extend her internship by Alison Green on November 23, 2016 A reader writes: I’m managing an intern for the first time this fall and it has not been great. Some of that is on my inexperience and discomfort with managing but also this intern is terrible at communicating (not just let me know if you’ll be late, let me know if you’re going to miss […] Read the full article →
my boss grabbed my hair, no one will tell me why I’m getting rejected, and more by Alison Green on November 23, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. But first, in case you missed the late-breaking post on Tuesday, you should read about this fairly shocking development with the new overtime rule. And now to the questions … 1. My boss grabbed my hair I work in a big office at a public agency. Near the end of the day, […] Read the full article →
the new overtime rule is on hold by Alison Green on November 22, 2016 That new overtime rule that was coming next week that would have required an additional 4.2 million American workers to be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours in a week? It’s been blocked for now. A Texas judge today issued a temporary injunction halting the rule nationwide. It’s not a permanent stop to it, just […] Read the full article →
what should I do when coworkers interrupt me on my lunch break? by Alison Green on November 22, 2016 A reader writes: I’m an hourly employee, and our company policy says that I get to have two paid 10-minute breaks and one unpaid half-hour lunch every day. I don’t take my paid breaks because I don’t like the disruption in my routine (I run to the bathroom when I need to, etc, which I […] Read the full article →
my coworker is taking credit for my ideas by Alison Green on November 22, 2016 A reader writes: I work for a small company with a relatively flat org chart. Most employees answer to the CEO, myself included. One of my coworkers, “James,” is involved in many aspects of the business. He is one of the longest serving employees in the office. I work with both of them in my […] Read the full article →
should a boss attend the funeral for an employee’s family member? by Alison Green on November 22, 2016 A reader writes: I am the senior associate director in a medium department, less than 20 staff. I’m the second-in-command under the director, but none of the staff report directly to me. I have a question about a scenario that is likely to happen soon, and I want to react appropriately. If a staff member […] Read the full article →
is this work-from-home set-up unfair, my schedule means I can never attend office happy hours, and more by Alison Green on November 22, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is my boss’s work-from-home set-up unfair? My office has a really flexible work from home policy — during the winter, for two months, my boss will “work” from his ski cabin, usually three days a week. He is available by email and phone, but I […] Read the full article →
4 updates from letter-writers by Alison Green on November 21, 2016 Here are four updates from people who had their letters answered here this year. 1. We have a mandatory all-staff jamboree on Election Day My update is boring and anticlimactic, sorry to say. In a small office consisting of four shareholders and four support staff, collective action was never really an option, and so nothing […] Read the full article →
everything you need to know about taking vacation time from work by Alison Green on November 21, 2016 Millions of Americans are preparing to take time off from work for the holidays this month or next – and many of them are doing it without really knowing what employers legally can and can’t do when it comes to vacation time. Can your manager refuse to approve your time off? Do you have to […] Read the full article →
am I allowed to have friends at work if I work in HR? by Alison Green on November 21, 2016 A reader writes: Thanks to your blog and amazing advice on resumes, interviewing, and salary negotiation, I recently got a new job as an HR assistant at a small (under 100 people) company. I’m in my late 20s and have been out of college for six years, but this is my first job in the […] Read the full article →