two of my employees have been ridiculing a coworker behind his back by Alison Green on May 31, 2017 A reader writes: I’m a young business owner and new manager, and I could use your advice. Here’s the scenario… We recently had an employee (we’ll call him Fergus) resign to take on a new position. He left on a good note. While I was creating a backup of his company computer, I came across […] Read the full article →
I was hired as a change agent — and now my company is backtracking by Alison Green on May 31, 2017 A reader writes: I was recently hired as a change agent designed to bring a new skill set into a well-established department. My manager identified several areas for performance improvements during the interview process. I’ve made an effort to learn about those areas and be delicate when making suggestions or asking questions. However, it seems […] Read the full article →
I broke up with a coworker, and I’m afraid it will be a problem at work by Alison Green on May 31, 2017 A reader writes: I’m hoping to get your guidance on a situation at my job that might escalate. About a year ago, I developed a relationship with a coworker (I know, not smart!). I never directly reported to her, but we are on the same team, and she is at a higher-level. I work on […] Read the full article →
my boss treats me like I’m not very smart, I got in trouble for taking someone’s juice, and more by Alison Green on May 31, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss treats me like I’m not very smart I have worked for my organization for 2+ years and was recently given a title bump and a small raise after a generally very positive evaluation where my boss praised my analytical thinking, intelligence, and potential. […] Read the full article →
update: my employee is having an affair with a married coworker by Alison Green on May 30, 2017 Remember the letter-writer who was pretty sure that her employee was having an affair with a married coworker, but wasn’t sure if she knew that the guy was married? Here’s the update. Thanks so much for publishing my question and for attempting to provide some solutions. As fate would have it, I didn’t have to […] Read the full article →
my boss is so busy that I can’t get any time with him by Alison Green on May 30, 2017 A reader writes: I’m employed at a small-ish company and my boss is one of the directors. One thing right off the bat: My boss is a truly fantastic boss. Understanding, smart, full of good ideas, and a great mentor … when I can get in touch with him. We work in offices on opposite […] Read the full article →
am I the office jerk? by Alison Green on May 30, 2017 A reader writes: First, some background: My manager is pretty terrible. She’s very loud, rude, walks up to you while you are talking to a customer and just begins talking over you, and doesn’t have any idea what her direct reports are doing. It’s crappy, but she’s definitely not leaving any time soon. Her boss […] Read the full article →
my sister abused my employee discount, the word “boss,” and more by Alison Green on May 30, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My sister abused my employee discount I get a discount at a popular amusement park because I work for its parent company. There are no explicit policies regarding the use of the discount, and it’s not uncommon for employees to let their family visit the […] Read the full article →
a decade of Ask a Manager by Alison Green on May 29, 2017 Ask a Manager turned 10 yesterday. (Side note: This is crazy to me. I started the column on a whim — literally, just thought it would be something fun to do while my then-boyfriend was out and I was bored — and assumed it would attract three readers and one of them would be me.) I have no […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – May 27-28, 2017 by Alison Green on May 27, 2017 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 no work and no school.) Book recommendation of the week: The Painted Veil, by Somerset Maugham. The rather shallow Kitty Fane cheats on her husband, who then takes her to a cholera-infected region […] Read the full article →