ask the readers: what flies in your industry that would shock others? by Alison Green on July 13, 2017 This idea was sent to me by someone who works in a newsroom and said, “My editor looked at me like I was crazy for asking if I’m going to get in trouble for keeping a machete at my desk.” …followed by this excellent suggestion: “Could we have an open thread sometime of things that […] Read the full article →
our staff chat all day long and it’s messing up their work, my daughter rejected me for a job, and more by Alison Green on July 13, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our staff chat all day long and it’s messing up their work We use Skype in our office as it’s a great tool for sharing your desktop, talking to international colleagues, and conference calls. However, our staff use the instant message feature and chat ALL DAY […] Read the full article →
how to avoid being pulled into drama when someone is fired by Alison Green on July 12, 2017 A reader writes: I am part of a very small department where I have worked part-time for the past few years. I just learned that I will be made full-time this summer as part of a restructuring process that includes firing my current boss (for both behavioral issues and restructuring reasons). She does not know […] Read the full article →
do dogs belong in job interviews? by Alison Green on July 12, 2017 A reader writes: I work for a company that allows pets to be brought to work. In fact, we have a “Dog of the Day” program and a coordinator. Did I mention the pooches get their own company name/ID badges too? But I digress. Recently, I was part of a panel made up of a […] Read the full article →
I bit my coworker by Alison Green on July 12, 2017 A reader writes: So I bit a coworker yesterday. Obviously, I’m mortified. I work in an incredibly dysfunctional office. The tone is set by our office manager. He’s in his fifties, has always worked in an office setting, and is difficult. Things are right if it’s in his favor and wrong if anyone else does […] Read the full article →
advertising a job I might not hire for, secondhand smoke when you’re interviewing, and more by Alison Green on July 12, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Advertising jobs I might not ultimately hire for I’m a relatively new manager of a small team of 4.5 (one employee is part-time). Two of my four full-time employees recently put in notice within two weeks of each other. The first was an experienced position, and […] Read the full article →
how do I manage people in an open office where everyone can hear what I say? by Alison Green on July 11, 2017 A reader writes: I feel like I’m missing something obvious: How do I deal with needing to have negative conversations in an open office plan? There is no acoustical privacy. We have no walls, just lots and lots of desks (no cubes) and effectively no conference rooms (must be reserved in advance, often full, or […] Read the full article →
my office is in chaos – and it’s all falling on me by Alison Green on July 11, 2017 A reader writes: I work in the Executive Office of a very busy, national nonprofit. I used to be half of a “dream team” supporting the two top executives, along with ”Anna.” Over the three years that Anna and I were a team producing excellent results, both of us were consistently given more responsibilities, at […] Read the full article →
my young employee is undermining herself with constant talk about her parents and her age by Alison Green on July 11, 2017 A reader writes: I supervise a very talented, younger employee. She has tremendous work skills for her years of experience and demonstrates strong potential for growth. But…she seems to lack a level of maturity that I feel is impacting her career. She often talks about her parents and even credits them for helping with her […] Read the full article →
what do people do all day in 9-5 jobs, will a beard keep you from getting hired, and more by Alison Green on July 11, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What do people do all day in 9-5 jobs? I’m a trained graphic designer who has worked freelance/self-employed for the first five years of my working life, but figure it’s now time to grow up and join a big company where promotion is an option. […] Read the full article →