open thread – December 8-9, 2017 by Alison Green on December 8, 2017 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. * If you submitted […] Read the full article →
should I hang my degree in my office, employee invited a toxic guest to our holiday party, and more by Alison Green on December 8, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I hang my degree up in my office? I’m starting a new job next week that I’m VERY excited about. A great opportunity for a great company. I’m also about to finish a Master’s degree program I’ve worked very hard for over the past […] Read the full article →
update: my employee’s son is scamming her out of money, and I’m worried by Alison Green on December 7, 2017 Remember the letter-writer whose employee’s son was scamming her out of money? Here’s the update. After I sent my letter things with Maggie’s family seemed to calm down. I don’t know if it’s because our advice helped, if EAP services helped, or if she finally just ran out of money. However, she did realize she’d […] Read the full article →
updates: the mirror gazer, the sick day lie, and more by Alison Green on December 7, 2017 Here are updates from three people whose letters were answered here this year. 1. My assistant is constantly gazing at herself in the mirror I never got the chance to have that “professional” discussion with her. A few days after I wrote that letter, another employee came into the office. As my assistant was speaking […] Read the full article →
tell us your strangest office holiday stories by Alison Green on December 7, 2017 It’s once again the season of forced workplace merriment, horribly inappropriate gifts, holiday party disasters, and other seasonal delights! In the spirit of the season, I want to hear about office holiday-related debacles. Did a coworker throw a tantrum when she didn’t win a raffle? Has your party planning meeting ended in tears multiple years in […] Read the full article →
my staff took offense to my Facebook post, private dinner ahead of a holiday party, and more by Alison Green on December 7, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employees took offense to my Facebook post I am the manager at a food service establishment. I am Facebook friends with just a few of my current employees (from back before I was a manager), but do not make it a practice to continue […] Read the full article →
update: my coworker keeps calling me his “work mom” by Alison Green on December 6, 2017 Remember the letter-writer whose younger coworker kept calling her his “mom,” even after she’d told him to stop? Here’s the update. I followed your advice and the advice of the commentators. I sent the email back that had “Mom” in the subject line and said “I didn’t know your mom worked here, you sent this […] Read the full article →
our new assistant doesn’t have boundaries by Alison Green on December 6, 2017 A reader writes: My company last year acquired another company in the same industry, and we’ve finally merged offices. The acquired company’s offices were larger and less expensive, so we moved in with them. As a senior team member in our old place, I had my own office. But we went from 10 team members […] Read the full article →
the person who holds the job I’m applying for doesn’t like me by Alison Green on December 6, 2017 A reader writes: I have an interview scheduled for this Friday, and it turns out that the person who currently holds the position (“Jane”) is a former coworker of mine from a different company. Unfortunately, there was a falling-out over the way we interacted during an orientation session and we ended on bad terms. To […] Read the full article →
asking my assistant to return my change, I’m freezing at my desk, and more by Alison Green on December 6, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I ask my assistant to return the change when she picks up lunch for me? I’ve worked as an associate at a Big Law firm my entire career, and am at my third firm. It is typical for attorneys to share assistants, with […] Read the full article →