open thread – March 23-24, 2018 by Alison Green on March 23, 2018 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 →
I’m supposed to hide that I was a stay-at-home mom, rude receptionist, and more by Alison Green on March 23, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I was told to hide that I used to be a stay-at-home mom I had a very strange review yesterday, where my boss shared some feedback that she received from another leader in our organization. Basically I was told that I should stop telling people […] Read the full article →
am I sabotaging my former intern’s job prospects? by Alison Green on March 22, 2018 A reader writes: About two and a half years ago, I was hired by a cultural organization as their only staff person. While the job was not without its challenges, it was a great learning experience and I excelled in my role, which has greatly boosted my professional reputation in my area (it’s a small […] Read the full article →
my office is moving … to my boss’s house by Alison Green on March 22, 2018 A reader writes: I work for a small company with two full-time employees, two part-time, and a weekly bookkeeper. My boss is wealthy, mercurial, and often out of the office or traveling. Recently, he announced that he has decided to move our office from our (already small) space into his duplex apartment, which is supposed […] Read the full article →
knowledge swap! share your expertise with people here by Alison Green on March 22, 2018 Are you good at something and willing to share that expertise with others here? Here’s what I propose for a change of pace: 1. In the comment section below, name something you’re really good at that you’d be willing to answer questions about. It could be Excel, or financial planning, or make-up recommendations, or resolving […] Read the full article →
coworker calls me his “work wife,” error in my offer letter, and more by Alison Green on March 22, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker calls me his “work wife” A couple of months ago, I joined a new team at work, in a role that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the group. So I was glad when another junior staff member who had joined the […] Read the full article →
someone I’ve known for years lied to get me to hire someone terrible she wanted to get rid of by Alison Green on March 21, 2018 A reader writes: “Arya” and I were classmates in college. We were in the same year and did the same major. We’ve known each other for 16 years and have worked together twice; one time she was my manager and the other time I was hers. We often attend the same work-related conferences and exchange […] Read the full article →
I interviewed Gretchen Rubin about happiness and work by Alison Green on March 21, 2018 On this week’s episode of the Ask a Manager podcast, I talked with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin about happiness and work. Gretchen is a leading expert on the connections between habits, happiness, and human nature, and is author of multiple bestselling books, including The Happiness Project and, most recently, The Four Tendencies. We talked about […] Read the full article →
what to say when your boss is rude to a coworker in front of you by Alison Green on March 21, 2018 A reader writes: What can/should I do when my boss is rude to another coworker? We’re a small, very early-stage start-up with no HR person. The coworker and I are both young, female, and new. My boss often puts her down (“God, you’re inattentive” or “if you can’t even do this task you should be […] Read the full article →
boss said she’d give me a great reference but she didn’t, jobs advertised for less than minimum wage, and more by Alison Green on March 21, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My manager said she’d give me a great reference — but she didn’t After a second round interview with company A, I was asked to submit references. I typically would not include my current direct supervisor, who started working with my team six months ago, […] Read the full article →