my boss makes me hassle my coworkers for no reason by Alison Green on April 16, 2019 A reader writes: I started working at my current job about eight months ago. My team is small — just my manager (a director) and myself (a manager) — and we have many projects that require us to work with other teams within our company. Most of the time, we are asking people from other […] Read the full article →
I can see a coworker doing work for me incorrectly over her shoulder — can I step in? by Alison Green on April 16, 2019 A reader writes: I wonder if you could help me with a bit of office etiquette. There is a designer who works for my company. She is not my direct report and I don’t manage her in any way, but she does split her time between doing design work for me (she does two days […] Read the full article →
how can I follow up without being annoying, people ask “who’s in here?” when I’m in a bathroom stall, and more by Alison Green on April 16, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How can I be less annoying when I have to follow up with people? Do you have any suggestions for less annoying follow-up? I have a mainly back office position and don’t work with customers or external partners for the most part, but sometimes I […] Read the full article →
I hired a friend and it’s not going well by Alison Green on April 15, 2019 A reader writes: Late last year, when my company had some turnover and we needed a high performer in stat, I weighed the pros and cons and hired a friend, “Mike,” who I had previously managed. He and I had brunch and discussed the friendship and work aspect, but ultimately the benefits to the business […] Read the full article →
my boss thinks I made a mistake, but I didn’t by Alison Green on April 15, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve been at my current job as an editor for two years now and I report to a manager who reports to the director. The director assigns me work often. She doesn’t really work with any of the other editors directly, so I feel like she really trusts me. In all the […] Read the full article →
I can’t say no to clients, and my success is destroying me by Alison Green on April 15, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve been an independent contractor for nine years, and I’ve finally found financial comfort and fulfillment in my work. This did not come easy. I was barely scraping by the first couple of years. I took sleazy corporate work for investment bankers and lawyers because that’s “where the market was,” and I […] Read the full article →
my office thinks I insulted a coworker, colleague refuses to take my input, and more by Alison Green on April 15, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My office thinks I insulted a coworker but I didn’t mean it like that I work for a small nonprofit. I have one boss and about 14 coworkers with whom I’m “office friendly,” meaning I don’t socialize outside of work/discuss personal matters. Though I’ve been […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – April 13-14, 2019 by Alison Green on April 13, 2019 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: Foreign Affairs, by Alison Lurie. Two American university professors on research trips to London each get drawn into life-altering relationships with others. It won the Pulitzer […] Read the full article →
open thread – April 12-13, 2019 by Alison Green on April 12, 2019 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 →
my coworker is routinely late because she stops for coffee, letting a man open a door at an interview, and more by Alison Green on April 12, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker is routinely late to work because she stops for coffee first I have a question about a coworker, Sansa, who is routinely ~5-10 minutes late (2-3 times a week). Her job does not require she be here at 9 on the dot. I […] Read the full article →