update: I slept through an entire day of work by Alison Green on May 2, 2019 Remember the letter-writer who slept through an entire day of work? She updated a few months later to say she’d sought medical help about her fatigue. Here’s the latest update. I’ve been at my new job a year now, and 9 months since sleeping through a full day of work. That exhaustion episode turned into […] Read the full article →
what conversation starters can I use at industry events? by Alison Green on May 2, 2019 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: My industry requires me to go to a lot of events, especially when travelling. I work in sales so it is expected that I’ll use my time to mingle with people and build relationships. The trouble is that I have NO IDEA TO WHAT TO […] Read the full article →
my coworker doesn’t follow her own fragrance ban, my mentor got fired, and more by Alison Green on May 2, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker doesn’t follow her own fragrance ban I have a coworker who’s sensitive to smells. It’s so bad that our entire office is under a strict “no heavy perfume or scented lotions” rule. The person who’s “sensitive” is so sensitive that she claims to get […] Read the full article →
why can’t I wear shorts to work? by Alison Green on May 1, 2019 A reader writes: I recently hired an entry-level employee. This is her first office/full-time job ever, so part of my job is also making sure she understands office norms. Today during our weekly check-in, we were talking about the weather getting warmer and she made a comment about needing to buy more shorts for during […] Read the full article →
an employee’s husband emailed me to complain by Alison Green on May 1, 2019 A reader writes: Our corporate office manages several apartment complexes in other cities. One manager transferred from one complex to another when the manager position came open. Shortly thereafter, her husband emailed our boss, complaining about how his wife is treated by the company. He also said that he had not told his wife about […] Read the full article →
my employee is hassling coworkers about their clothes, their language, and her feelings by Alison Green on May 1, 2019 A reader writes: I hired a new team member, “Jane,” six months ago. She’s competent and diligent, but now that she’s coming out of her shell, her rigidity around her idea of professional norms are quickly alienating her team members as well as other people on staff. * She complains about women colleagues’ workwear for […] Read the full article →
should I tell my replacement about a cranky team member, coworkers devise bizarre solutions to simple problems, and more by Alison Green on May 1, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should resigning managers share info about team members with their replacements? I’m preparing to leave my job (by choice), and am training my newly-hired replacement at the moment. This position supervises several folks, and one of them in particular is … quirky. He is compassionate, […] Read the full article →