talking about your period in a male-dominated office, telling candidates we don’t give raises, and more by Alison Green on August 28, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How to talk about my period in a male-dominated office I’m in my first “real” job after university, working in the male-dominated corporate office of a large-ish family business. My supervisor, his supervisor, and basically everyone I interact with (with the exception of the head […] Read the full article →
I think my coworker is an alcoholic by Alison Green on August 27, 2019 A reader writes: My coworker “Sterling” has always been a hard partying guy, but recently he’s been drinking more and more, and it’s a problem. Several times a week he either comes to work smelling like alcohol or complains to anyone who will listen about how hung over he is. Sterling is in his mid-20’s, […] Read the full article →
my coworker’s personal life is disrupting our shared office by Alison Green on August 27, 2019 A reader writes: I share my office with a woman I’ll call Katie. We generally get along, but she is an awful officemate. Despite having a desk phone with a headset, she inexplicably takes her conference calls on speakerphone. When I have nicely asked her to switch phones or quiet down, she first puts her hand […] Read the full article →
can I use sick leave to take my cat to the vet? by Alison Green on August 27, 2019 A reader writes: I know this is a silly question and expect to be told I am insane, but I am curious about your opinion! I recently had to take my cat to the vet for for a urgent but not life-threatening issue. It ended up taking about four hours during the work day. I […] Read the full article →
we’re supposed to stay in the owner’s house when we travel, I’m upset our best candidate withdrew, and more by Alison Green on August 27, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. We’re supposed to stay in the owner’s house when we travel to his city I work for a company that last year opened a second office and distribution center. The locations are located on the opposite ends of the coast. About five months ago, one […] Read the full article →
my coworker keeps butting into my conversations with higher-ups by Alison Green on August 26, 2019 A reader writes: I work in an open-plan office. The guy who sits next to me, let’s call him Steve, is a senior member of my team, but not my supervisor. I’m a youngish woman and he’s a man about 10 years older who’s been with the company for much longer. Over the handful of […] Read the full article →
how can I recover from being the office grump? by Alison Green on August 26, 2019 A reader writes: I’m in my first year in my job. I’m an open book, so people know when I’m happy and when I’m not. Naturally when I’m upset or angry at work, people can tell. I have been really stressed and haven’t been nice at my office lately recently. Basically I’ve been grumpy. Is […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps groaning in pain — and won’t get medical treatment by Alison Green on August 26, 2019 A reader writes: One of my employees, “X,” has been having pains that I won’t specify for the sake of anonymity. Many months ago, X went to their doctor, who then referred them to a specialist. It turns out that the condition is degenerative but can be managed quite successfully through physical therapy and occasional […] Read the full article →
should I tell my boss about a screw-up that turned out okay, drinking at work events, and more by Alison Green on August 26, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I tell my boss about a big screw-up that turned out okay? I am not a perfect, rock-star employee, in large part because of ADHD that I didn’t get diagnosed until recently, but I am generally responsible and conscientious and always trying to humbly […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – August 24-25, 2019 by Alison Green on August 24, 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: Reasons to be Cheerful, by Nina Stibbe. I don’t know how to describe this book. On the surface it’s about an 18-year-old who moves out, […] Read the full article →