your lunch might be stolen from your office fridge today by Alison Green on October 7, 2019 Office lunch thefts plague offices everywhere, and no one has found a good solution yet. One survey found that 18% of workers admitted to eating someone else’s lunch from the office fridge – that’s nearly one in five of the people sitting in your next meeting who might be plotting to waylay your Lean Cuisine. Lunch […] Read the full article →
my coworkers make orgasm sounds while I’m on the phone by Alison Green on October 7, 2019 A reader writes: My office prides itself on our fun, casual culture and how we are all a “family.” I’m not a fan of this, but I’ve been working there for almost three years and it’s been okay, if slightly annoying at times, until now. Two and a half months ago at an after-work happy […] Read the full article →
is it okay to write my partner’s cover letters, I don’t want to sign a petition about bathrooms, and more by Alison Green on October 7, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it okay for me to write my partner’s cover letters and apply to jobs on his behalf? My partner and I both have MAs in English Literature, but decided not to pursue doctorates/specialization because 1) not a lot of jobs 2) we wanted to […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – October 5-6, 2019 by Alison Green on October 5, 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: The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett. It’s about a brother and sister who are kicked out of their family home by their stepmother and how […] Read the full article →
open thread – October 4-5, 2019 by Alison Green on October 4, 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 →
I’m doing two jobs, my boss thinks I’m dating a coworker but I’m not, and more by Alison Green on October 4, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions, plus a bonus letter with an AAM love story! Here we go… 1. I’m doing my coworker’s job plus my own while applying for his role I am going though a situation at work where we had a coworker depart the organization and I inherited his responsibilities. I am […] Read the full article →
my coworker won’t stop doing my job, despite our manager’s direct orders by Alison Green on October 3, 2019 A reader writes: I work very closely with my coworker, “Linda.” She and I do not have the same job, but we often have duties that go hand in hand so we feed off of each other in our respective roles. Linda’s job involves her sitting at a desk with a lot of client interaction, […] Read the full article →
update: I share an office with a smoker, and the smell is making me sick by Alison Green on October 3, 2019 Remember the pregnant letter-writer last year who shared an office with a temp who smoked — and the smell was making her sick? Here’s the update. The temp was spoken to again by HR not too long after my letter was posted, after she brought in an essential oil diffuser (!). She was told she […] Read the full article →
managing remote work when you’re in a different time zone from everyone else by Alison Green on October 3, 2019 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m hoping you and/or the readers can offer some help and suggestions with this. My husband just took a new software development position that’s fantastic for him and his career. It’s a great company, and he’s really enjoying it so far. The only hang-up right […] Read the full article →
coworker might be abusing her disability leave, employer shamed candidate over a swimsuit photo, and more by Alison Green on October 3, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I think my coworker might be abusing her disability leave I have a peer who is on a short-term disability leave. I am not sure what the issue is; it looks like stress/exhaustion but, again, I don’t know the details. Another peer brought it to […] Read the full article →