how late can I call employees at home? by Alison Green on January 16, 2020 A reader writes: Is there a cut-off time that I as an employer can call an employee’s home or cell phone? I answer this question — and four others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to […] Read the full article →
dealing with stress about the Australian fires at work by Alison Green on January 16, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. This week, it’s two questions, similar topics. Here’s the first: I have been living and working overseas for five years, but my hometown and family are very near to some of the fires that are currently burning in Australia. My colleagues are generally aware of this and someone […] Read the full article →
employee doesn’t take the hint that she’s interrupting me, read receipts, and more by Alison Green on January 16, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee doesn’t take the hint that she’s interrupting me I’m a senior-level employee at a small company that is generally pretty casual, collegial, and “open-door.” An employee on my team (not a direct report, but I review a lot of her work and am senior […] Read the full article →
my employee accidentally posted porn to the company group chat and now wants to resign in shame by Alison Green on January 15, 2020 A reader writes: Please help me, I am panicking here. My employee just posted a very, very explicit porn video to our company’s main announcements chat room, which has over 200 members. The video featured several very … unusually niche fetishes. (I’m not trying to kink shame at all, but I just mean to say […] Read the full article →
these are the best questions to ask your job interviewer by Alison Green on January 15, 2020 As someone who has interviewed probably thousands of job candidates, I’m always surprised by how some candidates handle the part of the interview where it’s their turn to ask questions. A ton of people don’t have many questions at all – which is hard to understand when they’re considering spending 40+ hours a week at […] Read the full article →
my boss says I talk too much to coworkers by Alison Green on January 15, 2020 A reader writes: My boss told me I’m being too chatty and I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable. I first started my job two years ago. We are a small office of 15 and do a lot of behind-the-scenes work. We don’t interact with the public at all. It was a literal tomb when […] Read the full article →
here’s a way to make tax season easier by Alison Green on January 15, 2020 And now for a word from a sponsor… Tax season is soon to be upon us – and if you’re a small business, you know what paperwork hassles it can bring. Blue Summit Supplies is a really useful one-stop tax resource for small businesses. They offer everything your small business needs for a smooth and […] Read the full article →
saying the Pledge of Allegiance at work, asking a coworker to chew with their mouth closed, and more by Alison Green on January 15, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance at work I have a long-standing issue at work and am at a loss over whether I should raise this, and if so, how. I am a full-time permanent federal employee. At my agency we honor monthly presidential declarations (think […] Read the full article →
is my boss trying to tell me he’s unhappy with my work? by Alison Green on January 14, 2020 A reader writes: I started at a new job about five months ago after leaving a pretty toxic work situation, and I am happy to report that I love my new job. No work environment is perfect, but when you’re able to do work you love, it makes any environment a lot better. I work […] Read the full article →
I have nothing to do at my internship by Alison Green on January 14, 2020 A reader writes: Three weeks ago, I started a new internship at a large design office, and so far I have not been assigned any real work. I have been asked to do small tasks like cleaning a shelf or compiling information that takes me less than an hour to complete. I’ve brought up that […] Read the full article →