open thread – February 14-15, 2020 by Alison Green on February 14, 2020 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 →
should you mention an employee’s smell during a reference check, and more by Alison Green on February 14, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should you mention an employee’s smell during a reference check? A few years back, I managed an employee who was on a performance plan and was on the verge of being let go. A new position opened in a different department and much to my […] Read the full article →
I’m still not doing the job I was hired for two years ago by Alison Green on February 13, 2020 A reader writes: I’ve been at my current job for two years, and have been doing … okay. No big issues, but in previous reviews my boss has talked about me in terms of good, not great. I’m definitely struggling with efficiency, and am generally bored and disengaged. The problem is, I’m struggling because the […] Read the full article →
updates: the conference expenses, asking to move back to an old job, and more by Alison Green on February 13, 2020 Here are three updates from people whose letters were answered here in the past. 1. Should we let an employee pay their own way to a conference in an exciting location? (#2 at the link) Thank you for answering my question and to all the commenters for their advice as well! I dropped it on […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: how can we help gender transitions at work go well? by Alison Green on February 13, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m a leader in my company’s LGBT employee group, and we are working on a set of Gender Transition Guidelines to be used by transgender employees who transition while at our company, as well as their managers, coworkers, and HR to ensure a positive experience. […] Read the full article →
I got my dream offer right after starting a new job, coworker is a jerk, and more by Alison Green on February 13, 2020 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. I just started a new job — and then got a PhD offer from my dream school I started a new job six weeks ago. It’s at my alma mater and it’s an incredible place to work. The culture is awesome and I love my colleagues. Yesterday, […] Read the full article →
how do we handle firing an employee in an open plan office? by Alison Green on February 12, 2020 A reader writes: I’m an HR administrator at a company with about 150 people across a few offices. I’m the only on-site HR person at my location, which has about 25 employees. Our office is entirely open plan, with the exception of a few fish-bowl style, glass-walled conference rooms. There aren’t even dividers between desks, […] Read the full article →
I just found out my great employee lied on her resume by Alison Green on February 12, 2020 A reader writes: We recently hired an employee for a non-professional position who told me after she was hired that she lied on her job application. She said she had her high school diploma when she doesn’t, and if she had answered that question in the positive, the online application would have booted her from […] Read the full article →
everyone at work is hanging out without me by Alison Green on February 12, 2020 Here is the second post in the collaboration I did with Jennifer Peepas from CaptainAwkward. Part one is here. 1. Everyone in the office is hanging out without me and it feels like high school I work in a very clique-y office where I am just not in the main clique. I have a coworker […] Read the full article →
who should clean the disgusting office fridge, hiring people without experience, and more by Alison Green on February 12, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Who should clean the disgusting office fridge? I work at a small company with offices spread out through town and in my office there is just me and my coworker. Our boss works remotely from another state and comes in every few months. Our office […] Read the full article →