my boss tapes people’s mouths shut during meetings by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 A reader writes: I recently started my first “real” job in a small office (eight people). We have strategy meetings every morning for about 30-45 minutes. My boss is REALLY intolerant of bad ideas. She keeps a tape dispenser on the table by her chair and whenever someone suggests something that she thinks is dumb, […] Read the full article →
my coworker told me I smell by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 A reader writes: A week ago, a coworker in a manager position (not my department) who is also a friend sat me down in her office and talked to me because, apparently, I am the smelly coworker. She was very kind and I could tell that it was incredibly hard for her. I think I […] Read the full article →
my employee lied about meeting with a client — to take a nap by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 A reader writes: I caught my employee skipping work to nap at home when she said she was meeting with a potential client. It was total happenstance — I happened to meet the potential client at a social event that night. When I asked my employee the next day why the potential client had no […] Read the full article →
passed up for a promotion after 23 years, coworker won’t schedule his own meetings, and more by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I was passed up for a promotion after 23 years I have been in my position for 23 years and am told that I am an essential part of the office. I am knowledgable, friendly, hard working, efficient, productive, flexible, and dependable. I do have […] Read the full article →
should I reject job candidates by phone or email? by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 A reader writes: Should you always call to let a candidate know that they won’t be getting a job offer? Here’s the context: I’ve gotten calls and emails letting me know when I wasn’t accepted for a position. And my colleagues and I all agree that we hate getting phone calls. It’s awkward! If you […] Read the full article →
we offered someone a job — and then he got a bad reference by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 A reader writes: We recently offered a new employee a job, with a job offer email that included the following line: “The position is permanent and will be subject to a three-month probationary period and reference check.” We made the offer contingent on references because one of his references was his current employer and he […] Read the full article →
after I asked for a raise, my boss told me I buy too much coffee by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 A reader writes: In August, I made the decision to begin a job search. After spending seven years with the same organization, I felt it was time for me to leave when it became increasingly clear that I would not get promoted, partially due to a lack of movement within the organization and partially because […] Read the full article →
my ex-husband hired his new girlfriend, office freezer is packed with personal groceries, and more by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My ex-husband has hired his new girlfriend I’m in a pickle. My ex-husband left me out of the blue, a little over a year ago. After about six months, he started dating a contractor at his workplace. This didn’t really raise any red flags for […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – February 1-2, 2020 by Alison Green on February 1, 2020 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.) This is Humphrey, our new foster cat. He was found crying in a parking lot on a freezing cold day. He’s clearly used to being an indoor cat but his […] Read the full article →