why people stay in jobs where they’re miserable by Alison Green on March 12, 2020 I get a ton of letters from people who are miserable in their jobs – but much of the time, they’re not asking me about how to leave. They’re asking about how to stay sane while they’re there – how to deal with a boss who yells or threatens their job every week, or how […] Read the full article →
how to successfully manage mental illness at work by Alison Green on March 12, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: This past month, I’ve been experiencing a flare up of chronic mental illnesses (predominantly PTSD/associated anxiety and an eating disorder). I’ve been managing relatively well, all things considered, but it would really help to hear from folks who have successfully managed mental illness at work. […] Read the full article →
coworkers clips their nails at their desks, boss micromanages us when we work from home, and more by Alison Green on March 12, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers clip their nails at their desks I’m in an office where lots of people like to clip their nails at their desk. Sometimes you hear just one or two clips, which I could let go, but other times it’s a full set. And […] Read the full article →
I resist pressure to work long hours — but my coworkers don’t by Alison Green on March 11, 2020 A reader writes: I’m hoping to get some advice on fending off pressure and comments to fall in line and work unpaid overtime. I work a public job in the health sector. I have really good boundaries about taking my breaks and lunch and leaving when my shift is done. However, it seems like there’s […] Read the full article →
employees vent to me — but don’t want me to do anything about their problems by Alison Green on March 11, 2020 A reader writes: I am the head of an HR department. Occasionally, I run into a situation where an employee tells me about a problem and asks me to do nothing with the information. For example, last week I was talking to someone who is upset with their boss. The employee feels intimidated about delivering […] Read the full article →
I exposed myself at work because my coworkers didn’t believe I had cancer by Alison Green on March 11, 2020 A reader writes: I made a huge mistake and I am trying the best way to dig myself out of this mess. In 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had surgery to remove that cancer and one breast in early 2019. My recovery went smoother than expected and I ended up just needing […] Read the full article →
employee expects us all to attend her destination wedding, avoiding handshakes during coronavirus, and more by Alison Green on March 11, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee expects us all to attend her destination wedding I’m the owner of a company based in the Northeast. Our team is mighty, but tiny — only ten people, three of whom are in leadership/senior positions. One of our employees firmly believes that since we […] Read the full article →
my coworker had an affair with my wife by Alison Green on March 10, 2020 A reader writes: A few months ago, I found out my wife was having an affair with one of my teammates. I reported the incident to my boss, who then reported it to their boss. I was allowed to work from home for a week following the reporting to allow time for the teammate to […] Read the full article →
how do I handle lunch with my boss? by Alison Green on March 10, 2020 A reader writes: I am in the second real job of my career. It’s a great job with coworkers who respect each other, unlike my previous job, which was a place where everyone screamed all the time and the staff was underpaid and monitored by camera by the owner. Several times a month, I am […] Read the full article →
my employee didn’t tell anyone she was pregnant until she was about to give birth by Alison Green on March 10, 2020 A reader writes: At a previous job, I (a man) had one employee that reported to me. Shortly after she started, she became visibly pregnant. But she never brought it up. Not with me, not with my boss (a woman), not with HR, not with anyone. Now I’m not stupid, so I didn’t ask her […] Read the full article →