how do you know when to “lean out”? by Alison Green on March 5, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m an attorney at a law firm (U.S.-based) and had my first child 10 months ago. Prior to having the baby, I was held in very high regard (big bonuses, big raises, lots of self-marketing opportunities, all hallmarks of success in a law firm). When […] Read the full article →
my boss is showing off his new $900,000 house, my weakness is my temper, and more by Alison Green on March 5, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss sent us the listing for his new $900,000 house I have worked for a small company for over seven years. I have enjoyed most of my time here and love my work. Just over a year ago, the founder and owner passed away […] Read the full article →
my new job sprang a surprise medical exam on me by Alison Green on March 4, 2020 A reader writes: I’m going to be working in in an office department of a company that manufactures items. They have the whole manufacturing plant and the office all in one big building, and when I was hired they explained to me that there are a lot of rules that come over from the manufacturing […] Read the full article →
update: my coworker is blackmailing me not to take time off for my honeymoon by Alison Green on March 4, 2020 Remember Monday’s letter from the person whose coworker was blackmailing him to try to get him not to take off the dates he wanted for his honeymoon? She was threatening to report him for faking a sick day (he hadn’t faked it) and was refusing to do parts of her job that he depends on […] Read the full article →
I messed up at work and I’m so ashamed by Alison Green on March 4, 2020 A reader writes: I work in HR and I’m used to receiving mostly praise for my work, but today I was gently reprimanded for having been indiscreet. I immediately understood why, because I was aware that I had shared something I shouldn’t have. I was only trying to bond with someone who doesn’t seeem to […] Read the full article →
can my company make me stay home with a cold, leaving a job for grad school, and more by Alison Green on March 4, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can my company make me stay home with a cold? I’m panicking a little bit because I woke up this morning with a little bit of a scratchy throat. Yesterday my office sent out an email saying that with the new CDC announcement on the […] Read the full article →
do I not respect my work commitments if I ask for a day off? by Alison Green on March 3, 2020 A reader writes: I need some gut-check advice about a situation at my unpaid internship. Am I wrong in thinking the following behavior is mean and inappropriate? At the end of my unpaid internship, I emailed my supervisor (a week in advance) to find out if it would be okay to take a day off […] Read the full article →
my boss wants to hang out socially to improve our relationship by Alison Green on March 3, 2020 A reader writes: I work at a small nonprofit. My department has a new supervisor this year, Jane. While she’s a lovely person, the transition to her management style has been … rough. She wants her hands in absolutely everything, and she wants to make almost every decision about every project. The department’s other full-time […] Read the full article →
my work is getting more and more religious and I’m an atheist by Alison Green on March 3, 2020 A reader writes: I have no idea how to handle this situation. I have worked for six years at a secular nonprofit. This is by design — I am an atheist. I’m usually very private about this — I believe strongly that religion or lack of is a personal choice and I don’t begrudge anyone […] Read the full article →
I don’t have a poker face, coworkers are obsessed with my vegetarianism, and more by Alison Green on March 3, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Will my lack of poker face stop me from being promoted? I work in a conservative field, in one of the less conservative departments. Our team culture is that we have all conference calls via video chat, which I don’t mind for the most part […] Read the full article →