weekend open thread – May 30-31, 2020 by Alison Green on May 30, 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.) Book recommendation of the week: We Are Not Ourselves, by Matthew Thomas. A long family saga (the best kind) about love, loss, and the American dream. Every character in here […] Read the full article →
updates: the not-flirting coworker and more by Alison Green on May 29, 2020 It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager, when I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. My coworkers think I’m flirting with them I wrote to you just about a year ago to ask for advice […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on May 29, 2020 It’s your Friday good news, with more accounts of success even in this weird time. 1. In November, I was laid off from my work where I had been happy and successful for eight years. As required by employment law in Germany, effective in three months. I was devastated. Luckily my boss allowed me to […] Read the full article →
open thread – May 29-30, 2020 by Alison Green on May 29, 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 →
my boss wants me to make DIY disinfecting wipes to mail to employees, company won’t reimburse my plane ticket, and more by Alison Green on May 29, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss wants me to make DIY disinfecting wipes to send to employees My role is administrative in nature and I tend to do any ad hoc projects for the company. My boss is suggesting we put together COVID care package for our team, which […] Read the full article →
my company charges us PTO when we work from home while sick by Alison Green on May 28, 2020 A reader writes: I work at a small employer (under 100 employees) that, while dynamic and forward-thinking in its work, can be quite behind-the-times when it comes to administrative policies. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my employer made all of us sign an addendum to our work policies/procedures, saying that if we are sick and […] Read the full article →
updates: none of my coworkers have contacted me after my layoff, and more by Alison Green on May 28, 2020 It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager, when I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. None of my coworkers have contacted me after my layoff I was the OP of the “none of my coworkers […] Read the full article →
am I going overboard with praise for my team? by Alison Green on May 28, 2020 A reader writes: One of my struggles in managing my team is with recognition – but oddly, not the usual problems of under-recognizing effort. I’m afraid I may occasionally get too effusive with my thanks for my team’s comfort, or thank someone one time too many. Additionally, I find that I occasionally stun some of […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about mid-life career changes by Alison Green on May 28, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I would love a whole post on mid-life career changes! Especially if people are willing to share their specific fields. I tried to quit accounting and become a TV writer around age 29 and found that I was already too old, given the competitive field […] Read the full article →
should I wear a mask to a job interview, candidate interviewed in a see-through shirt, and more by Alison Green on May 28, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I wear a mask to a job interview? I live in a state where masks were mandated in public spaces until recently as we move to limited reopening, but generally everyone is still wearing them in stores. My state has been hit hard, but […] Read the full article →