asking for a reference while furloughed, in trouble for kissing at work, and more by Alison Green on May 26, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it risky to ask my boss for a reference while I’m furloughed? I was furloughed from my IT job last week, and we’re expecting it to last approximately 90 days. Of course, right now nothing is certain and I’ve been busy looking for other […] Read the full article →
updates: the counteroffer, the bullying, and more by Alison Green on May 25, 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. I accepted a counteroffer four months ago but now want to quit (#2 at the link) I wrote to you […] Read the full article →
workers want support and flexibility, not quizzes and costume contests by Alison Green on May 25, 2020 As COVID-19 upends everything about how we work, many employers with newly remote staffs are trying to figure out how to support employees emotionally — and are leaning heavily on things like virtual happy hours, team games on Slack or Zoom, and personal check-ins centered on mental health. But in the process, some of them […] Read the full article →
updates: using time off to nanny, the Secret Santa gift, and more by Alison Green on May 25, 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. Can I used my unlimited time off to do part-time nanny work? I thought I’d write in to your request […] Read the full article →
coworker says I don’t respond to his emails, a bizarre company survey, and more by Alison Green on May 25, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker says I don’t respond to his emails — which I never received My department has been working from home due to the current situation, so we have been having a lot of Zoom meetings. I was unable to attend one yesterday but was […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – May 23-24, 2020 by Alison Green on May 23, 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: All Adults Here, by Emma Straub. This is a story about the messiness of families, as all Emma Straub’s novels are: a grandmother who rethinks […] Read the full article →
updates: I caused a coronavirus panic, asking to go part-time, and more by Alison Green on May 22, 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 four updates from past letter-writers. 1. Can I ask to go part-time since my work is slow? (#5 at the link) I wrote to you back […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on May 22, 2020 It’s your Friday good news, with more accounts of success even in this weird time. 1. I’ve been unhappy in my job for about 6-7 months now for a variety of reasons, both related to my own position, the lack of growth and learning opportunities, and the office culture (I am far from the only unhappy […] Read the full article →
open thread – May 22-23, 2020 by Alison Green on May 22, 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 friend got me a job and now I’m being used to push her out, team lead tried to sell us MLM products, and more by Alison Green on May 22, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My friend got me a job — and now I’m being assigned work that will push her out Six months ago, my friend recruited me for a job opening, working with her on a really interesting project at a great company. She and I have […] Read the full article →