updates: the top knot, stranded without a hotel room, and more by Alison Green on June 12, 2020 Here are four updates from people who had their letters answered here in the past. 1. I get second and third interviews but no job offers, and my grandma says it’s because of my top knot (caller 4 in the podcast episode) Thank you for picking up my question about third round interviews, defeated and depleted […] Read the full article →
open thread – June 12-13, 2020 by Alison Green on June 12, 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 →
can I wear a collar on video calls, correcting clients who call me “Mrs.” and more by Alison Green on June 12, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I wear a collar now that we’re on video? In my personal life, I sometimes wear a collar as part of my fun relationship with my partner. It is a narrow leather band with a small metal ring on it, kind of like this. […] Read the full article →
I wasn’t given the chance to apply for a promotion I really wanted by Alison Green on June 11, 2020 A reader writes: I am a full-time, home-based worker (since before Covid) for a large national firm. The company provides excellent benefits and despite being home-based, I really saw myself growing into another role eventually, which would be a promotion from my current role. Earlier this year, the company announced some restructuring and refocusing plans […] Read the full article →
updates: the mooching boss, the self-sabotaging friend, and more by Alison Green on June 11, 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 boss mooches off me while I’m living paycheck to paycheck I wrote to you a few months ago about […] Read the full article →
my employer says they’re committed to diversity — how can I hold them to accountable to that? by Alison Green on June 11, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: As a white woman working in a company that is not very diverse, I’d like to speak up and hold the company to account over their commitment to diversity. I work in the head office of a large retailer and they shared a generic “Black […] Read the full article →
boss freaked out when I used bottled water in the coffee maker, manager is buying supplies with her own money, and more by Alison Green on June 11, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss freaked out when I used bottled water in our coffee maker I do admin work for a small firm with two bosses: Isabella (who recruited me) and Ferdinand (to whom I directly report). I’ve known Isabella for many years and get along well […] Read the full article →
am I a bad manager? by Alison Green on June 10, 2020 A reader writes: I’m a newish manager, and I have one direct report. My new employee, “Susan,” quit this week. Her old employer had reached out to her and made her a dream offer. I spent five months training Susan. She had learned a lot and was starting to work well independently. The thought of […] Read the full article →
my office is reopening and I don’t feel safe going back by Alison Green on June 10, 2020 A reader writes: I’ve been working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, and my job, in general, has been understanding. They’ve been communicating to us that there isn’t a “hard date” that we’re expected back in the office, but recently they completely flipped that stance and now expect us all back at the […] Read the full article →
update: someone with my name has stolen my work history by Alison Green on June 10, 2020 Remember the letter from the person whose work history had been stolen by someone using her same name (#3 at the link)? Someone was using her references, claiming to be her. Here’s the update. A big thanks to all the readers in the comments. You guys came with such fantastic suggestions. I contacted a lawyer […] Read the full article →