how is your company supporting employees with kids right now? by Alison Green on August 27, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: In this time of Covid and virtual school, what are your readers’ companies doing, if anything, to help with childcare issues? I work in HR at a manufacturing facility and our production workers are essential. We are trying to come up with creative ways to […] Read the full article →
I’ve found your new personal shopper by Alison Green on August 27, 2020 And now a word from a sponsor… I like to buy clothes for myself, but I find myself buying the same type of thing over and over (my closet is a sea of navy tops), so I was intrigued by thredUP’s Goody Boxes — a try-before-you-buy service that acts as your own personal shopper. They […] Read the full article →
we start meetings with “words of essence,” leaving right after a bonus, and more by Alison Green on August 27, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. We start every meeting with “words of essence” and personality types What do you think of a CEO who starts every executive team meeting with each person reciting their name (as a way to “own” their words), their “word of essence” (a word you use […] Read the full article →
are people judging me for looking scruffy at work? by Alison Green on August 26, 2020 A reader writes: I have two bachelor degrees, am in my mid-50s, and work in the public sector. The money isn’t great but I enjoy what I do. I recently heard someone mention that their boss dressed “poorly” and had grey hair, while they themselves “dressed like a professional woman who made X amount should.” […] Read the full article →
update: our employer wants to cut our pay — retroactively by Alison Green on August 26, 2020 Remember the letter-writer in April whose company was planning to cut their pay retroactively? Here’s the update. Thank you again for answering my question. The feedback from you and the commenters was both helpful and insightful! As expected, layoffs happened the day before you published my letter. We lost almost a quarter of our workforce, […] Read the full article →
job candidate’s suspicious husband photographed me before her interview by Alison Green on August 26, 2020 A reader writes: I had a strange experience yesterday, and I think I need some perspective. I am a C-level department head. Recently, I volunteered to go temporarily to another location (very far from my home) that experienced a sudden and unforeseen leadership vacancy. Since I have no intention of staying here, I told senior […] Read the full article →
fake resumes and false references, coworker was in an adult film, and more by Alison Green on August 26, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Nonprofit tells trainees to falsify their resumes and use fake references My sister has trained, for free, in the IT field with a nonprofit. I’m very happy that they’re helping her with this career change and believe this is a critical service for women in […] Read the full article →
how do I negotiate my start date at a new job? by Alison Green on August 25, 2020 A reader writes: I’ve been a seasonal employee in my field for about 10 years, in jobs that always had pre-determined seasons with non-negotiable start and end dates. I’m hoping/expecting to get an offer for a permanent job next week, and I don’t have a clue how to negotiate a start date. What’s a reasonable […] Read the full article →
should I tell my boss about my slacker coworker? by Alison Green on August 25, 2020 A reader writes: My coworker, Gary, started at my company five months ago in my same role. We sit 10 feet across from each other and can see each other’s every move without even trying, and I’m definitely not trying. Since his first week, he has had punctuality issues, and I’m not talking being five […] Read the full article →
our library staff have all been reassigned to do childcare for county workers by Alison Green on August 25, 2020 A reader writes: I work at a public-facing youth services employee in a public library managed by county government in the United States. Due to impacts from COVID-19, employees in some other county departments are taking an abundance of leave time or resigning in order to provide childcare to their children doing virtual learning at […] Read the full article →