how to manage an overly chatty employee by Alison Green on August 20, 2020 A reader writes: A new employee started in my department just over two months ago (I’ll call her Sarah). Sarah has been struggling to adjust to the work in ways we didn’t foresee from the interview — she seemed very qualified for the position, but is having trouble retaining information and prioritizing work. I’m working […] Read the full article →
I’m getting laid off and it’s threatening my sense of identity by Alison Green on August 20, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: So a few days ago I found out that my last day at my company (of over a decade) will be in two months. Due to the pandemic, there’s a re-org and downsizing and I, along with many others, are being let go. I’m not […] Read the full article →
companies that ban beards, hot flashes in interviews, and more by Alison Green on August 20, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Interviewer told me they don’t allow facial hair on men I just had a second phone interview yesterday for a part-time adjunct position. At the end, I was told that the institution was “faith-based” (which was not a problem for me; I’m queer but don’t […] Read the full article →
should I use vacation time when my internet goes down? by Alison Green on August 19, 2020 A reader writes: My office is working fully remotely for the foreseeable future. Before this set-up, I had a very basic internet package that worked for me. I used this connection for months while working from home and even though it was spotty, it worked just fine for the most part. Well, it recently broke […] Read the full article →
my employee is alienating all her coworkers by Alison Green on August 19, 2020 A reader writes: I’ve been receiving complaints from some of my employees about another employee, let’s call her Leah. Leah is a very good employee. She meets her goals every day and is always happy to lend a hand. She’s eager to learn other parts of the job so she can help out. According to […] Read the full article →
my boss forced me to do a video call — with eye contact — while I was driving by Alison Green on August 19, 2020 A reader writes: The other day I survived a car trip while doing one of those things we know we’re not supposed to do while driving: holding my phone in my hand while giving lots of eye contact with the camera. Since I do not typically use my phone while I drive, I did not […] Read the full article →
do I have to share my extra shifts, playing a video of my boss while I work, and more by Alison Green on August 19, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Do I have to share my extra shifts with coworkers who want some? One department at my job is currently understaffed. In order to help, we have been offered overtime shifts that are premium over usual overtime. Several employees across several departments were asked if […] Read the full article →
should I tell a candidate she was rejected for plagiarizing her recruitment test? by Alison Green on August 18, 2020 A reader writes: I work for a translation agency where I am also in charge of recruitment and selection for my team. After the initial phone screening, I send out a test to candidates and evaluate their language and translation skills. To evaluate all candidates against the same parameters, I send them the same document […] Read the full article →
how can I make a good impression in phone interviews? by Alison Green on August 18, 2020 A reader writes: I’m currently in the middle of a frustrating and fruitless job search after having lost my job when my company shut down its local office. I have more than a decade of professional experience focused on media and marketing, but now that I’m on a job search again, I’m encountering something frustrating: […] Read the full article →
our new boss doesn’t know how awful her second-in-command is by Alison Green on August 18, 2020 A reader writes: I am an upper level manager in a mid-sized company with about 200 employees. This past year, the head of our company, Jim, who was problematic but visionary, decided to retire after decades in leadership. I used to report to Jim, but in the changeover it was decided that I would report […] Read the full article →