weekend open thread – July 31-August 1, 2021 by Alison Green on July 31, 2021 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: The Kitchen Front, by Jennifer Ryan. Four very different women compete in a British wartime cooking competition during World War II. * I make a commission […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on July 30, 2021 It’s your Friday good news! 1. I recently left my job in the Middle East after four years to move back to the U.S. The environment was austere and dangerous and I was looking forward to returning to a normal life. Last fall, I reached out to a member of senior leadership with whom I had […] Read the full article →
open thread – July 30-31, 2021 by Alison Green on July 30, 2021 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 (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. * […] Read the full article →
company didn’t even read my application, forced to take a promotion you don’t want, and more by Alison Green on July 30, 2021 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Company said they didn’t even read my application Recently I applied for a job for which I met all the required and most of the preferred qualifications. I spent about a week on a cover letter (using all your tips) and had several people read […] Read the full article →
can I refuse to do a self-assessment? by Alison Green on July 29, 2021 A reader writes: I work at a university where the staff is more or less divided into Professional or Technical/Clerical. I’m a long-time technical/clerical worker, which means I’m in the union. I have no real feelings about my union one way or another — I see both the good and the bad. One of the […] Read the full article →
updates: the anonymous complaint, the biopsy, and more by Alison Green on July 29, 2021 Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. I made an anonymous complaint about a coworker and she’s blaming someone else for it (#2 at the link, first update here) First, a not-so-nice update. Remember I mentioned in my original letter that Jane was part of a group of three women? I gave updates on […] Read the full article →
how can I look more polished at work? by Alison Green on July 29, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: While I’m currently working from home, I’m thinking forward to returning to the office soonish. I work in a business casual office (slightly more towards the casual side). I understand what counts as professional dress, but the polished and appearing-office-proper part of going to the […] Read the full article →
my coworker lied to me, warning someone before reporting them, and more by Alison Green on July 29, 2021 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker lied to me I was hired about six months ago at a prestigious organization in my field. My coworker, Fergus, started at the same time in a similar position. We work closely and we get along well, for the most part. I consider […] Read the full article →
coworkers can’t hear me on calls from home because it’s loud here by Alison Green on July 28, 2021 A reader writes: Due to the pandemic, I’m currently working from home, with my younger brother, father, two dogs, and two cats. My father and I share the office space — one of us works on either end of the desk with a distance of maybe one meter between us. As part of my role, […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps staying late even though I’ve told her to stop by Alison Green on July 28, 2021 A reader writes: I have an hourly employee who is scheduled to work from 8:30-5:30 p.m. We have found out that she doesn’t always leave at 5:30. She says she stays until about 6 because she wants traffic to die down before heading home. We have told her several times that she has to leave […] Read the full article →