February 2021

weekend open thread – February 6-7, 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 Chicken Sisters, by KJ Dell’Antonia. Two family-owned restaurants with a century-old rivalry battle it out on a reality TV restaurant competition that ends up bringing out […]

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it’s your Friday good news

It’s your Friday good news, with more accounts of success even in this weird time. 1. I have good news to share! After 15+ years as an individual contributor and informal leader, I took my first job as a formal manager about two and a half years ago at a new employer. It’s been challenging, though […]

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open thread – February 5-6, 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. * […]

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is reading books at work ever OK?

A reader writes: My husband works as a bank teller at a local bank. Even before COVID, he worked at a very slow branch. He was assured when he started that though they had very little lobby traffic, the bank made plenty of revenue from local businesses, so his job was secure (they need at […]

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update: my boss’s stress is out of control

Remember the letter-writer whose boss’s stress was so out of control that people were asking the letter-writer about it? Here’s the update. Thank you for your thoughtful answer to my letter! You were right that the lack of delegation from my manager was the heart of the issue. The main reason I didn’t ask about […]

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my interview was great — but they hired no one instead of me

A reader writes: I am a restaurant industry professional, in the field of wine and beverage management. My experience in this area is fairly competitive and accomplished for my city (I have about seven years in management level wine/beverage director roles, and more junior but still relevant experience prior to that). COVID-19 has taken a […]

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