weekend open thread – April 16-17, 2022 by Alison Green on April 16, 2022 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 Lifeguards, by Amanda Eyre Ward. Three mothers try to protect their teenage sons when they might be involved in a woman’s suspicious death. I make […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on April 15, 2022 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “I’ve been in the federal government for over 17 years and a recent internal restructure put me in a bad position with a new boss. She was very clear that if I wasn’t ok with coming into the office almost every day and doing the jobs of three people […] Read the full article →
open thread – April 15-16, 2022 by Alison Green on April 15, 2022 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions 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 take your questions to […] Read the full article →
should I have to hire my replacement, I don’t want my boss to represent me at a meeting, and more by Alison Green on April 15, 2022 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Should I have to hire my replacement? At work today, my boss started a meeting about our summer scope of work by asking me if I plan on staying with my job in the fall (I work at a college program). The truth is, I […] Read the full article →
how to ask my company to pay me more if they want me to stay by Alison Green on April 14, 2022 A reader writes: I’m a 27-year-old woman, working for my first company. I got a job here almost five years ago, fresh out of college, and have moved up the ladder fairly quickly. I’m highly regarded, very involved in the organization, have great relationships with my coworkers, leadership, and clients, and earned a spot in […] Read the full article →
updates: pumping during a training, boss annoyed by flexible schedule, and more by Alison Green on April 14, 2022 Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. Pumping breast milk during a virtual training (#4 at the link) Thanks so much for publishing my question! There were many helpful (and funny) suggestions and I thought I would provide an update. The short version: turning off my camera to pump worked out fine; I was […] Read the full article →
how do you learn what types of jobs exist? by Alison Green on April 14, 2022 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: When you’re trying to make a major career pivot, how do you even learn what sort of jobs are out there? For context: In 2014, I enrolled in a seven-year grad program with the goal of becoming a college professor. I was passionate about teaching, […] Read the full article →
did I spread gossip about my boss, company-branded clothing doesn’t fit me, and more by Alison Green on April 14, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I have stayed quiet about the reason our chair was demoted? I am a high school Social Studies teacher and have been at the same school for the past nine years. My department chair, “Dan,” has been chair almost that entire time, is a […] Read the full article →
my company called my coworker’s resignation “a horrific decision” by Alison Green on April 13, 2022 A reader writes: A close friend and coworker recently handed in her resignation. My work has a habit of letting that person leave for the day/sending them home on garden leave and then announcing it to the team. But this time, when they announced it, they did the usual “we wish her well” but also […] Read the full article →
the dog-riding child, the overheard therapy session, and other Zoom meeting mishaps by Alison Green on April 13, 2022 Last week I asked about the funniest mishaps you’ve witnessed on Zoom calls. Here are some of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The dog Not a gaffe exactly, but the absolute best thing I saw on Zoom during 2020 while schools were closed here was a coworker’s son RIDING INTO HER OFFICE ATOP THE […] Read the full article →