I don’t want to work with my childhood bully, employee wants to start earlier than everyone else, and more by Alison Green on June 28, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I don’t want to work with my childhood bully For the last several years, Company A has been recruiting me pretty hard. The salary, benefits, job description, executives, etc. are perfect, but I’ve said no at least four times now. I feel terrible, and they […] Read the full article →
I agreed to help a student with a grad school project … it’s gone badly by Alison Green on June 27, 2022 A reader writes: I have found myself in a mentor-mentee situation and wanted your advice. I am in a profession (think doctor, lawyer, scientist) and was approached by a local graduate student who wanted some help with a project for one of her classes. I reluctantly agreed despite my hectic schedule because my philosophy is […] Read the full article →
my employee is abusing our incentive program by Alison Green on June 27, 2022 A reader writes: Our company has a program to incentivize employees to refer job candidates, and we offer a referral bonues if we end up hiring someone they referred. We’re usually glad to get referred candidates into our pipeline. However, we have one employee, Joe, who loves to send referrals. Rather than referring friends or […] Read the full article →
being direct as a Black woman, coworkers identify people by race, and other questions with Michelle Silverthorn by Alison Green on June 27, 2022 I’m thrilled to welcome Michelle Silverthorn back to Ask a Manager to share her answers to some of readers’ toughest questions on race. Michelle’s new four-part interactive e-learning series, Inclusion LAUNCH — covering DEI fundamentals, unconscious bias, communicating across difference, and allyship at work –will be released later this summer. You can find out more […] Read the full article →
my coworker says we shouldn’t hire women of child-bearing age, new colleague lied about his name, and more by Alison Green on June 27, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker says we shouldn’t hire women of child-bearing age I’m leaving my first professional job at a smallish, dysfunctional company (~150 employees), and I’m thrilled to be moving on! However, I’m friends with a manager in another department, and at lunch yesterday she told […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – June 25-26, 2022 by Alison Green on June 24, 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 Latecomer, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. A marriage borne out of tragedy produces triplets who feel a strong disconnect from their parents and each other. I […] Read the full article →
update: my boss says it’s “not her place” to say anything to my smelly, messy coworker by Alison Green on June 24, 2022 It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager and I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Remember the letter-writer whose boss said it’s “not her place” to say anything to a smelly, messy coworker? Here’s the update. Even though logically going to HR is […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on June 24, 2022 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “Back in March of 2020 I lost my job due to the pandemic and it was rough. It took me over a year to feel comfortable to even apply for positions because of anxiety and fear that my parents would get sick due to them being in a high […] Read the full article →
open thread – June 24-25, 2022 by Alison Green on June 24, 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 →
crop tops at work, arguing with a client, and more by Alison Green on June 24, 2022 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Wearing crop tops at work Yesterday in a one-on-one meeting with my supervisor, the topic of dress code came up because of an apparent (and unknowing) violation on my part. No dress code had been shared at my hiring, and when I asked about one, […] Read the full article →