should I really conduct exit interviews? by Alison Green on August 22, 2022 A reader writes: My assistant is leaving at the end of the month. I’ve always heard you should lead an exit interview with anyone who quits. Is an exit interview still the norm if the employee was part-time? He was at our organization 20 hours a week for one year. If I should lead an […] Read the full article →
I’m missing out on face time with the CEO because I don’t go on our monthly hikes by Alison Green on August 22, 2022 A reader writes: My employer has been organizing monthly staff hikes on the weekend to promote employee wellness and as a means for introducing employees who work in various parts of the organization. These hikes are optional, and I have not received any pressure from my supervisor or colleagues to attend. In fact, they’re not […] Read the full article →
my boss sent me a message urging me to follow Jesus, my coworker reported me for saying “data Nazi,” and more by Alison Green on August 22, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss sent me a message urging me to follow Jesus My boss sent me this after I quit: “Good morning Jane! I wasn’t working on your last day and didn’t get a chance to thank you for your time with us. I sure appreciate […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – August 20-21, 2022 by Alison Green on August 19, 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 Startup Wife, by Tahmima Anam. A newlywed coder and her husband develops a wildly popular app with her husband, who soon becomes a messiah-like figure […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on August 19, 2022 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “I’ve read your site for a few years now, and found it when I started searching up whether weird stuff my boss did in my student job was normal. Obviously it wasn’t, and from being paid below the legal minimum, to weird sexist stuff, it hasn’t been the best. […] Read the full article →
open thread – August 19-20, 2022 by Alison Green on August 19, 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 →
my coworker saves hair, applying for a job with a huge salary range, and more by Alison Green on August 19, 2022 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker saves hair My coworker has a lot of odd quirks and strange things that she does in general. I’m incredibly bothered by one thing she does and am wondering if it’s as disgusting as I think? My coworker saves her hair anytime a […] Read the full article →
should I be concerned that my two employees do all their work together? by Alison Green on August 18, 2022 A reader writes: I have two direct reports who have the same job title and, after some shifting of job duties, the same duties for the most part, they just cover different areas. One has the east region and one the west. (No travel, just assigned clients that way.) And then of course there are […] Read the full article →
updates: former coworkers crashed my party, asked to deep-clean the office, and more by Alison Green on August 18, 2022 Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My former coworkers crashed my networking party I thought now would be a good time to provide an update on my letter because after a break for Covid, conferences and networking events are returning in full force in my industry. It’s embarrassing to say, but I did […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about workers taking power back for themselves by Alison Green on August 18, 2022 Whether it’s the Great Resignation or “quiet quitting” or job candidates ghosting companies after years of companies ghosting them, it’s clear that something has shifted in the balance of power between employers and employees. After decades of employers holding most of the power and workers often feeling they had no choice but to accept whatever […] Read the full article →