dealing with menopause symptoms at work by Alison Green on October 6, 2022 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m in early perimenopause and would love to read other people’s experiences of it in the workplace. How do others cope with the physical symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, bonkers periods) and non-physical symptoms (brain fog, anxiety)? Do they talk to colleagues or managers about it? […] Read the full article →
shouldn’t we hire younger candidates, coworker edited my email to make themself look better, and more by Alison Green on October 6, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Wouldn’t younger candidates be better at the jobs we’re hiring for? When does experience “age out?” I work at a small nonprofit that is trying to be “cutting edge” in our area, but they keep hiring older employees who don’t really know what they are […] Read the full article →
are there times when you can’t ethically quit a job? by Alison Green on October 5, 2022 A reader writes: I’ve read your site for a long time, so I’m pretty sure that your advice here is going to be to do what’s best for me (and if that’s leaving, then leave), but my question is: Are there circumstances under which you really shouldn’t leave a job? My scenario is this: I […] Read the full article →
how do I say no to admin tasks that aren’t my job? by Alison Green on October 5, 2022 A reader writes: How do I decline taking on tasks outside of my immediate roles and responsibilities without coming off as insubordinate or not a team player? I work in a field where it’s pretty standard to take on some administrative burdens in addition to our core responsibilities. However, in my experience, these tasks seem […] Read the full article →
my employee is obsessed with cleaning by Alison Green on October 5, 2022 A reader writes: One of my direct reports, Carol, is obsessed with cleaning, and I can’t get her to stop cleaning constantly. Carol loves cleaning, and she will talk about it non-stop. She just found a great new sponge that we should all start using. She can’t wait to receive this miracle fabric cleaner that […] Read the full article →
my ex-boss pretends I still work there, HR said my size is intimidating, and more by Alison Green on October 5, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can HR say your size is intimidating other employees? My son, who is mid-20s and 6’5″ and weighs about 250 pounds, recently quit his job where he was disciplined on several occasions, mostly due to harassment. Without me knowing all the particulars, HR and executive […] Read the full article →
company wants references from “coworkers you didn’t get along with” by Alison Green on October 4, 2022 I’m off today. This was originally published in 2016. A reader writes: I’m currently interviewing for a new position with a company that works remotely. Over the past two weeks, I’ve had 10+ video calls with every member of the small team, along with a bunch of unpaid work tests that have included everything from […] Read the full article →
how do I get less emotionally invested in my work? by Alison Green on October 4, 2022 I’m off today. This was originally published in 2017. A reader writes: I’m a programmer who is in my eighth month at my current job. I’m a woman in my late 20s and have never held a job for a full year before–while most of the jobs I’ve had have been internships or temp/contract jobs, I’ve […] Read the full article →
can I read erotica on work breaks? by Alison Green on October 4, 2022 I’m off today. This was originally published in 2018. I have expanded it to slightly to include some of my additions from the comments on the original post, such as sample book titles. A reader writes: I came across the discussions of porn at work earlier, which got me questioning something I do. I tend […] Read the full article →
I called my boss a nasty name, my coworker is charging people for coffee, and more by Alison Green on October 4, 2022 I’m off today for family stuff. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them buried in the archives. 1. I called my boss a nasty name I just recently started a new job. I’m 55 and having difficulty in learning new tasks, even in areas where I have experience. […] Read the full article →