overreaching wellness meetings, rambling coworker monopolizing trainings, and more by Alison Green on January 13, 2023 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Overreaching employee wellness trainings I work in a public facing setting. Today was the first of 12 monthly training sessions focusing on employee wellness. I know our administration means well, but today’s topic and subsequent sessions I regard as triggering, cringey and irrelevant to my […] Read the full article →
do I really need to send a thank-you note after being rejected for a job? by Alison Green on January 12, 2023 A reader writes: What is your feeling about sending thank-you notes after you have been rejected for a job? I don’t see the point. It feels a little obsequious for my tastes. If while being rejected, the person makes you aware of a new role or opens a new path for you … “a colleague […] Read the full article →
how much social media use at work is too much? by Alison Green on January 12, 2023 A reader writes: How much personal social media use at work is too much? I’m fine with my staff taking five-minute Facebook breaks a couple of times throughout the day, but I’m afraid I have a few that are pushing the boundaries of acceptable use. I know I have at least one employee actively tweeting […] Read the full article →
what’s the weirdest/most inappropriate email signature you’ve seen? by Alison Green on January 12, 2023 What’s the strangest/funniest/most unprofessional/most inappropriate email signature you’ve seen at work? To start us off, here are some that readers have shared in the past: “I have a coworker who has a quote from himself as part of his email signature. That’s pretty off-putting.” “Analyst misspelled as Analist” “A customer had her entire multi-day destination […] Read the full article →
is it rude to leave a coworker waiting for the elevator, I recommended a friend and it went terribly, and more by Alison Green on January 12, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it rude to leave a coworker waiting for the elevator? I recently got into a sort of mini-dispute with a friend from work about manners, and I’m wondering if you could weigh in. I work on the second floor of my building. It’s a […] Read the full article →
should we give extra sick days to employees who can’t work from home? by Alison Green on January 11, 2023 A reader writes: Long-time avid reader with a question I’d love your take on before I bring it to my manager. I’m a manager for an eight-person team for a position that requires 100% of work to be done in-person, on-site, at set times. It’s worth noting that this in-person team is typically the lowest […] Read the full article →
my toxic former employee is poisoning my staff by Alison Green on January 11, 2023 A reader writes: For the last 10 years, I’ve been the head of a community-based organization. My assistant director, along with at least a third of the employees, pre-dated my employment there. “Bob” didn’t seem to want my job himself, but the head of operations warned me about him, saying he was was a snake […] Read the full article →
my employee blows up my phone with memes and videos — even in the middle of the night — and refuses to stop by Alison Green on January 11, 2023 A reader writes: I own a small business (10 staff). One of our employees, Lisa, does wonderful work and has a bright future ahead. Her responsibilities and pay reflect her outstanding performance. Unfortunately, she is very socially and emotionally needy and time-consuming outside of work. I don’t mind the occasional meme or video, but she […] Read the full article →
VP is pressuring everyone into choreographed dances, boss eats while on the phone, and more by Alison Green on January 11, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. VP is pressuring everyone into choreographed dances My mother is a long-time elementary school teacher. She’s very good at her work: she’s popular among the kids, her classroom is a jewel in her school often shown to visitors, and her test scores are high. This […] Read the full article →
I got in trouble for using a mouse jiggler … despite my excellent work by Alison Green on January 10, 2023 A reader writes: Trying to figure out if I’m totally off-base here. My position was approved to work from home, along with a lot of other positions, last year. I am a high performer on my team. I have moved up in the company over the seven years that I’ve been there and have always […] Read the full article →