how widespread is remote work, boss is upset that my employee didn’t say good morning, and more by Alison Green on May 10, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How widespread is remote work, really? I work in higher ed, and sometimes I feel like I’m living a completely different work reality than everyone around me. We have had a flex work policy in place since the early pandemic, and I’ve been allowed to […] Read the full article →
how do I manage a bad employee who I can’t fire? by Alison Green on May 9, 2023 A reader writes: For the past 1.5 years, I’ve worked in health care in a very rural area where it is hard to recruit (this is more related to the rurality than to salaries and benefits; salary could be higher but is mid-range, and benefits are good to very good). Due to our service/population, in-person […] Read the full article →
my coworker is pushing me to hire her daughter by Alison Green on May 9, 2023 A reader writes: I am hiring for an entry-level position. The daughter of our front desk manager applied for the position. Her resume was great, but her cover letter had two words misspelled, including in the company name. The position requires proofreading and careful data entry. I emailed her to let her know that she […] Read the full article →
my coworker talks non-stop and we can’t take it anymore by Alison Green on May 9, 2023 A reader writes: We have a coworker (we’ll call her Serena) who does. Not. Shut. Up. I don’t want to be rude, but there’s really no other way to put it. I’ll explain. She has information, a story, or life experience for EVERYTHING. We haven’t discussed nuclear fission yet, but I’m certain Serena would have […] Read the full article →
office is too drinking-focused, can I complain about a bad interview a year ago, and more by Alison Green on May 9, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How can we be less drinking-focused when we socialize? I’ve read a few of your old posts about drinking culture and none of them seemed to get at this thing exactly. Socializing with coworkers is a big part of corporate culture at my workplace, but […] Read the full article →
our cleaner pressures me to stay late with her because she fears our workplace is haunted by Alison Green on May 8, 2023 A reader writes: I have a strange question for you. I’m a graduate student at a university in a large city where I also work evening shifts at the university library. The librarians all leave by 8 pm, leaving one or two student workers to close up the library for the evening at 11 pm. […] Read the full article →
how do I politely end conversations at networking events? by Alison Green on May 8, 2023 A reader writes: Once you’ve got talking to someone at a networking event, and both people have got what they needed out of the conversation, how do you politely move on? I’m on the board of an association that pays for me to attend various networking events. I want to get the most out of […] Read the full article →
I think my employee is being abused by her partner by Alison Green on May 8, 2023 Content warning for discussion of abuse below. A reader writes: I have been a director at my organization for a few years now in a small town. We have a staff of 23. Some have been here for 20+ years, some are new, but it’s a pretty great group of people and we all work […] Read the full article →
HR director issued an “it’s him or me” ultimatum, interviewing in the midst of dental work, and more by Alison Green on May 8, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our HR director issued an “it’s him or me” ultimatum I work remote customer service for a small blue collar company and was recently also made executive assistant to the owner, Michael. We’ve known each other for years, so he has a tendency to talk […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – May 6-7, 2023 by Alison Green on May 5, 2023 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: Limelight, by Amy Poeppel – A stressed out mom has a run-in with a troubled teen pop star and develops an unexpectedly rewarding relationship […] Read the full article →