it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on June 30, 2023 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “I stayed at my first job at a small company for a year before learning that I was getting paid $15,000 less than the person who had my role before me, basically because the boss wanted to pay as little as possible. (I did try to negotiate for more […] Read the full article →
open thread – June 30-July 1, 2023 by Alison Green on June 30, 2023 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 →
space heaters and thermostat wars, coworker’s sniffling is driving me mad, and more by Alison Green on June 30, 2023 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Space heaters and thermostat wars I am a manager and wonder if this problem should be dealt with or left alone. I have three staff members in the office, including myself. I keep the thermostat set at 74 degrees during the scorching summer months. The […] Read the full article →
I wrote a Glassdoor review and the employer is losing their minds by Alison Green on June 29, 2023 A reader writes: I wrote a Glassdoor review and the employer is absolutely losing their mind. Recently, I left my last very chaotic workplace for new pastures. The prior workplace had leadership that would constantly go on social media and talk about how much they disliked certain employees and clients (which definitely impacted our business) […] Read the full article →
updates: we had to share our “shadow sides” and “be more vulnerable” at a meeting, and more by Alison Green on June 29, 2023 Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. We had to share our “shadow sides” and “be more vulnerable” at a meeting After the uncomfortable offsite activity where we were asked to be vulnerable and share our “shadow sides,” I did end up giving feedback to our management team. I framed it as wanting our […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss terrible workplace ice-breakers by Alison Green on June 29, 2023 There are some truly terrible ice-breakers out there. On a recent open thread, some readers shared these: • “What is your porn star name?” For a meeting on addressing sexism in the workplace. • One really dysfunctional company I worked for did a staff retreat and made everyone go around and say what bug they would be […] Read the full article →
how do I stop looking bored during meetings, should I say I’m leaving because of my horrible coworker, and more by Alison Green on June 29, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I stop looking bored during meetings? My work involves a lot of collaboration with other companies and meeting with stakeholders. My company is small, and overall the work environment is good and I’ve been told I’m doing a great job. The one problem […] Read the full article →
my boss’s boss forced us to do a “grievance circle” targeting our manager by Alison Green on June 28, 2023 A reader writes: I have a question for you about a scenario that happened several years ago, but still sort of haunts me. I work in the medical setting, under a new manager, Jane, and a relatively well-established director, John, who has a reputation for pushing shortcomings off onto other individuals. There was some friction […] Read the full article →
how can I avoid talking shop outside of work? by Alison Green on June 28, 2023 A reader writes: I have a colleague who I am sharing a few really challenging, long-term projects with. They’re great to work with and we’re getting a lot done. The only problem is that we live in the same part of town and frequently bump into each other on the way in — which in […] Read the full article →
an acquaintance I recommended proselytized to all my clients (with singing) by Alison Green on June 28, 2023 A reader writes: I would appreciate some feedback on a somewhat sensitive religion/workplace conflict that happened a few years ago, and how to respond to the occasional inquiry from colleagues and clients about it. While returning to the states for the summer, I recommended an acquaintance of mine, Jade, to fly in and take over […] Read the full article →