employee lied about his mom dying, coworker is a magpie, and more by Alison Green on June 28, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee lied about his mom dying Last year I hired my first-ever direct report. From the get-go, there were red flags I overlooked. Everything bad seemed to happen to this guy. He had to change the date of our interview because he got hit by […] Read the full article →
my new employee is the parent of my child’s bully by Alison Green on June 27, 2023 A reader writes: I received a promotion last month after several stressful years. The money will be life-changing. I’m working out of a different office much closer to home, I’ll be doing work I care about, and I’ll have more time with my family. The company filled an open role at my new location just […] Read the full article →
how to ask for a raise (because you need to) by Alison Green on June 27, 2023 I’m regularly dismayed by how many people — particularly women — tell me they’ve gone their entire careers without ever asking for a raise. They haven’t done it because they feel awkward bringing it up, or aren’t sure how to find an opening to do it, or because they’re afraid they’ll sound greedy or like […] Read the full article →
our remote employees were excluded from our company appreciation day by Alison Green on June 27, 2023 A reader writes: My company is kind of new to remote work. Covid forced us all home, and hiring developers remotely has been significantly more successful than trying to hire them in-person only. Because of those two factors, the small tech company I work for is now about 40% remote employees located all over the […] Read the full article →
people keep asking why I wear pantyhose, career coach wants me to use someone else’s job title, and more by Alison Green on June 27, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. People keep asking why I wear pantyhose I am an adult woman who doesn’t shave my legs. I don’t like the feeling of shaving, I’m prone to rashes that I feel are more noticeable than the hair, and I hate having stubble. I’m fine with […] Read the full article →
the faked heart attack, the very smart dog, and other (amazing) stories of pettiness at work by Alison Green on June 26, 2023 Earlier this month I asked about the pettiest things you’ve seen (or done!) at work. You offered up so many ridiculously petty stories on that post that I can’t fit them all my favorites into one column … so here’s part 1. Part 2 will be coming next week. Note: We’re not endorsing petty behavior […] Read the full article →
how can I get better at spotting talent in people different than me? by Alison Green on June 26, 2023 A reader writes: I like to think I’m pretty good at judging technical abilities, but I’m wondering if I’m actually only looking for the cues that people like me (male/western culture) show. If so, I’m wondering how I can get better. Here’s the situation that makes me wonder: At a recent technical conference, we gave […] Read the full article →
update: if I quit my job when everyone else is quitting, the organization will fall apart by Alison Green on June 26, 2023 It’s the final installment in “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager. (If I didn’t print your update yet, it’s still in my queue for later!) Remember the letter-writer worried that if they quit their job when everyone else was quitting, the organization would fall apart? Here’s the update. I wanted to thank […] Read the full article →
rude instructor comments on our food choices, husband won’t wear noise-canceling headphones at home, and more by Alison Green on June 26, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Instructor keeps commenting on everyone’s food choices I’m taking a four-day online class (I’m federal government and the class is put on by a private sector training company). We get a break for lunch, and when we return, the instructor checks in to make sure […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – June 24-25, 2023 by Alison Green on June 23, 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: By the Book, by Jasmine Guillory. A reimagining of Beauty and the Beast in which a young publishing assistant agrees to help a stand-offish […] Read the full article →