the top boss wants to meet with me and I don’t know why … is this bad? by Alison Green on August 17, 2023 A reader writes: I work as a college instructor. I got an email request for a meeting with the president of our college for this coming Tuesday. I called to confirm the meeting with his secretary and also to ask how I could prepare for the meeting. Her response was he just wants to have […] Read the full article →
how to tell a pushy networker to back off by Alison Green on August 17, 2023 A reader writes: I’m increasingly finding myself in a place where newer professionals are asking to talk about getting started after school, or asking for advice. I always jump at the chance to help however I can and I’m universally flattered when anyone asks to meet with me. I’m struggling, however, with one person who […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss terrible food at conferences and other work events by Alison Green on August 17, 2023 Let’s talk about terrible conference food — or hell, we can broaden to terrible work event food in general. Some stories readers have shared in the past about culinary failures: I have attended several conferences that were bad, but nothing beats the time the group was served chicken on a bed of lettuce. The vegetarian […] Read the full article →
I found a naked sunbather on our building’s roof, unethical soda, and more by Alison Green on August 17, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I found a naked sunbather on our building’s roof I’m a manager at a company that rents part of a large building, with a roof deck shared with other tenants. The deck has a vegetable garden on it and we can take the produce home. […] Read the full article →
Ask a Manager speed round by Alison Green on August 16, 2023 It’s the annual Ask a Manager speed round! Until 3:30 pm ET today, I’ll be answering questions live. How to ask questions: Submit a question using the form here. (Don’t leave your question in the comment section; I won’t see it there.) If you submitted a question yesterday, there’s no need to submit it again; I’ve got it […] Read the full article →
updates: intern wants me to drive him to and from work, and more by Alison Green on August 16, 2023 Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Intern wants me to drive him to and from work Thank you for your support and insight. I’m so appreciative of your comments. Some items, to clarify: – I’m female; boss is female; husband is male; intern is male. – Boss made promises to the college consortium […] Read the full article →
my coworker keeps saying he’s my boss … he’s not by Alison Green on August 16, 2023 A reader writes: I am having a really weird situation at work. This guy who I became good friends with recently, having just started working with him — Edward — has suddenly taken to saying things like, “So you know most people here think I’m your boss.” The other day it was, “I’m not into […] Read the full article →
office only has folding chairs, how does bereavement leave work, and more by Alison Green on August 16, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our office only has folding chairs I work for a midsize nonprofit that, like many organizations, has become fully hybrid since the pandemic. Our office is considered flex space, used for both regular work days and events, and the only infrastructure we have is a […] Read the full article →
is using your PTO a “privilege”? by Alison Green on August 15, 2023 A reader writes: Our department is related to healthcare, but there is no direct patient care as we work from home. Our “customers” are internal calls. In cases where we are away from our desks, we simply forward our extension to another available person within the department. Recently, a coworker’s parent experienced a medical emergency […] Read the full article →
speed round — submit your questions by Alison Green on August 15, 2023 Tomorrow is the Ask a Manager speed round! On Wednesday from 2-3:30 pm ET, I’ll be answering as many questions as I can live on the website during that time. To submit a question in advance, use the form below. These will be short answers, obviously, so this is better suited for questions that don’t […] Read the full article →