the weaponized allergy, fire drill Daryl, and other stories of strategic incompetence by Alison Green on October 10, 2023 Last week we talked about weaponized incompetence, and here are 17 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The Diet Coke My first job out of college I was the only woman on a small team of other guys who were also fresh from college. They tried to get me to make the coffee. Convo […] Read the full article →
should I suggest my employee with mobility issues get a different job? by Alison Green on October 10, 2023 A reader writes: I run a small call center, which is on the third floor of a building without an elevator. Due to the nature of our phone system and the job, we cannot offer employees the option to work from home, nor do we have any other locations. We have an employee who, from […] Read the full article →
I lied to get out of a non-compete, and now it’s coming back to haunt me by Alison Green on October 10, 2023 A reader writes: I work in a medical/social services field, in which most employers are nonprofit organizations (think along the lines of a blood bank). My first company, a nonprofit in a mid-sized city where I worked from 2009-2012, required all employees to sign a non-compete agreement that prohibited us from working for the same […] Read the full article →
a bounced check from my boss’s girlfriend, one person doesn’t like team-building but everyone else loves it, and more by Alison Green on October 10, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. A bonus check from my boss’s girlfriend bounced I used to work for an attorney, Laszlo, who is well-known for being a quirky old hippy uniquely talented at representing society’s underdogs. Laszlo was never stingy when it came to giving money to others, and regularly […] Read the full article →
our disruptively cheerful new coworker treats us like toddlers by Alison Green on October 9, 2023 I’m off today, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2018. A reader writes: I work for a company that has grown quickly in a couple of years. We have an informal reporting/management structure, no HR, etc. The boss is the owner, who works about 20 hours a day […] Read the full article →
a housekeeping note … and the “surprise me” button by Alison Green on October 9, 2023 A few people have asked about the “you may also like” related links that appear at the bottom of posts, because they’re no longer appearing on the home page. The links are still there if you click through to the individual post. But they’re not currently displaying on the home page, so the only way […] Read the full article →
did my intern frame my coworker for credit card theft? by Alison Green on October 9, 2023 I’m off today, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2017. A reader writes: This past summer, the section I supervise had some interns working here. All of them were offered jobs here once the internships were over. However one of them has created a situation where she lied […] Read the full article →
employee doesn’t check his email when he arrives, I yelled at our company cameras, and more by Alison Green on October 9, 2023 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employee doesn’t look at his email when he arrives at work I’m struggling to determine whether it’s my expectations that are unreasonable or my employee’s communication habits that are not meeting reasonable expectations. He and I work slightly different hours. I come in at […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – October 7-8, 2023 by Alison Green on October 6, 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: An Available Man, by Hilma Wolitzer. A widower tries to figure out dating again, while mourning his wife. * I make a commission […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on October 6, 2023 It’s your Friday good news! 1. “Wanted to share some positive news from my most recent hiring experience. I was notified that I was being laid off in the spring, but was asked to stay on through the end of summer to finish up some projects. I was subsequently un-laid off, but just didn’t feel the […] Read the full article →