January 2024

my employee faked an email

A reader writes: My employee lied and said she cc’d the payroll department on an email about another employee, but payroll didn’t see it in their inbox. When I followed up with her about this, she forwarded the email to payroll “again,” but in fact just typed in “payroll@mycompany.com” in the cc section of the […]

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how to live with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) at work

What if you had a medical condition that caused you to have monthly fits of rage and sorrow? How would you deal with it at work? PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, is a mood condition that impacts 5-8% of menstruators. It can mean wild mood swings, rage, anxiety, depression, and lethargy during the second half […]

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how to get severance pay when you’re fired or laid off

If you’re fired or laid off, can you expect or negotiate severance pay? What about if you’re resigning? You probably know that severance pay is an option in some situations, but you might not know when gets it, when, why, or how to take full advantage of your options. At New York Magazine today, I’ve […]

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my boss announced layoffs while wearing sunglasses, writing job candidates are using AI in their applications, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss announced layoffs while wearing sunglasses (yes, it’s Anna Wintour) You may have seen the reports last week that Anna Wintour wore sunglasses throughout the indoor, in-office Zoom meeting in which she announced corporate consolidation and immediate layoffs of many of those in attendance. […]

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my employee complains he’s overwhelmed while golfing mid-day

A reader writes: My employee, “Jim,” has been in the workforce for about 2.5 years and with my company for 1.5 years. After working with him closely for that time, I’d rate his work ethic as 5/10 (it’s not a concern, but he’s not impressing). However, he seems to believe that his work ethic and […]

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an employee keeps complaining about her boss, who I manage

A reader writes: I have an employee who I’m having a hard time understanding how to manage. I manage Jessica, who manages Cynthia. Cynthia is very meticulous and holds people to incredibly high standards. This sometimes makes her difficult to work with, as she gets upset when others don’t work in the same manner as […]

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