coworker offered to be my “work mom,” asking an employee to blur her Zoom background, and more by Alison Green on January 5, 2024 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker offered to be my “work mom” I know your take on calling someone a work mom, but I’m wondering about your take on Work Parents in general. Through television, I’ve heard jokes about a work wife or work husband and, since it’s drama shows, […] Read the full article →
my interview was canceled because I was “rude and pushy” by Alison Green on January 4, 2024 A reader writes: After an eight-month job search in a second language, I finally lined up a great interview with a great company. It took them four weeks from my application (and a follow-up email) to get the interview but, at 9:30 pm on a Monday night, they asked me to confirm one of two […] Read the full article →
update: my former boss won’t leave me alone by Alison Green on January 4, 2024 Remember the letter-writer whose former boss wouldn’t leave them alone? Here’s the update. When you published my email, I was so grateful for your advice, plus I read all of the comments. At first, I decided on the most boring but easiest option (for me, anyway), which was to never contact my former boss again. […] Read the full article →
how do I find clothes that look businessy but not stuffy? by Alison Green on January 4, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I have a final job interview tomorrow. My previous interviews were virtual. I asked the recruiter (male) what to wear because I noticed my interviewers were wearing jeans and t-shirts. He said, “Oh, whatever makes you comfortable. Not a blazer. Most people here wear jeans […] Read the full article →
a guy I hooked up with is joining my team, employee gave me cash for a holiday gift, and more by Alison Green on January 4, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. A past fling is joining my team and I might need to manage his work A few years ago when I was living across the country for grad school, I hooked up with a guy (Wesley) a couple of times. We exchanged a few texts […] Read the full article →
my new hire’s office looks like a dark, flickering bat cave … and is scaring off patrons by Alison Green on January 3, 2024 A reader writes: I’m the manager of a public-facing team where each of us has a private office with windows looking out onto a forest and meadow. The offices surround a work area for the general public. There is a break room on a different floor for meals and breaks. The direction I’ve provided to […] Read the full article →
the employee I just promoted wants to step down by Alison Green on January 3, 2024 A reader writes: I promoted one of my employees to manage her department about 10 weeks ago. This is her first management job and she has done an amazing job in her new role — implementing much-needed changes and efficiencies while gaining the respect of her entire team. This was verified in a recent anonymous […] Read the full article →
am I just a sympathy hire with no real skills? by Alison Green on January 3, 2024 A reader writes: I am in my late 20’s and have had what some may consider a “tough” life. I’ve overcome a few obstacles (think addiction, gang violence, prison, broken family, homelessness, etc.). A big part of my personal life involves using public platforms to share my story. Before I turned my life around, I […] Read the full article →
new boss says job now requires constant travel, employee chewing tobacco at his desk, and more by Alison Green on January 3, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. New boss says job now requires constant travel My husband recently started at a new company, a start-up. I worked in HR for almost 20 years and made sure he asked all the right questions, especially about nights, weekends, and holidays as I’ve worked for […] Read the full article →
I feel weird telling coworkers I live with my parents in my 30s by Alison Green on January 2, 2024 A reader writes: I graduated into the recession and took some time to find a job. As a result, after living in an apartment in college, I moved back home. My initial job was much lower-paying than I’d hoped for and I owed student loans, so I couldn’t move out right away. And so on. […] Read the full article →