coworker tells me how to do my job, no one wants to take notes, and more by Alison Green on May 16, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. If I send someone home for being too high to work, should I stay late to finish their work? I’m a closing manager at a restaurant. Several Sundays ago, I found myself staying an hour late to finish stocking and cleaning. When my GM asked […] Read the full article →
my coworker stabs office furniture with a knife and no one thinks it’s a big deal by Alison Green on May 15, 2024 A reader writes: I am dealing with a bizarre situation at work and could use some advice on how to proceed. My coworker, Charlie, has several concerning habits involving the lighter and several utility knives he carries around on a daily basis. When we’re in team meetings or things are slow in the lab, Charlie […] Read the full article →
Ask a Manager in the media by Alison Green on May 15, 2024 Here’s some coverage of Ask a Manager in the media recently: I talked to Vox about how to disagree at work without ruining the relationship. I talked to CNBC about what topics to avoid discussing with your boss. I was on Slate’s How To! podcast this week, advising a woman who struggles with taking feedback […] Read the full article →
my breastfeeding coworker won’t stop talking about her boobs by Alison Green on May 15, 2024 A reader writes: I work in a clinic setting. Eighteen of us are in and out of a room of cubicles all day as we see patients. Even with the open office, it is easy to have a quiet, even private, conversation. A coworker recently returned after having her first child. She had a challenging […] Read the full article →
sharing a house with the boss, paid intern can’t do the job, and more by Alison Green on May 15, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Sharing a house with the boss on a work trip I work for a small company of four people, including our boss. We are all remote. There is an upcoming conference in my city where the three of them are flying in. We have several […] Read the full article →
can I discuss NSFW shows at work? by Alison Green on May 14, 2024 A reader writes: In this age of streaming, it seems like every show I watch is very, very R-rated. I feel a little uncomfortable talking about these shows during normal coworker chit-chat about what everyone has been watching lately. I wondering how best to navigate these conversations. Here are two specific examples that I felt […] Read the full article →
how does maternity leave work, exactly? by Alison Green on May 14, 2024 A reader writes: I hope to get pregnant in the next two or three years and I have realized that I know absolutely nothing about how maternity leave works in the U.S. Do most companies offer paid leave and, if so, for how long? If it’s not paid, how are people taking months off? When […] Read the full article →
are we supposed to accept “touch” as an “appreciation language” at work? by Alison Green on May 14, 2024 A reader writes: My work is having us read about the “five languages of appreciation in the workplace” in advance of one of our quarterly all-hands meetings, where we will have “discuss and share.” From what I read, it seems like it’s a pretty direct attempt to apply the “five love languages” to the workplace. […] Read the full article →
I walked in on two managers in a compromising position, reapplying to a team that fired me, and more by Alison Green on May 14, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I walked in on two managers in a compromising position I am a newly hired manager. Today I was asked to visit a storage building to pick up some items for staff. I arrived at the building and noticed two other managers’ cars. I unlocked […] Read the full article →
the creepy dolls, the massage chair, and other stories of amazing office decor by Alison Green on May 13, 2024 Last week we talked about the best, worst, and weirdest office decor you’ve seen. Here are 15 great stories you shared. 1. The dolls One of the managers in my former job had a massive full-wall bookshelf of baby dolls in her office. They were all dressed sharply in frilly dresses and so forth. I […] Read the full article →