open thread – June 21, 2024 by Alison Green on June 21, 2024 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to […] Read the full article →
inviting an ex-coworker to a holiday lunch, new meds make me burp, and more by Alison Green on June 21, 2024 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Should I not have invited an ex-coworker to a holiday lunch? This happened a couple years ago but has bothered me ever since. A well-loved employee of eight years left the company after a major change in leadership. A terrible change in leadership, which she […] Read the full article →
interviewer asked me about a political argument I had 10 years ago by Alison Green on June 20, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve been looking for a job for a year and finally accepted a hybrid role at a medium-sized start-up. I’ve been here for a week and a half. It’s fine but things are pretty disorganized and my manager keeps making comments about me in a leadership role soon, which I realize more […] Read the full article →
update: my boss is doing 27 events next month … the average is 4 by Alison Green on June 20, 2024 Remember the letter-writer whose new boss was planning 27 events for the next month when the average was four (#2 at the link)? Here’s the update. It has been about a year since my letter to you, and I will start by saying I am still in the same job with the same team. Your […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss wild overreactions at work by Alison Green on June 20, 2024 Inspired by yesterday’s letter about the CEO who freaked out over a very mild joke, let’s discuss wild overreactions at work. Some stories that have been shared here over the years: “This was a legendary story at the first restaurant where I worked, a popular downtown brunch place. A previous kitchen manager had a strong hatred […] Read the full article →
employee cries whenever she gets a new assignment, team went to dinner without me, and more by Alison Green on June 20, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee cries audibly whenever she gets a new assignment I am a lawyer at a small-ish law firm. We have five paralegals, of varying abilities. Our best and most senior paralegal is a bit of a cryer. It seems like it is part of her […] Read the full article →
the lawnmower message, the mangled journal articles, and other stories of deliberately burnt bridges by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 I recently asked about bridges you intentionally, happily burned. Here are 12 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The fish tank In college, I worked as a cashier at a national chain pet store. The pay was dismal but it was pretty easy work, so I stuck around. After working there for three years […] Read the full article →
pregnancy and work: all your questions answered by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 Here’s a round-up of posts about pregnancy and work. interviewing while pregnant is it dishonest not to disclose you’re pregnant when you’re interviewing? interviewer said they would hire me if I weren’t pregnant interviewing while pregnant — but I’m not the mother when should I tell my interviewer I’m pregnant? working while pregnant how do […] Read the full article →
my CEO is furious about a joke I made by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 A reader writes: I recently had an odd situation with the CEO of my company. I am a project manager working on a high-profile, time-sensitive project that was very important to the company. Although the company is a large multinational, I work out of the small satellite office, along with the CEO for North America, […] Read the full article →
interns stole alcohol at a work retreat, vacationing with a friend from work, and more by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Interns stole alcohol at a work retreat I recently started a new role, and last week we had a three-day annual retreat with the whole organization (about 30 people). It was a great experience overall, but it ended on a sour note: on our last […] Read the full article →