Mortification Week: the unexpected video call, the brain freeze, and other stories to cringe over by Alison Green on July 29, 2024 Welcome to Mortification Week, where we’ll be talking all week about how we’ve mortified ourselves at work. To start us off, here are 15 stories people have shared here (or submitted via email) about work moments they now cringe over. 1. The unexpected video call During the pandemic, when we were all just learning how […] Read the full article →
boss won’t stop complaining about my maternity leave, team doesn’t read email, and more by Alison Green on July 29, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss won’t stop complaining about my maternity leave I’m four months pregnant and I had to (chose to) tell my boss when I was eight weeks due to my nausea and sickness. When I told him, his first reaction was, “How much maternity leave […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread — July 27-28, 2024 by Alison Green on July 26, 2024 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: Sandwich, by Catherine Newman. This is the story of a family during their summer beach vacation, as the mom struggles with menopause, her kids […] Read the full article →
open thread – July 26, 2024 by Alison Green on July 26, 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 →
interviewer mocked my speech impediment, telling coworkers I’m having a baby unconventionally, and more by Alison Green on July 26, 2024 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My interviewer mocked my speech impediment I recently had a job interview that was extremely unpleasant. I won’t go into the details, but suffice it to say, there were so many red flags that the conference room was practically shrouded in a crimson miasma. I’m […] Read the full article →
I got rejected from a job based on a trial task, and now I’m spiraling by Alison Green on July 25, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve been casually job searching since January. My current job at a nonprofit isn’t right for me, but things are decent enough that I can afford to take my time. I’m trying to stay within the nonprofit space but move out of my current type of work, which has been challenging. There […] Read the full article →
don’t forget to scrutinize benefits when you’re considering a job offer by Alison Green on July 25, 2024 A reader writes: I wanted to share a recent story that highlights why, when reviewing a job offer, it’s important to consider the benefits package in addition to the salary. I was recently offered a position that would be a huge step up for me. It only came with a modest salary increase, but I […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about your mortifying moments at work by Alison Green on July 25, 2024 It’s almost time for Mortification Week 2024, and in preparation we need to hear your stories of mortifying experiences at work — yours or other people’s. Maybe you mistakenly emailed erotica to your entire team … or accidentally told a coworker it was “great to hear” of a colleague’s death … or gave a person two noses […] Read the full article →
I’m biased toward midwesterners, cleaning up after a reply-all email storm, and more by Alison Green on July 25, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m biased toward midwestern candidates At the east coast company I work at, I’m frequently on hiring committees for competitive positions that typically include a wide range of candidates from all over the U.S. I recently noticed a concerning pattern in the candidates that I […] Read the full article →
my boss is upset that I quit without more notice because I’m vital to the business by Alison Green on July 24, 2024 A reader writes: I just left my job. I had worked at the same small company for six years. Over the years, I have seen admin staff leave with little notice and staff who gave notice but did not actually work through it. My boss, Amanda, told me that she actually did not want them […] Read the full article →