my employee is monitoring other people’s work by Alison Green on July 24, 2024 A reader writes: We are a semi-remote team that uses a project management system to keep our workflow organized and distribute assignments. One of my employees, Jane, feels it is necessary to look at everyone’s work on this system and comment on it. She also uses it as a tool to fuel her immense paranoia […] Read the full article →
the person who’s supposed to train me belittles me when I have questions by Alison Green on July 24, 2024 A reader writes: I’m learning the ropes in a new job, and there are lots of things that are very difficult to figure out by yourself. That’s expected though, and I am supposed to ask Lawrence for help. Lawrence has been with the company for several years now, but we hold the same job title […] Read the full article →
candidate no-showed for a high-level interview, leaving over a matter of conscience, and more by Alison Green on July 24, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I work remotely across the country if I’ve been having health problems? I am a primarily in-office knowledge worker who gets Fridays to WFH. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been having heart-related health issues that rest seems to help. I’ve asked for […] Read the full article →
my interviewers interrupted my timed interview presentation by Alison Green on July 23, 2024 A reader writes: I’d be really interested to hear your take on a situation that cropped up for me while I was attending an internal job interview this week. I’d been asked to prepare a presentation of “no longer than” 10 minutes. I practiced plenty in advance and was generally coming in at 8 minutes, […] Read the full article →
my job wants me to do public speaking … I don’t want to by Alison Green on July 23, 2024 A reader writes: A few years ago, I accepted a job as a director of strategy at a small agency. One of the perks of this job was that I would deal with clients less, because this company had client managers to do that, and wouldn’t have to do things like public speaking. To be […] Read the full article →
can I report my boss for getting me sick? by Alison Green on July 23, 2024 A reader writes: I want to go to HR about my boss coming in sick, resulting in me using all my vacation time for an upper respiratory infection, but I’m not sure I should. We work in a cafeteria, so we have an HR but we also serve food. My boss came in Wednesday and […] Read the full article →
getting called a Nazi at work, coworker didn’t tell me he was applying for a promotion, and more by Alison Green on July 23, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Getting called a Nazi at work I work for local government in a region that is currently experiencing a drought. Part of my job involves working with people who break drought restrictions, with engagement ranging from education and outreach to levying fines or outright limiting […] Read the full article →
the napping hideout, the cat protector, and other stories of sleeping at work by Alison Green on July 22, 2024 Last week, we talked about napping at work and here are 10 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The hideout I worked at a big box home improvement store for a few years, and we hired a couple young guys to work the lot. Bring back carts, help customers load heavier items or large […] Read the full article →
how to tell coworkers, “that’s not my job” by Alison Green on July 22, 2024 A reader writes: I have been employed with my agency for five years. Six months ago, I was promoted, but no one was hired to take over my old job. Some duties have remained with me and others were transferred to other people, primarily a great support person named Robin. We has communicated with the […] Read the full article →
my company says we can’t wear underwire bras by Alison Green on July 22, 2024 A reader writes: My company just introduced a new company-wide policy that you cannot wear an underwire bra due to setting off an alarm on a metal detector in the entrance of the building. Is this illegal in California? It’s legal. It’s actually been litigated in multiple states (and, as far as I know, upheld […] Read the full article →