a defensive executive, work-from-home is being revoked but there’s a baby, and more by Alison Green on August 28, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Exec’s imposter syndrome makes her defensive I chair a board of a mid-size community organization and as part of that role I line manage the chief exec, Flora. She’s a phenomenally smart, talented person with a real depth of experience in the work of the […] Read the full article →
my coworker won’t use women’s names by Alison Green on August 27, 2024 A reader writes: This is a weird low-stakes thing. I work in a small government office and we have a guy working here who’s been here for over 40 years and is within a year or two of retiring. I like him well enough, but I’ve noticed he almost never calls women by their names. […] Read the full article →
speed round — submit your questions by Alison Green on August 27, 2024 Tomorrow is the Ask a Manager speed round! On Wednesday from 2-3:30 pm ET, I’ll be answering as many questions as I can live on the website during that time. To submit a question in advance, use the form below. These will be short answers, obviously, so this is better suited for questions that don’t […] Read the full article →
can I secretly book time off for my partner to take her on a surprise trip? by Alison Green on August 27, 2024 A reader writes: I’m looking to book a birthday getaway for myself and my partner in the next few months. It is nothing extreme, just a long weekend away that might require a Friday and a Monday off. I’d like to keep it a surprise until the week of the getaway. Would it be inappropriate […] Read the full article →
survey asked about my boss’s mental health, avoiding a bone-crushing handshake, and more by Alison Green on August 27, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Survey asked how my boss communicates about her mental health My supervisor at work is participating in a company-run training program aimed at helping managers improve their management skills. As one of her direct reports, I’ve been invited to take an (anonymous) survey to provide […] Read the full article →
when you’re accepting a job offer, should you get any extra promises in writing? by Alison Green on August 26, 2024 A reader writes: I currently have an offer for an internal transfer to a different division in my company — same level but new team and scope of work. I’m planning on negotiating the salary offered (using some of your advice from prior letters!) which I would obviously want in writing, but I’m wondering if […] Read the full article →
my employee cc’s me on too many emails by Alison Green on August 26, 2024 A reader writes: I’m a director of a busy company. I receive upward of 1,000 emails a day, with 75% of them for awareness only but necessary nonetheless. I have a report who manages a team of nine, all remotely. He copies me on everything — from meeting response notifications to emails to his employees […] Read the full article →
I’m in trouble for not answering a midnight phone call … for a non-emergency “emergency” by Alison Green on August 26, 2024 A reader writes: I work freelance in an industry which is notorious for bad work-life balance. I have another job alongside my freelance work to top up my income. It’s seasonal, over a busy summer period for an organization that’s related to my freelance work, and I work 10 hours a week. My role is […] Read the full article →
is “junior” derogatory, struggling employee takes lots of time off, and more by Alison Green on August 26, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is the term “junior” derogatory? I recently had a minor dust-up at work that surprised me. I had a contract service scheduled to happen on-site at a vendor. Two of my coworkers expressed interest in attending in person with me to learn how it is […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread — August 24-25, 2024 by Alison Green on August 23, 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: A Likely Story, by Leigh McMullan Abramson. The daughter of a celebrated author struggles to succeed as a writer herself. Ethical missteps and […] Read the full article →