open thread – August 16, 2024 by Alison Green on August 16, 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 →
employee won’t do part of his job, interviewing when they know they want to hire someone else, and more by Alison Green on August 16, 2024 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Employee won’t do part of his job I work for a small gym franchise as a manager. Our model is 24-hour access for our members. The staff is not there 24 hours. Because of complaints we are receiving, I have asked all personal trainers to […] Read the full article →
do you still need a mailing address on your resume? by Alison Green on August 15, 2024 A reader writes: I teach a course for adult learners on how to prepare for a job search, and I’d like to get your take on including addresses on resumes. Personally, I think it is unnecessary, particularly in our modern world of remote and hybrid jobs, and just introduces a potential safety issue. You had […] Read the full article →
update: my office argued for 5 months about whether I could have an ergonomic chair by Alison Green on August 15, 2024 Remember the letter-writer whose office argued for five months about whether they could have an ergonomic chair? They finally received their chair after a five-month ordeal (over a chair) (first update here) but … well, here’s the latest. To recap, part of the arrangement I worked out with HR was that for this accommodation to […] Read the full article →
what weird things did you believe about work before you had a job? by Alison Green on August 15, 2024 Inspired by yesterday’s account of the kid who thought her mom’s boss was a dog: What weird things did you believe about work as a kid, or even just before you started working? Personally, I couldn’t understand why work would be tiring if you weren’t doing manual labor and used to be very skeptical of […] Read the full article →
should I tell candidates about 2 dating employees, employee is posting videos about customers on social media, and more by Alison Green on August 15, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I tell candidates that two employees they’ll be managing are dating? An organization I’m involved with is hiring their next executive director. There are two key long-time employees who are dating (there are fewer than 10 full-time employees total). When new people join the […] Read the full article →
the secret goat, the geese vs the CEO, and other stories of animals at work by Alison Green on August 14, 2024 Last week we talked about animals at work and here are 10 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The unauthorized dog I’ve worked my entire career at tech start-ups, which are invariably filled with multiple office dogs. Beyond stories of those dogs peeing under desks, pooping in conference rooms, and even one lone kitten […] Read the full article →
how to respond to a volatile rejected job applicant by Alison Green on August 14, 2024 A reader writes: I have a question regarding job applicants who, after being interviewed and rejected more than once, apply over and over again. I have one applicant who has been interviewed twice, rejected twice, and keeps sending new applications. The first time she was interviewed was two years ago by our recruitment coordinator, and […] Read the full article →
my employee is rude to colleagues — but some of them are rude to her too by Alison Green on August 14, 2024 A reader writes: I started at a new company a few months ago and, in getting acquainted with other staff, several people mentioned that they find one of my reports, Linda, a little abrasive. Basically, there was a lot of coded talk that she can be difficult/rude. Since we have started working together, I do […] Read the full article →
can my husband hang out in my office, asking coworkers to treat me like “the talent,” and more by Alison Green on August 14, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can my husband hang out in my office at night until I’m ready to leave? I am a woman in my early thirties. If I am going to stay late at night at work, would it be possible to bring my husband to stay somewhere […] Read the full article →