update: my new employee ran a background check on me and asked me about what he found by Alison Green on October 24, 2024 Remember the letter-writer whose new employee ran a background check on them and asked them about what he found? Here’s the update. Imagine my surprise when I opened the blog today to find you had re-released my letter! I felt an update was owed to the commentariat. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated […] Read the full article →
succeeding at work if you’re neurodivergent by Alison Green on October 24, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I have ADHD and learning disabilities. I suspect I have autism too. I just got into a new manager position. With the amount of disabilities I have, it’s amazing how far I made it. As I look for advice for succeeding in the workplace as […] Read the full article →
employer wants to see my family tree, coworker hawks up snot in the kitchen every day, and more by Alison Green on October 24, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should my employee provide any explanation for her repeated last-minute time off? One of my employees, Ciera, has been regularly requesting her PTO at the last minute over the past few months. For example, she’ll submit a request over the weekend to have Monday off […] Read the full article →
my boss keeps warning me she’ll get in trouble if I commit fraud (I’m not) by Alison Green on October 23, 2024 A reader writes: I started a part-time voluntary position a couple of months ago. There are reporting lines, annual appraisals, etc. just the same as a regular job and it’s in a very niche area which closely matches my field, a rare opportunity! In a lot of ways my new manager is excellent — she’s […] Read the full article →
where are you now? (a call for updates) by Alison Green on October 23, 2024 At the end of each year, I publish a slew of “where are they now” updates from people whose questions I answered here in the past. In past years we’ve had several hundred each December and it’s been magnificent. If you’ve had your question answered here in the past, please email me an update and […] Read the full article →
new manager’s team hates her — but she says they’re the problem by Alison Green on October 23, 2024 A reader writes: About a year and a half ago, I hired a person (Catelyn) with more than seven years of management experience to manage a long-standing team. I was aware that the transition had been rocky in parts, and I believe that I’ve been clear with everyone involved that Catelyn has authority to define […] Read the full article →
how can I get out of group photos at work, interviewer asked what I’d do if I won $1 million, and more by Alison Green on October 23, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How can I get out of group photos at work? I work in a department where the staff work remotely most of the time. We do have monthly and quarterly meetings where everyone is required to work on-site and the occasional optional staff party or […] Read the full article →
the bread bag files, the dead language, and other broken but sacred systems by Alison Green on October 22, 2024 Last week, we talked about broken systems that for some reason become sacred and cannot be changed. Here are some of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The bread bags I worked for a publication that had a bread-bag-based content management system. They were these waxy paper bags designed to hold a loaf of bread, […] Read the full article →
my employee takes credit for the whole team’s work by Alison Green on October 22, 2024 A reader writes: I’m a fairly experienced manager, but I’ve only been managing my current team for a few months. I’ve been in a couple meetings with one of my team members that I’ve asked her to take the lead on, and she reports out at every meeting. Twice now, as she’s reporting I’ve heard […] Read the full article →
my boss said I looked “unprofessional” when I wore a binder to work by Alison Green on October 22, 2024 A reader writes: I have a question about a point that is now, thankfully, moot. My previous manager, Rufus, wasn’t an especially ethical individual and failed to fulfill many of his expected duties. He was also kind of a creep. We all just put up with his unsavory and unprofessional comments, and occasionally pushed back […] Read the full article →