I can’t advocate for myself without getting emotional by Alison Green on November 26, 2024 A reader writes: I can’t advocate for myself without getting emotional. Once I tried to negotiate a medical bill down using advice from many articles online and couldn’t get through the conversation without crying. It wasn’t that I didn’t have money to pay the bill; it was the anger and frustration and feeling of powerlessness […] Read the full article →
coworker keeps snarking on the way I fold paper, “non-religious” holiday attire, and more by Alison Green on November 26, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker keeps snarking on the way I fold paper I work in a public library. One of my duties is to fold paper, such as brochures, newsletters, pamphlets, etc. My coworker whose responsibility it is to create, edit, and print those documents will hand […] Read the full article →
the boat party rations, the cook-off vote theft, and other food stories from work by Alison Green on November 25, 2024 All this week to get us in the holiday spirit, I’m going to be featuring holiday work stories readers have shared here in the past … and then updates season will start next week! To kick us off, here are 10 of my favorite stories you shared about potlucks and other food gatherings at work […] Read the full article →
we’re supposed to buy liquor and ski passes for our bosses by Alison Green on November 25, 2024 A reader writes: Last year, soon after I’d started a new job as a mid-level manager at a 30-person firm, I was surprised to get an email before the holidays requesting a donation for a surprise group gift from all the employees to the three partners who head my firm. Those partners are lovely people, […] Read the full article →
I just found out my BFF has been my employee’s therapist for years by Alison Green on November 25, 2024 A reader writes: I have been the direct supervisor of Bob since 2022, but I was also previously his supervisor in another position, I have worked with him in some capacity for almost 10 years. In many ways, he has been my closest friend at work: we work together on many projects and I often […] Read the full article →
boss runs hot and cold, collecting cash to give to staff, and more by Alison Green on November 25, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss runs hot and cold I work in a mid-size non-profit as a fundraiser. I’ve been in this field for 20+ years and am used to the pressure that comes with this job. I joined this organization a year ago and have been successful. […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – November 23-24, 2024 by Alison Green on November 22, 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: Amp’d, by Ken Pisani. After an accident leaves him short one arm, a man moves back home with his father and tries to rebuild […] Read the full article →
open thread – November 22, 2024 by Alison Green on November 22, 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 →
my boss hates that I blush a lot, I messed up a major project as my internship ended, and more by Alison Green on November 22, 2024 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My boss hates that I blush a lot I have always been a chronic blusher. Whatever you’re thinking when you read that, it’s way more. I blush at everything. Someone looks at me — I turn red. I think about something slightly awkward that happened […] Read the full article →
how do I network without being too transactional? by Alison Green on November 21, 2024 A reader writes: I have a networking/recommendations question. My company’s been acquired and I’m worried about impending layoffs. I’ve been thinking about a return to grad school anyways so maybe this is the push I needed, but will still need a new job before then. My LinkedIn is a bit bare, but I’m a hard […] Read the full article →