how much socializing at work is too much? by Alison Green on November 21, 2024 A reader writes: I am a manager at an office of 35 employees and everyone is fairly autonomous in managing their workload. We’re a pretty social and casual group, so it’s no big deal for people to socialize with one another to a certain extent. However, I’ve recently noticed that there seem to be more […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about unusual office traditions by Alison Green on November 21, 2024 One of the most popular “ask the readers” posts last year was on unusual but fun office traditions. Here’s some of what got shared last year: • We had The Team Plant. It was a nice ordinary office houseplant in a basket, and it didn’t belong to anyone in particular. Most of the time it […] Read the full article →
employer hired a sex offender, being called a “mom” professionally, and more by Alison Green on November 21, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our agency flexed its own policy to hire a sex offender I work for a government agency and a new hire in our group took a while to pass their background check. Living in an open records state, it’s easy to find someone with a […] Read the full article →
my coworker’s constant interruptions make us all dread team calls by Alison Green on November 20, 2024 A reader writes: Our team of seven has been working from home since the beginning of Covid. To keep up-to-date on projects, we have two weekly calls with the entire team, and one mid-week call to update the rest of the company on projects. Our manager runs the two team calls each week, while I […] Read the full article →
is my employee taking advantage of the flexibility I give her? by Alison Green on November 20, 2024 A reader asks: I’m a manager of two employees, both of whom are salaried, not hourly. One of them — who’s younger, less experienced, more eager — rarely asks to adjust her work hours or work from home, and is generally happy to do anything I ask her to do. The other is a little […] Read the full article →
is my girlfriend’s CEO hitting on her? by Alison Green on November 20, 2024 A reader writes: I previously have asked you a question about whether my girlfriend’s CEO was overstepping (#2 at the link). You very kindly answered my question and I followed your advice and happily let it go as I believed the CEO wasn’t overstepping his professional boundaries. At least not until recently when I read […] Read the full article →
last year’s Christmas party was a disaster, what does “parking is provided” really mean, and more by Alison Green on November 20, 2024 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Do I have to go to more company social events when last year’s Christmas party went badly? Last year, I started a new job the week of Thanksgiving. Three weeks later, my office had a Christmas sweater day (we normally wear jeans and hoodies) and […] Read the full article →
job application is fixated on high school academic performance by Alison Green on November 19, 2024 A reader writes: What do you make of employers asking job applicants about their high school performance? Besides the fact that I barely remember SAT or other score results from high school or college, is this even a real way to see how someone would perform at work? It feels infantalizing and not the best […] Read the full article →
I saw colleagues’ private messages mocking my weight by Alison Green on November 19, 2024 A reader writes: I recently hosted a Zoom call for my work team. At the end of the call, I was sent the transcript for the meeting’s group chat, as it contained important notes. I was also accidentally sent the transcript for a private chat between my coworkers “Lisa” and “Natalie.” I thought we were […] Read the full article →
I’m frustrated that my coworkers with kids work less than me, but I don’t want to cut back by Alison Green on November 19, 2024 A reader writes: I’m 25 and working in a passion career. I love it! I’m not burned out, and I don’t want to work less. My manager gives us all flexibility and grace. And yet … it still bothers me when my parenting peers work a fraction of my hours for the same (or more) […] Read the full article →