vote for the worst boss of 2024: the finals by Alison Green on December 13, 2024 It’s the final round of the Worst Boss of 2024 voting. We’ve narrowed the pool from eight nominees to two (see results from the first round and second round). The two finalists go head-to-head below. Voting is now closed. The results in this round were: A Frightful Face-Off – The Nominees: our boss is a […] Read the full article →
boss goes through my things, haircut drama, and more by Alison Green on December 13, 2024 I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My boss sits at my desk and goes through my things I just started a new receptionist job with a very small company. This is my first time in any kind of […] Read the full article →
updates: the out-of-control birthday celebrations, boss wants a timeline for my leaving, and more by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Birthday celebrations are zooming out of control (#3 at the link) The birthday celebrations continued for the next few birthdays […] Read the full article →
updates: work doesn’t interest me, bringing a sippy cup to work, and more by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. 1. Work doesn’t interest me […] Read the full article →
update: stably employed but internally screaming by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. Remember the letter-writer who was stably employed but internally screaming (#2 at […] Read the full article →
all of my 2024 book recommendations by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 All year long, I’ve made a weekly book recommendation when kicking off the weekend open thread. These aren’t work-related books; they’re just books I like, mostly fiction. Sometimes they’re books that I’m in the middle of reading, and other times they’re just long-standing favorites. Here’s the complete list of what I’ve recommended this year (maybe […] Read the full article →
my employee is vaping on video calls by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 A reader writes: I manage a team that has moved to remote work. We are now holding all of our meetings through virtual interfaces. Recently I have noticed one of our employees vaping during our meetings with me and during all-staff meetings. Do you think this is appropriate or should I say something? I answer […] Read the full article →
office holiday gift-giving stories: worst gifts and weirdest gifts by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 In the spirit of the season, let’s hear about workplace gift debacles. Did a game of Secret Santa end in tears? Did a coworker throw a tantrum when she didn’t win a raffle? Did your boss try to give you Hanukkah balls? Were you given a jar of mold as a gift? These are all real […] Read the full article →
I have regular happy hours with only one of my employees, coworkers complain I’m not as fast as my predecessor, and more by Alison Green on December 12, 2024 I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. I have regular happy hours with only one of my staff members I manage a specialty niche team of four within a larger department that otherwise doesn’t have specific teams. My direct […] Read the full article →
updates: boss keeps bringing sick child to work, manager keeps asking for rides home, and more by Alison Green on December 11, 2024 It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My boss keeps bringing her sick child to work I tried to talk to my boss about her bringing her […] Read the full article →