my boss treated me like her therapist … and it blew up by Alison Green on November 12, 2024 Warning: contains mentions of a suicide threat. A reader writes: I had an insane boss situation a few years ago that still lives rent free in my head and I’d love to see if there’s anything you think I could have done differently. While I don’t think I’ll ever be in a situation quite like […] Read the full article →
I panicked and told my boss I miscarried when I actually didn’t by Alison Green on October 28, 2024 A reader writes: I recently wet myself at work. I was actually in the bathroom at the time and it was right at the end of lunch. I was in a state such that I was able to go a nearby store and buy fresh clothes, but by the time I cleaned up, changed, and […] 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 →
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 →
we have public shamings about how often we say “um” and “uh” by Alison Green on October 14, 2024 I’m off today. This was originally published in 2017. A reader writes: Every month, my work has a “pep rally” where the whole staff gets together to highlight what’s going on in each department. My boss, the executive director, has recently decided she wants to cure everyone of using the words “um,” “uh,” and “like” […] Read the full article →
my dad is dating my boss, and they want me to go to couples therapy with them by Alison Green on September 30, 2024 I’m off for a few days, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2018. A reader writes: My dad started dating this woman (Jill) about two years ago, after he and my stepmom amicably divorced. As this was going on, I graduated from grad school, ended my student internship, […] Read the full article →
I can’t travel because my cat is sick — and my boss and coworkers are unhappy by Alison Green on September 17, 2024 A reader writes: I joined my employer earlier this year as the only fully remote worker. At my first on-site, the only other coworkers in my department resigned. Instead of being the junior member of a small remote team as I expected, I was suddenly THE team. The CEO told me that day that he’d […] Read the full article →
my husband’s boss was fired after he told the truth about her in an exit interview by Alison Green on September 9, 2024 A reader writes: I’m writing on behalf of my husband, Bob, who recently left his job after two years. During his exit interview, he explained exactly why he was leaving. The reasons included his supervisor’s disorganized management style, expecting him to answer texts and phone calls at all hours, expecting him to log on to […] Read the full article →
when your teenager dates your boss’s son and it goes bad by Alison Green on August 28, 2024 A reader writes: I know that you’ve repeatedly discussed how romantic relationships at work can be problematic, but how do you navigate it when it’s your child? I was catching up with a friend (Sara) who told me that her teenage daughter had started dating Sara’s boss’s teenage son. Sara didn’t want to forbid the […] Read the full article →
I’m in trouble for not answering a midnight phone call … for a non-emergency “emergency” by Alison Green on August 26, 2024 A reader writes: I work freelance in an industry which is notorious for bad work-life balance. I have another job alongside my freelance work to top up my income. It’s seasonal, over a busy summer period for an organization that’s related to my freelance work, and I work 10 hours a week. My role is […] Read the full article →