I’m moving from retail to an office job — how can I make it go smoothly? by Alison Green on March 9, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: This week, I was offered a new job. I’ve accepted, and all being well I start in three weeks’ time. I’m fairly certain it’s an average entry-level office job, but I’m ecstatic because for the past six years, I’ve worked retail and my only other […] Read the full article →
stolen sandwiches, disgusting fridges, dish-washing drama: let’s talk about office kitchen mayhem by Alison Green on March 2, 2023 For those of you who are back in your office or who never left, let’s talk office kitchen wars: sandwich thefts, moldy food that stays in the fridge for months, drama over dishes in the sink, passive-aggressive notes, the oatmeal that exploded in the microwave three months ago and never got cleaned up… Are your […] Read the full article →
how do you handle being pregnant at work? by Alison Green on February 23, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m about eight weeks pregnant. My spouse and I are very excited! BUT, the realities of Growing A Human have hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m dealing with constant nausea, and really intense fatigue — as well as all the weird little things […] Read the full article →
is your field accurately portrayed in movies and on TV? by Alison Green on February 16, 2023 Let’s talk about how your field is represented — or more likely, misrepresented — on TV and movies or books. Are you a lawyer who’s horrified by legal dramas? A nurse who can’t stand to watch ER? A teacher who is trying to wrap your mind around Glee? Is there any media that does portray […] Read the full article →
the $15,000 coffee fund, the cheapskate executives, and other stories of office coffee wars by Alison Green on February 14, 2023 Last week, I asked for your stories about office coffee wars (or tea/milk/etc. wars). Here are 15 of my favorites … plus an update. 1. The coffee fund I worked in a department store during summer breaks from college back in the late 80s. The break room had an old school coffee maker, powdered milk, […] Read the full article →
office coffee wars: share your stories by Alison Green on February 9, 2023 One of my favorite “ask the readers” posts ever was one five years ago about office coffee wars (or tea/milk/etc. wars). It produced some amazing stories, including these: “LastJob had a coffee club. I was not a member. There was one coffee maker. There were coffee wars over caffeinated vs. decaf coffee. Regular coffee vs. flavored […] Read the full article →
I’m unprofessional and not detail-oriented — but I still need to earn a living by Alison Green on February 2, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. I am not a detail-oriented person. I’ve had jobs where I was responsible for things like making sure that a packet of materials was the correct color paper, or following a 94-step process perfectly many times. I. Just. Cannot. It’s not a question of effort. I’ve written protocols, […] Read the full article →
what workplace norms surprised you when you were starting out? by Alison Green on January 26, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: In my job I manage a lot of people who are new to the workforce and are just starting to learn the typical, usually-unspoken norms of working in an office environment. This could be anything from “can I call my boss by her first name?” […] Read the full article →
how can I get used to cube life again? by Alison Green on January 19, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I just started a new job in a new city after realizing during the pandemic I wanted to live in a different part of the country. I worked completely remotely for most of the last two years because my previous organization was very Covid-cautious, but […] Read the full article →
the poodle in a stroller, the music file, and other email signatures gone wild by Alison Green on January 17, 2023 Last week I asked about the funniest/weirdest/most inappropriate email signatures you’ve seen. Here are some of the highlights you shared. 1. The nice day I know a woman who is known for being kind of blunt/curt in her emails. I think she was spoken to about it, because she added a “have a nice day” […] Read the full article →