my colleagues treat me like a kid and think I’m younger than I am by Alison Green on November 4, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers.” A reader writes: I’m a 30-year-old woman working in an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry as a technician in a specialized area. I’ve been doing this work since my early 20’s and I know I’m good at my job … consistent promotions, positive feedback, solid accomplishments, etc. In general both coworkers […] Read the full article →
my dysfunctional company will give me a free day off every week if I stay several more years by Alison Green on October 28, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I work for a small, successful, very dysfunctional business. My manager, “April,” is a quick-thinking but naive 30-year-old who is clearly enmeshed in a codependent relationship with the 60-year-old owner, “John,” who loves traveling. She shares an office with him and frequently travels with him. […] Read the full article →
what’s the most unreasonable thing you’ve ever been asked to do at a job? by Alison Green on October 21, 2021 On the recent post about office supply drama, several people shared stories of wildly unreasonable things managers have asked them to do. For example: • “I temped for a small NFP and the director was bananas. She was filthy rich (like own private jet and multiple homes rich); her husband owned a hedge fund, which […] Read the full article →
what should I bring to the office now that we’re going back? by Alison Green on October 14, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I graduated in May 2020 and started my job fully remote. I luckily have a really great group of coworkers who made a huge effort to include me in the broader office even while virtual and I really love the work so far. But we […] Read the full article →
how do you network in the era of Covid? by Alison Green on October 7, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I live in an area with a lot of rules around the pandemic still — masks are mandated for indoor public spaces, many orgs are (wisely) still offering many things online, universities and such are mandating students and staff be vaccinated to come on campus/ […] Read the full article →
the controversial calculator, the highlighter war, and other drama over office supplies by Alison Green on October 6, 2021 Last week, we talked about drama over office supplies … and good lord did you deliver. Here are 20 of my favorite stories people shared. 1. The purple pens “I briefly was the Supply Order person, and learned REALLY fast how passionate people are about specifics, often color. We were new and had a small […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about drama over office supplies by Alison Green on September 30, 2021 One of my favorite types of office drama is drama over really small things — like the 18-month coffee debate or people who get really territorial about office supplies. Some of what we’ve heard about the latter over the years: “I have to order three different kinds of paper towels because people prefer certain ones […] Read the full article →
how do I not feel jealous of my wealthier coworkers? by Alison Green on September 23, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I grew up in deep poverty with an extremely dysfunctional and abusive set of parents. It was not the “money and food were tight sometimes, but we always had love” kind of poverty. I ultimately aged out of the system when I was 18 and […] Read the full article →
how do I manage an unmanageable workload? by Alison Green on September 16, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I work in Big 4 Accounting, in tax. This industry is notorious for long hours during busy season and lack of work/life balance. My firm has flexibility, good benefits, and nice people; so, despite the hours, I’m reasonably happy. While I dream of taking a […] Read the full article →
how can I ease the transition back to working from the office? by Alison Green on September 9, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: As many offices start to bring employees back, what do you recommend employees do to ease the transition back into the office? Both for themselves and their colleagues? I miss the office, but I’ve gotten really settled into my 100% telework life and I know […] Read the full article →