how does unlimited PTO actually play out in companies that have it? by Alison Green on March 7, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m currently in the running for a job that offers unlimited PTO. I am trying to find out if this company has a culture that actually allows people to use this “perk” (without abuse), or if people are afraid to take PTO for fear of […] Read the full article →
the special notepads, the staggered departures, and other stories of ridiculous policies at work by Alison Green on March 4, 2024 Last week I asked about ridiculous policies you’ve encountered at work. Here are 18 of the most ridiculous you shared. 1. The notepads I had a boss who insisted that only her notes could be on yellow legal pads (8.5 by 14), and her sales staff all had to take notes on white paper at […] Read the full article →
it’s Leap Day! let’s discuss ridiculous workplace policies by Alison Green on February 29, 2024 It’s Leap Day and so in honor of the Leap Year employee who finally gets her birthday off this year, we must talk about bizarre, nonsensical policies your employers have had. Did they ban humor? Refuse to let you say “how are you?” to customers? Tell you that you couldn’t wear your wedding ring because […] Read the full article →
I’m a night owl — how can I adjust to a new job with early hours? by Alison Green on February 22, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I am very much a night owl (the best job I ever had for my sleep schedule was bartending). One silver lining of our company switching to remote work has been that I have been able to sleep in much later than the old days. […] Read the full article →
my store is doing great because I’m breaking all our policies by Alison Green on February 15, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I have been the manager of a clothing retailer (think along the lines of Forever 21, H&M, etc.) for two-ish years. Unfortunately, the brand at large is not doing very well. My store, however, has outdone our performance metrics by over 400% and for the […] Read the full article →
the drunken voicemail, the press release revenge, and other stories of workplace romance gone wrong … and right by Alison Green on February 14, 2024 Last week you shared stories about office romance gone wrong — and gone right. For Valentine’s Day, here are 10 of my favorites. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 1. The voicemail I used to work for a pretty toxic consulting organization that had a culture that was […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: when workplace romance goes horribly wrong by Alison Green on February 8, 2024 In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, let’s talk about workplace romance! To kick us off, here are some office romance stories that have been shared in past years. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ “I once worked at a bank in a department dealing with loans for […] Read the full article →
the postage stamps, the airport page, and other deranged responses to resignations by Alison Green on February 1, 2024 Last week I asked about deranged things your employer did when you resigned. Here are some of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The postage stamps An attorney I worked for had custom postage stamps made with HER FACE on them specifically for mailing folks their last paycheck after they were fired or (usually) quit. […] Read the full article →
what’s the worst or weirdest way you’ve been rejected for a job? by Alison Green on February 1, 2024 Let’s talk about the worst or weirdest ways you’ve been rejected for a job. Maybe they set up a video call, making you think you were moving forward in their process — so you had to process your reaction to the rejection live on video. Maybe they sent you a list of everything they think […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss deranged things your employer did when you resigned by Alison Green on January 25, 2024 Some managers handle it really, really badly when people resign. From the managers who stop speaking to resigning employees (because leaving is a personal betrayal, apparently), to the manager who told a resigning employee “I hate you” and threw things, to the manager who slashed an employee’s tires on their last day (!), some bosses […] Read the full article →