have you ever quit a job in your first week? by Alison Green on January 18, 2024 Have you ever quit on your first day? (Or should you have?) If you’ve ever had a job so bad you quit on your first day — or okay, in your first week — we want to hear about it. Please share in the comments below and include: why it was so bad how you […] Read the full article →
the pizza offense, the bathroom lock code, and other stories of strangely dramatic reactions to mundane changes at work by Alison Green on January 17, 2024 Last week, I asked for stories about strangely dramatic reactions that you’ve seen people have to mundane changes at work. The comment section was full of fantastic stories — so many that I had to split my favorites up into two posts. Yesterday was part one, and here’s part two. 1. The sushi trays While […] Read the full article →
the microwave battle, the bagel club chaos, and other stories of strangely dramatic reactions to mundane changes at work by Alison Green on January 16, 2024 Last week, I asked for stories about strangely dramatic reactions that you’ve seen people have to mundane changes at work. The comment section was full of fantastic stories — so many that I had to split my favorites up into two posts. Here’s part one, and part two is coming tomorrow. 1. The microwave Tom […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: strangely dramatic responses to mundane work events by Alison Green on January 11, 2024 For some reason, work makes people have weirdly strong reactions to relatively mundane events — examples here over the years include an office-wide meltdown when new phones were installed with fewer speed dial buttons, or the person who threw a massive tantrum when they were told they could no longer wear pajamas to work. Maybe you’ve […] Read the full article →
how do I find clothes that look businessy but not stuffy? by Alison Green on January 4, 2024 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I have a final job interview tomorrow. My previous interviews were virtual. I asked the recruiter (male) what to wear because I noticed my interviewers were wearing jeans and t-shirts. He said, “Oh, whatever makes you comfortable. Not a blazer. Most people here wear jeans […] Read the full article →
what’s your company doing for the holidays this year? by Alison Green on December 21, 2023 What’s your company doing for the holidays this year? Party on a boat that you can’t escape from and which will produce a confrontational email the following Monday? Potluck with questionable contributions? Swanky hotel party complete with lines of coke? Covid super-spreader event? Please share in the comment section! Read the full article →
the abundant shrimp, the resentful Oreos, and other stories of holiday madness at work by Alison Green on December 20, 2023 Here are 18 of my favorite stories you shared about holidays at work over the past month. 1. The affair “I wasn’t at this particular outing, but a married ex-team member who had moved to a new team just before Christmas had been invited with his new team on their Christmas outing. The ex-team member […] Read the full article →
office holiday gift-giving stories: worst gifts and weirdest gifts by Alison Green on December 14, 2023 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 →
navigating workplace Christmas overload as a non-Christian by Alison Green on December 7, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’d love to hear from you and/or your readers about how you handle the ubiquitous “holiday” activities every December that are invariably just Christmas celebrations. I’m not Christian and I always find this time of year tiring. It doesn’t help that I’m an elementary teacher, […] Read the full article →
share your funniest office holiday stories by Alison Green on November 30, 2023 We have once again entered the season of forced workplace merriment, holiday party disasters, and other seasonal delights! Thus it is time to hear about your office holiday debacles, past or current. Did you pass out naked in the break room? Did your manager provide you with a three-page document of “party procedures”? Were you given a […] Read the full article →