I negotiated salary for the first time — and it worked! by Alison Green on August 8, 2024 A reader writes: Recently I had the chance to put into practice so much of what I’d read on your site. I was offered a job, but was disappointed at the salary (even though it was a 25% upfront increase and title bump, I’d expected more). Were my expectations too high (I was operating on […] Read the full article →
a very good update: how to tell a former employee he can’t visit us weekly by Alison Green on February 6, 2023 Remember the letter-writer asking how to tell a former employee he couldn’t visit their office weekly (#3 at the link)? The update is one of my favorites ever (and I probably should have saved it for Valentine’s Day but you are getting it now because I love it too much to wait): I have an update […] Read the full article →
dealing with a problematic member of a board games group by Alison Green on September 15, 2022 Here’s an example of how clear, direct communication can solve problems in all areas of life, not just work. A reader writes: I wanted to write and say thank you. I am part of a local board games group, and started to run the group a while ago. It’s a great group of people who […] Read the full article →
changing pronouns at work: a success story by Alison Green on February 22, 2022 A reader writes: Several years ago, I decided I was ready to tell people my pronouns are they/them. I wanted to do this at work, too, so I decided to tell my manager first and asked for her support in telling my coworkers “these are Sally’s pronouns now.” She told me that I’m welcome to […] Read the full article →
a happy ending: I quit my job without another one lined up by Alison Green on December 30, 2021 Back in April, I received this letter from a reader: I did the thing you’re not supposed to do and I quit my job without another one lined up. There are a lot of mitigating circumstances, which I will explain below, but I could really use your advice as I move forward to the next […] Read the full article →
the sick call with sound effects, the cheesecake, and other stories of triumphs over jerks at work by Alison Green on August 19, 2021 Last week we had the agony of mortification, and this week we have the ecstasy of triumph! I asked you to share stories of times when you triumphed over a jerk at work, and here are 11 of my favorites. There were so many good stories that a part 2 is coming next week! 1. […] Read the full article →
another person got their dog (UPDATED WITH PHOTOS) by Alison Green on December 24, 2020 It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. This letter isn’t from someone whose letter was answered here, but it’s from someone who was impacted by another letter — this letter from the person whose company […] Read the full article →
update: my boss wants to give me his kidney — but I don’t want it by Alison Green on December 24, 2020 Remember the letter-writer whose boss was pressuring her to take his kidney for the kidney transplant she needs? The first update was here, second was here, and here’s the latest. I’m the kidney transplant OP and I just wanted to do a short update! I am a couple years out now and super healthy! I finished the […] Read the full article →
a happy ending by Alison Green on November 25, 2020 We’re not quite into update season yet (that starts December 1), but I thought this letter was a good way to send us off into the Thanksgiving holiday. This is from a reader who had commented on a post earlier this month about kindness at work, about her sister and nephew who both had Covid. […] Read the full article →
success story from a student by Alison Green on April 17, 2020 Some happy news to end the week on. A reader writes: I discovered your blog from a Buzzfeed article almost 2 years ago and I’ve been reading daily ever since – it’s my favourite thing to do when I take lunch breaks, and I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been times I desperately […] Read the full article →