when should I tell an interviewer I need disability accommodations? by Alison Green on March 21, 2023 A reader writes: I have a question regarding asking for disability accommodations when getting a new job. I have a circadian rhythm disorder that basically makes me a clinically diagnosed night owl and causes me great pain when getting up at what would be a normal time for most people. When I’m able to sleep […] Read the full article →
my younger coworker keeps making ageist comments to me by Alison Green on March 20, 2023 A reader writes: I am an older worker doing very well in my executive position in a small think tank. Apart from the director and myself, the other staff are in their 20s and 30s. One staff member in particular continually makes both oblique and direct references to age. For example, she said one day […] Read the full article →
I’m a public employee and the governor pushes religion at work by Alison Green on March 13, 2023 A reader writes: Unlike the bulk of your letters, I’m going to name my employer for two reasons: (1) I technically work for an elected official so it’s not a standard boss/employee relationship and (2) multiple reporters covered and recorded the behavior in question because these were public events. You can find it online everywhere. […] Read the full article →
if you work for a church, can they require you to give 10% of your salary back to them? by Alison Green on February 13, 2023 A reader writes: A friend of mine has been really down on his luck job-wise, but he’s finally managed to pass the final round of interviews for an IT position at a church. The way he tells it, it seems as though they are just waiting for his background check to go through and they’ll […] Read the full article →
can I hold a job applicant’s proselytizing email signature against them? by Alison Green on January 4, 2023 A reader writes: I’m curious about your thoughts on a situation that I encountered recently. I conducted an initial interview with a candidate for a part-time position whose email address and signature caught my attention. The email came from an explicitly religious domain — think Name@JesusSaves.com or Name@ChristDiedForYou.com. A little research revealed that this address […] Read the full article →
my boss won’t let me move to another state — but I’m remote by Alison Green on November 15, 2022 A reader writes: For eight years, I have been a fully remote employee. I am an outstanding employee, even winning Employee of the Year last year. After a year of great loss, I felt the need for a change of scenery and told the entire executive team that I was going to California to see […] Read the full article →
my manager told me that my male coworkers earn $40-60K more than I do by Alison Green on November 7, 2022 A reader writes: Last week I accepted a job offer with a new company, where my base salary will be 50% more than I currently make. This is a huge pay increase! And it is also an exciting opportunity! I told my current manager the news today. To my great surprise, not only did they […] Read the full article →
can an employer require you to be “sexually pure”? by Alison Green on October 24, 2022 A reader writes: I have been working in the nonprofit industry for two years, and I am currently looking for a new job in a new city. Many nonprofits, including the one I currently work with, are affiliated with religious organizations. This is fine with me, even as a person who does not practice religion. […] Read the full article →
can I go braless as a medical accommodation? by Alison Green on October 10, 2022 A reader writes: You’ve written about how, rightly or wrongly, most employers still expect employees with obvious breasts to wear bras (or at least not to make it obvious that they’re not wearing one). My question is, could going braless — or getting an exemption to the dress code more generally — ever be a […] Read the full article →
do you have to be paid if your office is closed because of a hurricane? by Alison Green on September 29, 2022 I’m getting a lot of questions because of Hurricane Ian about whether you have to be paid if your office closes because of the storm. Here’s a quick run-down. If you’re a non-exempt employee (eligible for overtime): If your office closes because of the storm and thus you don’t work on those days, your employer […] Read the full article →