I saw colleagues’ private messages mocking my weight by Alison Green on November 19, 2024 A reader writes: I recently hosted a Zoom call for my work team. At the end of the call, I was sent the transcript for the meeting’s group chat, as it contained important notes. I was also accidentally sent the transcript for a private chat between my coworkers “Lisa” and “Natalie.” I thought we were […] Read the full article →
job candidate says she would need to work for us secretly by Alison Green on November 13, 2024 A reader writes: We interviewed a candidate for a part-time position who had been out of our line of work for 10 years. I interviewed her because she had some other things on her resume that seemed really interesting (from a business she’s been running with a family member). Still, we are a quickly-changing industry […] Read the full article →
this is how to write a good cover letter by Alison Green on November 12, 2024 Over the course of my career, I’ve read probably tens of thousands of cover letters. (And yes, that’s as boring as it sounds.) What I’ve learned from doing that is that most job applicants’ cover letters are truly awful – and as a result, if you’re willing to put in the time to write a […] Read the full article →
my intern keeps pushing for a full-time role by Alison Green on November 7, 2024 A reader writes: I recently took on my first intern. I let them know from the get-go that I didn’t know if it could evolve into permanent work given the current work pipeline. They are ambitious, smart, and eager to learn, and I have done my best to give them “real world” learning experiences so […] Read the full article →
should you require video on during team meetings? by Alison Green on November 6, 2024 A reader writes: I manage a team of 15 that holds a Zoom meeting once per week. While they work independently most of the time, there are major projects where everyone has to be on the same page, and we get updates during these meetings. I’ve noticed that the people who turn their video off […] Read the full article →
my employee panics when we spend money by Alison Green on November 5, 2024 A reader writes: I have an employee who tries to save every penny of the organization’s money, at the expense of significant amounts of time. I’ve explained sticker price vs time costs multiple times, and yet any amount of money over about $50 sends him into an anxiety spiral where nothing I say makes an […] Read the full article →
have a question about holidays at work? by Alison Green on November 4, 2024 I’m doing a column for Slate answering questions about holidays at the office, and I want your questions! Maybe you’re wondering how to get out of buying gifts for all your coworkers, or you want to avoid being shafted in the Secret Santa this year, or you’re terribly afraid your boss is going to hand […] Read the full article →
how can I stay in touch with former coworkers? by Alison Green on October 30, 2024 A reader asks: I’ve been working for a while with a senior colleague who has been amazing — knowledgeable, supportive, and patient. He recently moved on from my organization. When he left, he told me to keep in touch. I’d love to keep in touch but have no idea what to say! I feel like […] Read the full article →
can I ask why my coworker was fired? by Alison Green on October 29, 2024 A reader writes: I have always thought of my job as a place where people didn’t get fired unless they were obviously and consistently bad at their jobs. I have been here for six years and I know that when we get the “goodbye so-and-so” emails from HR about people unexpectedly leaving, that probably means […] Read the full article →
Halloween at work can be a fright show by Alison Green on October 28, 2024 Pity your beleaguered colleagues in HR this week, because Halloween in offices can be frightening in all the wrong ways. You’d think workplace Halloween celebrations would be enjoyable: It’s a holiday centered around costumes and candy, after all. And many offices do manage to make Halloween a good time. Sometimes, though, things go awry. At […] Read the full article →