we’re supposed to stay late “out of courtesy,” should I send employers a lottery ticket with my resume, and more by Alison Green on January 30, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. We’re supposed to stay late “out of courtesy” to other coworkers I’ve been at my job six months. It’s in an industry I’ve been in for 18 years and where I’ve always worked hard, earned praise for my skills, and shown a cooperative spirit. I’ve […] Read the full article →
telling my coworker not to bring his kids in every week, accepting coffee from my boss, and more by Alison Green on January 29, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I tell my coworker not to bring his kids to work every week? I teach at a university and am not on the tenure track. I am in an office with nine other instructors and we only have the illusion of privacy that […] Read the full article →
can I steal my coworkers’ screaming monkey toy, telling an employee to remove a political post from her Facebook page, and more by Alison Green on January 28, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I confiscate my coworkers’ screaming monkey toy? Today, as has happened multiple times in the last few months, some of my nearby coworkers in our relatively small satellite office decided to play catch with this “screaming monkey toy.” The noise it makes is outrageously […] Read the full article →
my coworkers won’t cut expenses, pop culture references in interviews, and more by Alison Green on January 25, 2019 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers won’t help me cut expenses A few months ago we received an email from the Big Boss (head of our business unit) that we are entering a “cost cutting” exercise due to business needs and they need everyone to make efforts to ensure […] Read the full article →
my employees finish my sentences, my interviewer left me alone while she ran errands, and more by Alison Green on January 24, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employees finish my sentences I’m a manager to a team of four at a mid-sized marketing agency. For the most part, my team is great — they’re dependable, intelligent, and they genuinely care about the work we’re doing. My problem is that I have […] Read the full article →
my manager wants to be cc’d on all my emails, using sick days after years of perfect attendance, and more by Alison Green on January 23, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it normal for a manager to want to be cc’d on all your emails? I am a first-line supervisor at a 24/7/365 workplace. My boss is a relentless micromanager. This is annoying, but something that I can deal with because I truly love my […] Read the full article →
I can’t get my own hotel room even if I pay for it, I cried in a meeting, and more by Alison Green on January 22, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I can’t get my own hotel room even if I pay for it I’ve been at a new workplace for about a year and am getting ready to take some business trips this summer. My department’s travel policy doesn’t require us to have roommates, but […] Read the full article →
our interns have to buy food for everyone, HR wants to us to give ourselves “the gift of health,” and more by Alison Green on January 21, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our office tradition is to make interns buy food for the rest of us At my office, there is a longstanding tradition that the interns bring in donuts/tacos/etc. on Friday mornings. There is sometimes a money collection that goes around (I have my own feelings […] Read the full article →
my coworker is a blood drive bully, non-monetary perks, and more by Alison Green on January 18, 2019 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker is a blood drive bully I’m the newest and youngest employee at a small office that’s the perfect place to start a career in my industry. I love the work, and I like my coworkers. The problem is “Alice.” She’s the long-time office […] Read the full article →
I can’t trust the snacks from my coworker, large employee won’t use heavy duty chair, and more by Alison Green on January 17, 2019 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss wants me to fire a heavier employee if she won’t use a heavy duty chair One of my employees is a rather heavy person and has broken four chairs in the past year. My office is pretty flexible about office equipment, so after […] Read the full article →