my boss tapes people’s mouths shut during meetings by Alison Green on February 4, 2020 A reader writes: I recently started my first “real” job in a small office (eight people). We have strategy meetings every morning for about 30-45 minutes. My boss is REALLY intolerant of bad ideas. She keeps a tape dispenser on the table by her chair and whenever someone suggests something that she thinks is dumb, […] Read the full article →
employer sends out lurid details about crimes committed by coworkers or customers by Alison Green on January 27, 2020 A reader writes: My current employer (a quasi-governmental corporation with over 10,000 employees) sends out company-wide emails every time an employee or customer is arrested for or convicted of a crime. These emails describe — often in lurid detail — exactly what the person was accused of doing. Here’s a snippet from an email I […] Read the full article →
our boss told us to camp in tents when we travel for business by Alison Green on January 21, 2020 A reader writes: I started on staff at a small environmental/conservation nonprofit. My coworkers and I are PR, fundraising, and outreach staff. All of us are brand new due to turnover. Today we received an email from our boss that says: “When we are traveling for work, we try, when possible, to stay at a […] Read the full article →
my new coworker seems to be asking us if he should cheat on his wife by Alison Green on January 20, 2020 A reader writes: We recently hired a new person, Tulio, to join my team. Our structure is such that there are two groups to our team, group A (which I am in) and group B (which he was hired into). We both report to Wanda, who is remote and currently finishing up medical leave (we […] Read the full article →
my needy boss wants me to “adopt” her by Alison Green on January 7, 2020 A reader writes: My manager, Wanda, is a director about five years younger than I am (I’m 63, also a woman). She has been with our employer for over 20 years, is extremely good at what she does, is fiercely loyal to her staff, and possesses a wealth of knowledge and insight about our specific […] Read the full article →
my manager and a coworker had sex in his office, loudly by Alison Green on October 30, 2019 A reader writews: If you’re going for your WTF square on your work bingo card, here you go. I work for a small company. When I got this job last year, I didn’t work for my current manager. “Bill” got promoted and my boss, who I respected, left and Bill took her place. Bill has […] Read the full article →
my coworkers make orgasm sounds while I’m on the phone by Alison Green on October 7, 2019 A reader writes: My office prides itself on our fun, casual culture and how we are all a “family.” I’m not a fan of this, but I’ve been working there for almost three years and it’s been okay, if slightly annoying at times, until now. Two and a half months ago at an after-work happy […] Read the full article →
my boss excessively Photoshops herself on our company’s social media by Alison Green on September 23, 2019 A reader writes: I work at a respected firm in a niche industry. I graduated college this year so I’m the newest person here. Besides my manager (I’ll call her Elizabeth), everyone else has worked here for 15 years or more and has decades of experience in the industry. When Elizabeth was hired as a […] Read the full article →
my new employee ran a background check on me and asked me about what he found by Alison Green on August 7, 2019 A reader writes: I started a new position recently and was promoted quickly to a management position. Great, I have a long supervisory background, looking forward to helping in a wider capacity. One of my direct reports is a very conscientious and ambitious young man named “Scott” who I have found pleasant to work with. […] Read the full article →
my boss wanted to go over my personal budget by Alison Green on July 31, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve recently returned to the teaching field. While I know there are plenty of stories about the budget woes of teachers, my prior experience wasn’t so bad. The school year is approaching and I have been trying to get my class in order. My principal asked for a list of requested supplies […] Read the full article →