can I use dark humor at work? by Alison Green on February 17, 2025 I’m off for the holiday, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2019. A reader writes: I have a dark sense of humor. I now realize that my boss does not. During a standard “how was your day off” conversation between my supervisor, manager, and a few peers, my […] Read the full article →
my company is a great place to work … for everyone but me by Alison Green on January 21, 2025 A reader writes: The small company where I work offers good pay, generous PTO and other benefits, a fun and friendly environment, and good work-life balance. It also has an excellent product with a lot of growth potential. Generally, it’s considered by employees to be a great place to work. The problem for me is […] Read the full article →
I can’t advocate for myself without getting emotional by Alison Green on November 26, 2024 A reader writes: I can’t advocate for myself without getting emotional. Once I tried to negotiate a medical bill down using advice from many articles online and couldn’t get through the conversation without crying. It wasn’t that I didn’t have money to pay the bill; it was the anger and frustration and feeling of powerlessness […] Read the full article →
how do you stay focused on work during anxiety-inducing world events? by Alison Green on November 4, 2024 A reader writes: I wonder if you have any tips/tricks on how to keep focused on work when there is a major event going on? I recall trying to work for several weeks after the 2020 election and January 6 and know my work was not efficient or good quality during that time. I’m so […] Read the full article →
is it weird to send work emails late at night? by Alison Green on October 21, 2024 A reader writes: Last night around 11 pm, my husband suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to email someone back about a meeting request, and was about to respond when I said it looked weird to be emailing at 11 pm. He asked why and I had no good reason, except that it seemed weird […] Read the full article →
how do I live down a reputation for being “extra”? by Alison Green on October 8, 2024 A reader writes: How does one shake a reputation at work for being “extra”? Three years ago, I joined my current organization and quickly became known as a go-getter, an innovator, and someone good at their job. Senior level colleagues would learn about programs I had developed, express admiration, and ask to borrow the idea. […] Read the full article →
is it OK to have sex while working from home? by Alison Green on September 23, 2024 A reader writes: I am a stay-at-home mom of very young children. My husband works from home one day per week, occasionally two. When he works from home, he watches our baby while I take the older ones to and from school/preschool. Other than that, he works in our home office and I rarely see […] Read the full article →
how to respond when someone’s manager makes them apologize to you by Alison Green on September 3, 2024 A reader writes: I was reading one of your recent posts where you mentioned you don’t believe in forcing adults to apologize in a professional setting. I am on the same page with you about that, and it made me think of a similar type of experience I had once where I was on the […] Read the full article →
I’m pregnant! how do I announce it at work? by Alison Green on August 6, 2024 A reader writes: My husband and I just found out that I’m pregnant, after trying for several years! I’m extremely excited, but also realized that I have no idea how to announce this at work. I’ve only been at my company for about 18 months and, in that time, no one else on my team […] Read the full article →
my job wants me to do public speaking … I don’t want to by Alison Green on July 23, 2024 A reader writes: A few years ago, I accepted a job as a director of strategy at a small agency. One of the perks of this job was that I would deal with clients less, because this company had client managers to do that, and wouldn’t have to do things like public speaking. To be […] Read the full article →