how can we equitably handle time off for religious holidays? by Alison Green on September 14, 2023 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: With the Jewish High Holidays coming up, I’ve been thinking about how workplaces can promote equity around PTO and religious holidays. My workplace has an extremely generous amount of PTO, but I still have to use vacation time for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (and […] Read the full article →
my boss wants me to check in every day while I’m on vacation by Alison Green on September 13, 2023 A reader writes: I (a 27-year-old woman) am on vacation for a week using PTO. My work phone has been off since Saturday and my boss has access to my work computer and email. He just called my personal phone at 4:58 pm to tell me I need to check my work phone at least […] Read the full article →
customers are ignoring our male receptionist by Alison Green on September 12, 2023 A reader writes: I am the co-owner of a small business which previously had two receptionists, Alice and Becky, both women. Recently, Becky has gone to part-time, and we have hired a new male receptionist, Charlie. The problem is, members of the public consistently fail to recognize that Charlie is the receptionist. The receptionists work […] Read the full article →
my coworkers say I should hold back because I’m early-career … but am I? by Alison Green on September 11, 2023 A reader writes: I’m having a hard time figuring out my career stage. I entered a male-dominated, technical, and niche field right out of college. I worked for several years, then eventually went back to school for my graduate degree. I worked throughout school, so have been in the field for nine years. Most of […] Read the full article →
I’m getting stuck with extra work because I don’t have kids by Alison Green on September 5, 2023 A reader writes: I’m just a little over one year into my job. My manager is great, my coworkers are fine, and the benefits are outstanding. The work-life balance is healthy, and we are encouraged to take our PTO and to have fulfilling lives outside of work. I’m generally happy here, and I like it […] Read the full article →
is this HR process for accommodations as bananas as it feels? by Alison Green on August 29, 2023 A reader writes: Like many companies, mine recently announced a tightening of hybrid/WFH scheduling. During the pandemic, I started an ongoing series of weekly healthcare appointments via telehealth, which have made a massive improvement in my life. Until now, company policy was that people who are not client-facing could work from the office or from […] Read the full article →
why won’t my company fire my notoriously terrible manager? by Alison Green on August 28, 2023 A reader writes: I was part of a mass exodus from my former employer, and most of us left because we didn’t want to continue working with our director, “Ken.” I can spare you the details, but Ken is completely awful. I saw wonderful coworkers who were otherwise completely pleasant and professional be reduced to […] Read the full article →
the sweet potato incident, the green lunch, and other tales of terrible work food by Alison Green on August 21, 2023 Last week we talked about terrible food at conferences and other work events. Unsurprisingly, the most egregious examples turned out to be what’s served to people with dietary restrictions … but sometimes everyone gets the same monstrous treatment. Here are 18 of the most ridiculous stories you shared. 1. The lemonade At a business meeting […] Read the full article →
is using your PTO a “privilege”? by Alison Green on August 15, 2023 A reader writes: Our department is related to healthcare, but there is no direct patient care as we work from home. Our “customers” are internal calls. In cases where we are away from our desks, we simply forward our extension to another available person within the department. Recently, a coworker’s parent experienced a medical emergency […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about unusual office traditions by Alison Green on August 3, 2023 One of the most interesting things about offices is how they develop their own subcultures, complete with rituals and traditions. Here are some interesting office traditions that have been shared here in the past: •. For close to 15 years now, dressing up as one of your coworkers has been a Halloween tradition where I […] Read the full article →