are we supposed to accept “touch” as an “appreciation language” at work? by Alison Green on May 14, 2024 A reader writes: My work is having us read about the “five languages of appreciation in the workplace” in advance of one of our quarterly all-hands meetings, where we will have “discuss and share.” From what I read, it seems like it’s a pretty direct attempt to apply the “five love languages” to the workplace. […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to be pied in the face for work by Alison Green on May 13, 2024 A reader writes: I work in a medium-sized location of a small-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things business as one of the upper managers on site. The site manager recently asked me to keep an idea on the books for sometime later this year: to do a donation drive with manager names on donation boxes. Donations would earn someone a […] Read the full article →
do I have to fire someone due to his lack of child care? by Alison Green on May 6, 2024 A reader writes: I have an employee who is unable to obtain childcare when he is on call, which is an essential part of his job, and the job is not safe to take a child to. Therefore, we may not be able to keep him on. I supervise a team of maintenance technicians who […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss egregious safety violations at work by Alison Green on May 2, 2024 You’d think safety would be top of mind for employers, but some are willing to tolerate egregious safety issues in order to keep people working. Some examples that have been shared by readers in the past: • “At a call center job, there was a tornado that touched down just a few miles away and […] Read the full article →
when I work from home, do I have to be AT home? by Alison Green on May 1, 2024 A reader writes: I recently (about six months ago) started a new job, which is hybrid. I work in-office Wed/Thursday/Friday, and work from home Monday/Tuesday. This hybrid schedule is a change for me, as I previously had more hands-on jobs in the same industry which could not be done remotely. The whole company shares this […] Read the full article →
can I ask to be reimbursed for my expenses in a driving-heavy job? by Alison Green on April 24, 2024 A reader writes: I recently started my dream job — amazing start-up, coveted industry, huge promise, incredibly competent management (a gift I do not take for granted). However, I’m working in arguably the most expensive metropolitan city on earth, one that is notorious for being a literal nightmare to drive or own a car in. […] Read the full article →
my boss wants us to meet with a spiritualist to fix the negative energy in our building by Alison Green on April 24, 2024 A reader writes: I work at a small nonprofit and recently the employee with the longest institutional knowledge just left her position because of the years of abuse, micromanagement, and overwork she endured. Now, the executive director is trying to set up an all-staff meeting with a “spiritualist” so that she can figure out why […] Read the full article →
have we changed our views about working from home? by Alison Green on April 23, 2024 A reader writes: I’d love to have your take and the readers’ take on whether society as a whole has changed its view on working from home. Most of last year, I was job searching, and something an interviewer said once has stuck with me. I was in a second interview for an office job […] Read the full article →
someone who barely managed me put negative feedback in my annual review by Alison Green on April 11, 2024 A reader writes: I just received my annual review. I’ve been passed between four managers over the past 12 months – one of whom was fired, one who was very hands-off for the majority of their time with me, one who worked with me for three months, and one who became my manager relatively recently. […] Read the full article →
the arrogant sports car driver, the wild turkeys, and other stories of workplace parking drama by Alison Green on April 8, 2024 Last week we talked about workplace parking wars. Here are 10 fantastic stories from that discussion. 1. The parking space war I used to work in the dorm office at a local private college. We had an enormous parking lot that encircled the entire complex. There were enough spaces for every resident and employee times […] Read the full article →