This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to […] You may also like: HR questioned me for hours about a sex injury my new employee ran a background check on me and asked me about what he found need help finding a job? start here ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My interviewer mocked my speech impediment I recently had a job interview that was extremely unpleasant. I won’t go into the details, but suffice it to say, there were so many red flags that the conference room was practically shrouded in a crimson miasma. I’m […] You may also like: you should be giving your interns mock interviews my coworker has started faking a British accent do I really have to wear high heels to a job interview ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I’ve been casually job searching since January. My current job at a nonprofit isn’t right for me, but things are decent enough that I can afford to take my time. I’m trying to stay within the nonprofit space but move out of my current type of work, which has been challenging. There […] You may also like: my boss had his wife do my coworker's assignment should you do free work as part of a job interview? I'm stuck in endless interviews with a company that can't make up its mind ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I wanted to share a recent story that highlights why, when reviewing a job offer, it’s important to consider the benefits package in addition to the salary. I was recently offered a position that would be a huge step up for me. It only came with a modest salary increase, but I […] You may also like: I've been offered the job -- but they won't tell me the salary until we can meet face-to-face another salary negotiation success story employer says candidates must accept the job if it's offered ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s almost time for Mortification Week 2024, and in preparation we need to hear your stories of mortifying experiences at work — yours or other people’s. Maybe you mistakenly emailed erotica to your entire team … or accidentally told a coworker it was “great to hear” of a colleague’s death … or gave a person two noses […] You may also like: my favorite posts of 2021 yes, you are awkward ... and yes, it's okay I accidentally flashed my team during a video call ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m biased toward midwestern candidates At the east coast company I work at, I’m frequently on hiring committees for competitive positions that typically include a wide range of candidates from all over the U.S. I recently noticed a concerning pattern in the candidates that I have advocated for hire. Essentially, when other qualifications are relatively equal, I nearly always prefer the midwestern candidate. (I am from the midwest and work remotely from the midwest) for th ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I just left my job. I had worked at the same small company for six years. Over the years, I have seen admin staff leave with little notice and staff who gave notice but did not actually work through it. My boss, Amanda, told me that she actually did not want them to work those two weeks, so she gave them the option to leave immediately. I was not there for those conversations, so I only had her word. I also know from past interactions that she is not someone who is open to criticism. When I left, I was the ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: We are a semi-remote team that uses a project management system to keep our workflow organized and distribute assignments. One of my employees, Jane, feels it is necessary to look at everyone’s work on this system and comment on it. She also uses it as a tool to fuel her immense paranoia (“Why is Boss watching my tracker and not Coworker’s)?” when I haven’t even looked at either — Jane misread! It’s none of her business, and definitely not her job. Every time I have said something to the effect of “Jane, th ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I’m learning the ropes in a new job, and there are lots of things that are very difficult to figure out by yourself. That’s expected though, and I am supposed to ask Lawrence for help. Lawrence has been with the company for several years now, but we hold the same job title and are on the same hierarchical level. Lawrence sucks at explaining things. During 10 minutes, he will waterfall off 30 separate complex items, without break, even after I said to slow down and back up a few steps, to make sure I can tak ..read more

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I work remotely across the country if I’ve been having health problems? I am a primarily in-office knowledge worker who gets Fridays to WFH. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been having heart-related health issues that rest seems to help. I’ve asked for one, maybe two days to WFH on the days that it is intense and I can’t get the flare-ups to go away on my own. Nothing wild or egregious. WFH is an incredibly touchy subject at my office because so many people are re ..read more