Ask a Manager
was it reasonable to fire a new hire who was too overwhelmed to work on day 3?
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: The clinic I work for filled a medical receptionist position. The new hire had worked as a receptionist for other offices for over 18 years. Sure, they had to learn the ropes of a new EHR (electronic health record) program, but they should already know enough to not be so overwhelmed that […]
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Checkout newsmy intern keeps pushing for a full-time role
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: I recently took on my first intern. I let them know from the get-go that I didn’t know if it could evolve into permanent work given the current work pipeline. They are ambitious, smart, and eager to learn, and I have done my best to give them “real world” learning experiences so […]
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Checkout newswhen office potlucks and catered parties go wrong
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
As we approach to the season of office potlucks, catered parties, and other holiday meals with coworkers, let’s discuss the many ways in which they can go wrong — from alarming cuisine to cheap-ass rolls to riots over the chili cook-off to tantrums over insufficiently abundant shrimp. Please share your stories of potlucks, cooking competitions, […]
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Checkout newsasking candidates how to transport an elephant, a 10-year leak by my desk, and 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. My boss wants to ask interviewees how to transport an elephant I have recently moved teams into a slightly more senior management role. We have just received approval to recruit two new staff and I am responsible for all leading the recruitment process. This is […]
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Checkout newsmy Gen X coworker is trying to “grandma” the Zoomers and it’s getting weird
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: I am writing about a new coworker who has no concept of boundaries. “Hannah” is in her mid-40’s and is pretty advanced in her career (in a technical position that starts at $100K a year). She sees herself as a “grandma figure” to the Gen Z coworkers in our small office. I’ve […]
You may also like:1 day 7 hours ago
Checkout newsshould you require video on during team meetings?
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: I manage a team of 15 that holds a Zoom meeting once per week. While they work independently most of the time, there are major projects where everyone has to be on the same page, and we get updates during these meetings. I’ve noticed that the people who turn their video off […]
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Checkout newsmy dishonest employee blames technology when he messes up
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: How do I deal with an employee, Miles, who is dishonest but gets emotional and doubles down when confronted with technological proof? For instance, he’ll tell me he submitted a work product when the timestamps on shared documentation (which are visible to both of us) show that the work wasn’t completed by […]
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Checkout newsboss is always scratching his chest, drinking non-alcoholic beer at work, and 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. Manager is always scratching his chest inside his shirt I am a recent transfer to my current office, 10 years with my company, and I have an issue with a manager. “Mark” wears his shirt with the top three buttons undone and he is rarely […]
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Checkout newsthe miniature diorama, the burn book, the gun, and other weird items left behind in desks
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
Need an amusing distraction today? I do. Last week we talked about the oddest things you’ve found when cleaning out a desk or workspace, and below are 15 of my favorite stories you shared. However, what is not my favorite is the knowledge that 30 of you — 30 separate people — thirty — reported […]
You may also like:2 days 7 hours ago
Checkout newsmy employee panics when we spend money
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: I have an employee who tries to save every penny of the organization’s money, at the expense of significant amounts of time. I’ve explained sticker price vs time costs multiple times, and yet any amount of money over about $50 sends him into an anxiety spiral where nothing I say makes an […]
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Checkout newshow do I manage petty behavior between two employees who dislike each other?
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: Where is the line between what is and is not acceptable when talking about pettiness between coworkers? I’m dealing with two employees on the same team who simply do not like each other for a variety of reasons. Luckily, these two do not have to actually work together very often but sit […]
You may also like:2 days 10 hours ago
Checkout newshelping an awkward new employee, boss asked me to talk to a coworker about her cleavage, and 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. How can I help an awkward new employee connect better with coworkers? I am a senior team member. Reporting to me are Bill (mid-level — seven years of experience), and three people at the junior level (one to three years of experience). Bill is the […]
You may also like:2 days 21 hours ago
Checkout newshow do you stay focused on work during anxiety-inducing world events?
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
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 […]
You may also like:3 days 7 hours ago
Checkout newshave a question about holidays at work?
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
I’m doing a column for Slate answering questions about holidays at the office, and I want your questions! Maybe you’re wondering how to get out of buying gifts for all your coworkers, or you want to avoid being shafted in the Secret Santa this year, or you’re terribly afraid your boss is going to hand […]
You may also like:3 days 9 hours ago
Checkout newsmy boss thinks my employee is lying about having cancer
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: My operations manager, Burton, took me to one side on Friday to ask me whether I had seen any evidence that my employee, Belle, who had been off that week, really had cancer. I am now second-guessing every interaction and whether I have either been manipulated or been a horrible boss. Our […]
You may also like:3 days 10 hours ago
Checkout newsI want to ask out our manager, my coworker sucks at his job, and 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. How can I ask out our general manager? How do I get ahold of someone who works in the offices where I work to ask them out? Her position is GM. I’m intending to ask her if she’d like to go for a coffee or […]
You may also like:3 days 21 hours ago
Checkout newsweekend open thread – November 2-3, 2024
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: All I’ve been able to read this past month have been comfort re-reads — mostly Elinor Lipman and Barbara Pym. This week it […]
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Checkout newsopen thread – November 1, 2024
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:6 days 10 hours ago
Checkout newsmy boss wrote a poem about us but left people out, I doubt my boss’s nephew is really a genius, and 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 new boss wrote a poem about our team … but only some of us My company has an annual team-building outing, which is traditionally the occasion for higher management to express their gratitude to the employees. At least, that was what I was picking […]
You may also like:6 days 21 hours ago
Checkout newsmy boss says I do great work but won’t give me a raise after 3 years
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
A reader writes: I’m early in my career but have been in my current organization (10,000+ employees) for over three years. I was hired in a two-person “department,” where I am an individual contributor reporting directly to the department director. Since I started in this position, my manager (George) and I have had conversations about […]
You may also like:1 week ago
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