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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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 7 hours 46 minutes ago

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my 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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 9 hours 16 minutes ago

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when 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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 10 hours 47 minutes ago

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asking 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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 21 hours 42 minutes ago

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my 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 […]

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 1 day 7 hours ago

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should 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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 1 day 9 hours ago

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my 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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 1 day 10 hours ago

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boss 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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 1 day 21 hours ago

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the 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 […]

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 2 days 7 hours ago

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my 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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 2 days 9 hours ago

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how 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 […]

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 2 days 10 hours ago

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helping 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 […]

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 2 days 21 hours ago

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how 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 […]

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 3 days 7 hours ago

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have 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 […]

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 3 days 9 hours ago

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my 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 […]

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 3 days 10 hours ago

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I 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 […]

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 3 days 21 hours ago

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weekend 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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 6 days 2 hours ago

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open 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 […]

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 6 days 10 hours ago

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my 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 […]

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 6 days 21 hours ago

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my 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 […]

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 1 week ago

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In 51 U.S. states are published

1273 Companies
716 Counties
1010 Cities

The 5 newest Companies

Suddenlink

1620 Normal Park Dr, Huntsville, TX 77340

MediaCast Inc

300 Brannan St #501, San Francisco, CA 94107

Starnet

106 E Robins St, Graettinger, IA 51342

TDS Telecom

901 N Florida Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310

Spectrum Store

45-480 Kaneohe Bay Dr Ste B07, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Other Companies

CenturyLink

822 Douglas St, Sioux City, IA 51101

StratusWave Communications

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Xfinity Store by Comcast

5890 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Rocket XL

201 N Westmoreland Ave # 130, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Spectrum Store

1806 Lindberg Dr Suite C, Slidell, LA 70458