Preventing Burnout
We are continuing to publish stories researched and written before the COVID-19 crisis, such as this one. Burnout is super common among today’s workers. Here’s how we can protect ourselves. Q: Going to work used to be great, but…
The Careerist
Help! My Boss Keeps Changing Our Goals
When the goals keep changing, it’s hard to know where to focus efforts. Here are some possible solutions. Q: My boss has shifting priorities. One week we’re chasing one goal; the next week, another goal entirely. Or she’ll give me…
Dealing With Open Office Angst
Can’t work because your colleagues won’t shut up? This meditative mindset is better than murder. Q: I work in an open office with many kinds of personalities. When I need to dive deep into focused work my ideal environment is…
Getting On Board
You’ve been offered a seat on an executive board. Should you take it? Q: I’ve been asked to serve on an executive board for a local charity. I’m flattered but worried I don’t have time. What are some pros and…
The Partridge Family
Inspired by the “12 Days of Christmas,” we look at common office concerns that arise during the holidays.
Magic Conversations
How to set boundaries with a co-worker who is taking advantage of you. Q: I’m a 56-year-old woman who shares an office with a younger woman with keiki. We get along well, and I have tried to help her by…
Banish Bullying
Work-related bullying is shockingly common. Those at the top can stop it. Q: I’m COO and take workplace culture at our company seriously. How would I know if workplace bullying is happening? People seem unlikely to share details with me…
Dealing With The Office Blowhard
How to let some air out of that windbag. Q: My co-worker brags nonstop. He boasts about how long he can hold a plank at the gym. Who cares?! He has a new Toyota Corolla – how do I know?…
Can I Secretly Record a Conversation With My Supervisor?
Q: Can I record my boss without telling him? A: Voice-activated pens, spy-camera sunglasses, hiding behind the ficus … decisions, decisions. Hawai‘i is a one-party consent state, so yes, technically you could secretly record a conversation. Some companies, however, have…
Learn to Communicate Better With Your Boss
Q: I have this nagging feeling that my boss hates me. Could I be right? A: Hate is a strong emotion, and unless you’ve been slashing tires or sleeping with the boss’s spouse, it’s unlikely that it’s “hate.” But…
Should I Invite My Boss to My Wedding?
The bride-to-be wonders if she should invite her supervisor to the big event. Q: My fiancé and I are getting married this fall. Is it weird to invite my boss to the wedding? A: Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Unlike…
How to Install Order on a Messy Workplace
Q: After bingeing on that TV show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” my husband and I got our home a lot more organized. I still have a mental block, though, when it comes to my desk. The word mayhem may…
The Careerist: A Place at the Table
How to make a good impression - and be more effective - once you’ve earned a role on the management committee. Q: I’ve been promoted to manager at work and get to sit on the management committee. I’m hoping to…
The Careerist: How Do I Get Robots to OK My Resume?
The Careerist explains how to get your resume past the automated systems that screen job candidates. Q: I’m updating my resume for the first time in a decade and feeling intimidated. What are the trends? Robots? Help! A: You’re onto…
The Careerist: Shake It Off
Pleased to meet your hot hand teeming with staph bacteria! Q: I’ve suffered from three colds in three months. I’m sick of getting sick and want to stop shaking people’s hands entirely. Is that rude? A: You could offer up…
Tracking Your Personality
As more companies assess their employees’ personalities, there are ways to reassure workers and use the test results to help everyone Q: On one of the first days at my new job, I was given a personality test. I thought…
How to Manage Time-Off Requests During the Holiday Stampede
Practical advice on how managers can make the holiday time-off process fair to employees.
Building a Team Among Remote Workers
Can two chummy co-workers brand their new business without winding up in a duel? Q: My co-worker and I are about to take the leap and launch our own company together. We have a business plan and are super excited.…
Boss Makes a Telecommuting Exception and Faces a Workplace Mutiny
Q: I recently made a difficult decision to allow someone to telecommute three days a week. Now I hear all my other employees are gossiping about this and grumbling “it’s not fair.” I’m the owner of this company! Wasn’t this…
Your Company Needs a Pet Policy
Allowing pets in the office can be a perk for some employees, but for companies it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Q: An employee has asked if he can bring his dog into the office. I’m not against…
What’s the Right Move?
Reader wonders whether to quit a hideous job to focus on finding a better one, or to stay put and hunt for something better on the side Q: Is it really easier to get a job offer when you already…
Coworking spaces accommodate all sorts of people and companies
Q: I’m going stir-crazy working out of my bedroom and am considering using a collaborative workspace. Am I too old for this? Is this just for hipsters drinking flat whites? A: Coworking spaces – which have monthly memberships or drop-in…
Top Priorities First
But you can’t put off forever those minor things on your To Do List that must be done. Set aside regular times for them and then reward yourself. Q: I’m torn. Is it better to bang through my to-do list,…
The Vulture Swoops In
Our department is great about sharing food with each other. What we hate are colleagues from other departments grabbing our food before everyone on our team has had a bite. Q: I read your advice about the food pushers, those…