I was recently laid off, and the company has offered me a severance package. However, the amount they’ve come up with doesn’t seem to be sufficient given my age and how long it will take me to find another job. How negotiable are companies in these circumstances? “These circumstances” are the critical words here. I’m … Read more
The phrase “bring your whole self to work” is a greeting-card message, not a recipe for professional success. Here’s the problem: The meaning has become muddled. During the height of the pandemic, many had no choice — we lived with work, and because of that, we got an authentic view of the lives of leadership … Read more
I manage a warehouse, and one of my employees got into an accident driving a forklift. No one was hurt, but our protocol is to test for drugs after an incident. The driver tested positive for marijuana, but he said he didn’t use on the job. HR says we can’t fire him. This is crazy. … Read more
Remember when “you’ve got mail” felt like cutting-edge technology? Now, a little thing called ChatGPT is poised to change the way we work. If you’re not familiar, a brief primer: ChatGPT utilizes artificial intelligence via a downloadable app from OpenAI. It’s free, or $20 a month for premium, and uses machine learning to understand natural … Read more
I’m an executive assistant, and started out working in the office, then went remote during the pandemic. I returned to the office full time when the company mandated it, but came down with a condition that now makes it very difficult for me to commute. My employer has made an accommodation until July, after which … Read more
Brooklyn resident Errol Pierre, 40, isn’t the kind of guy who stays in his lane and minds his own business when he sees that something is going terribly wrong. Two decades ago, while studying finance, he took a job at a beauty salon. An unhappy customer said her hair had been dyed the wrong color. … Read more
I think my employee left a bad accounting of my management style on the company review website, Glass Door. The anonymous post sounds suspiciously close to an interaction that occurred between me and someone on my staff. I can’t prove it was him, though. Would it be appropriate for me to ask? Unless the post … Read more
As Gen Z enters the workforce, there is a language barrier forming between them and their older colleagues, according to new research. More than four in 10 Gen Z workers don’t know the meaning behind common workplace phrases such as “bite the bullet” and “back to the salt mines”. The study – from the visualization … Read more
More than a third of employees spend an average of an hour a day working from bed (35%), according to new research. A survey of 2,000 people who work mostly or entirely remotely explored how working from home has evolved over the last few years. Prior to the pandemic, when respondents worked outside of the … Read more
I work in a small retail store as a cashier. Because of increased crime and shoplifting in the area, the owner has put electronic locks on the door. He expects us to buzz people in, but only if they “look safe.” He also expects us to lock in any shoplifters and call the cops. I’m … Read more
“Wasn’t this supposed to be easy?” That’s the refrain that reverberates in the ears of Beth Hendler-Grunt, president of Next Great Step in Livingston, NJ, who has guided hundreds of students through the internship process. “A student heads to college, makes connections and applies for an internship to gain valuable summer experience . . . but this is harder … Read more
A boss has issued a stinging memo to staff instructing them not to make friends with colleagues during work hours, in a move that has outraged social media users. The terse memo was posted on Reddit by an anonymous employee who invited other users to comment on their boss’ tyrannical behavior. Printed on a piece … Read more
Yes, New Yorkers, it’s OK to slow down a bit. Marisa Jo Mayes, startup co-founder of Spacetime Monotasking and a digital creator in Phoenix, Ariz., recently stole the Internet’s attention for coining “Bare Minimum Mondays,” an ethos which prioritizes doing less work on most people’s least favorite day of the week. Ahead, a look at … Read more
At the end of 2013, Kyle Elliott, MPA, Ed.D., 30, was a full-time student at San Francisco State University. He set up a profile on the freelancing platform Fiverr, where he listed two services: writing LinkedIn profile summaries and reviewing résumés for $5 per gig. (Later on, Elliott added a third service, editing college personal … Read more
I referred to my colleague as my work-wife and the person got offended. I meant it in a complimentary way, but got reprimanded by HR. I can’t take this hyper-sensitivity. Can I get in trouble for not speaking at work, only answering direct questions? Not to open a different can of worms but you don’t … Read more
My employer has announced that they’re laying off 10% of the workforce. I haven’t heard anything about my job security. Am I safe, or should I start looking for a new job? Those are excellent questions and one that should be asked of your boss. Regardless of the answer you receive, you should still be … Read more
You already know to clean out the closets and (somehow) tackle your pantry this time of year. But how about spring cleaning your career, too? “Spring is the perfect time to rejuvenate your career, just as you would your home,” said Emily Lyons, an entrepreneur and CEO coach on the Upper East Side and in … Read more
While it may sound odd, embracing your inner kid and playing games may very well assist your career advancement. “Gamifying the learning process through interactive activities, such as motivational flashcards and role-playing exercises, can transform routine job training into an engaging and enjoyable experience,” said Matthew Warzel, president of MJW Careers in Wilmington, NC. “By … Read more
I had to do some research for my boss and fell behind on my work, so I used ChatGPT. Well, somehow she figured that out and fired me for producing fraudulent work. How is that fair or legal? I asked ChatGPT to write a response to this question and it came back as an angry … Read more
In January, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that could be a game changer for workers: US employers could be banned from imposing and enforcing noncompete clauses across the country. The rule could retroactively invalidate existing noncompetes, too. Approximately 30 million Americans are restrained by a noncompete clause, and due to the resulting decreased … Read more