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...

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...

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...

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...

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 walk on the beach...

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...