It’s OK to reach out to laid-off coworkers
Q: Last week there was a big layoff where I work. About 10% of the staff was told their jobs were eliminated effective immediately and they had to leave right away. Those of us who still have jobs...
View ArticleA Little “Ohm” Can Be Good for Business
Q: I recently interviewed for a position at a high-tech company. Afterwards, I was given a tour of their swanky new building. I was impressed but not surprised when shown conference rooms with...
View ArticleLayoff Decisions: a Peek Behind the Curtain
In a recent column, I noted that layoffs were “a miserable experience all around: for the employees affected, those who survived, and also for management who had to do the deed”. Well, I got some...
View ArticleDon’t Overlook These Basics in Your Job Search
Q: I have been job hunting for about three months with little luck. I‘ve had a couple of interviews but afterwards, I never heard anything back. The most frustrating part is that I don’t know why....
View ArticleAdvice to Women Who Want to Earn Equal Pay
The gender pay gap was back in the news and the topic came up among some friends. The discussion started with the generally agreed upon statistic that “women make 78 ¢ents on the dollar as men”, but I...
View ArticleGo Ahead, Write That “I Quit” Letter, But Don’t Send
Q: I’ve been unhappy at work for some time now. At home, I find myself rehashing conversations that upset me that day or preparing for counter arguments that may come up next. I even fantasize about...
View ArticleRetirement: When is Not What is Hyped-Up to Be (part 1 of 3)
Q: My husband retired six months ago, an event he excitedly looked forward to after working in a very stressful technical field for the last ten years. The first few months were great, he did all the...
View ArticleRetirement: It’s Not Just Financial Planning, It’s Psychological (part 2 of 3)
After last week’s question about the husband who anticipated retirement, seemed very happy at first then after six months began to feel depressed and a little lost, I heard from several readers. The...
View ArticleRetirement: Reacquaint yourself with who you are (part 3 of 3)
Last week, we talked about the mental wellbeing of “life after of work” and noted why some retirees who stay connected to a job they loved are likely to feel happier than those who have only made...
View ArticleGoogle’s Memo Brouhaha: My Take
So, did you hear about the Googler’s manifesto brouhaha? In case you haven’t, last week an engineer at Google distributed a 10-page memo in one of their internal platforms, in order to have an open...
View ArticleCan Being a Nazi Get You Fired?
Q: I can’t believe I’m even asking this, but can you discuss the legalities of firing someone for being a Nazi outside of work? The recent events in Charlottesville are making me curious about what...
View ArticleWhen Off-the-clock Actions Jeopardize Your Job
Q: Last week you discussed scenarios where people can get fired for behavior outside of working hours. This left me feeling like we have to watch ourselves even when we’re not at work or we may lose...
View ArticleDon’t Wait for Disaster to Include Employees in Your Plans
Q: Like everyone else around the country, I’ve been touched by the harrowing stories of the flooding in Texas. Things seemed to happen so quickly and appeared to catch businesses and people off...
View ArticleAfter the Storm – Tips to Keep the Team Going
After a storm, there is an opportunity to bring people together and create a stronger team. Here are some tips about ways to do that while building camaraderie and teamwork. Check in with your...
View ArticleEmployers: Compassion is Key
Back in April, right here in this space, I advised small employers against making loans or “advances” for employees. Then Irma happened. So now I’m re-thinking all that. I’m sure every single...
View Article“What Are Your Salary Requirements?” How to Answer
Q: I have been at my current job about 10 years and will be leaving to relocate to another city in the spring. I am a little nervous about my job search since I’m in my forties and have not been in...
View ArticleWho -Or What- Is Reading Your Resume?
When was the last time you were job hunting? Last week we heard from an anxious reader who hasn’t had to look for a job in over ten years and – because so much has changed in the last decade- was...
View ArticleThink of LinkedIn as Your Digital Business Card
Q: I have a LinkedIn account that I haven’t touched in years, mainly because I have a stable job and thankfully I’m not looking for one. I’m aware LinkedIn came out with a new version earlier this...
View ArticleWhy Should I Bother to Go to HR About Sexual Harassment?
Q: After reading about all of the sexual harassment by celebrities in the news and learning that their company’s management and HR departments were aware of the problem and did nothing, why should...
View ArticleNewsflash: Women Get Interrupted More (Unconsciously)
Last week, we discussed the sexual harassment stories in the news recently. Today I wanted to discuss something much more subtle that I think all of us (both men and women) engage in: Our...
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